Cecil Court
Cecil Court
4.5
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The area
Neighbourhood: Covent Garden
Whether you're headed here to check out the multitude of shops, theaters, cafes, pubs, and restaurants, or simply to be among the multitude of people who pass through this pretty part of town, you'll love soaking up the festive and historic atmosphere in and around Covent Garden. Even if you don't have tickets to the opera or a show at one of the many famous theaters here, don't be surprised if find yourself captivated by some impromptu act of a street performer wowing the crowds in Covent Garden's Piazza. If you do have tickets, you'll be pleased to note that many of the local eateries accommodate theatergoers with prix fixe menus, early dinners, and later than usual opening hours.
How to get there
- Leicester Square • 2 min walk
- Charing Cross • 5 min walk
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.5
86 reviews
Excellent
53
Very good
22
Average
7
Poor
1
Terrible
3
Black Cat
159 contributions
Jul 2024 • Family
I came to this street after seeing posts about it online.
Cecil Court is really pretty and has many different bookshops and shops to see!
It wasn’t too crowded and all the shops we went into had really nice and friendly staff!
Cecil Court is a hidden gem!
Cecil Court is really pretty and has many different bookshops and shops to see!
It wasn’t too crowded and all the shops we went into had really nice and friendly staff!
Cecil Court is a hidden gem!
Written July 27, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sokess
New York City, NY56 contributions
Jun 2013 • Couples
Lovely street of antiquities of various sorts. My husband and I were having a wonderful time shopping and browsing along Cecil Court until we stopped outside the T. Alena Brett Shop. I have never been so mistreated in a store, ever. I've detailed my experience below, but suffice it to say, there are plenty more shopkeepers along this little street who act professionally, are helpful and are actually interested in selling their wares.
DO NOT go into this shop unless there is something you really have to have, and are ready to be abused by the shopkeeper for it. My husband and I were standing outside her shop looking at her prints on display when she came running out, yelling at us not to handle the merchandise with one hand. We weren't even touching anything. We both are very careful and respectful customers of antiquities. There were two other people nearby who simply fled when she burst out of her store barking at everyone.
She grumpily invited us to enter her store, and I was immediately snapped at for blocking her view of the door. She then accused me of leaning on a glass cabinet; I was nowhere near such a thing. My husband and I tried to leave at this point. She stopped us, got up from her chair, complaining how she has to run this business all by herself since her father passed away, and now I'm making her get up with her bad knees to walk over to me in her incredible pain so she could show me some book she decided I was looking at. I was not looking at anything, told her so, but she came over anyway. I said I was sorry she has bad knees, and that I was making her walk in her condition, but how was I to know this? She started yelling that I "should have guessed now, shouldn't I"!
This woman is clearly not interested in selling anything, and I left her shop shaken and upset by her treatment. Her behavior was beyond inappropriate and I wouldn't be surprised if she eventually has to close her shop because of it.
DO NOT go into this shop unless there is something you really have to have, and are ready to be abused by the shopkeeper for it. My husband and I were standing outside her shop looking at her prints on display when she came running out, yelling at us not to handle the merchandise with one hand. We weren't even touching anything. We both are very careful and respectful customers of antiquities. There were two other people nearby who simply fled when she burst out of her store barking at everyone.
She grumpily invited us to enter her store, and I was immediately snapped at for blocking her view of the door. She then accused me of leaning on a glass cabinet; I was nowhere near such a thing. My husband and I tried to leave at this point. She stopped us, got up from her chair, complaining how she has to run this business all by herself since her father passed away, and now I'm making her get up with her bad knees to walk over to me in her incredible pain so she could show me some book she decided I was looking at. I was not looking at anything, told her so, but she came over anyway. I said I was sorry she has bad knees, and that I was making her walk in her condition, but how was I to know this? She started yelling that I "should have guessed now, shouldn't I"!
This woman is clearly not interested in selling anything, and I left her shop shaken and upset by her treatment. Her behavior was beyond inappropriate and I wouldn't be surprised if she eventually has to close her shop because of it.
Written July 1, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Harry M
London11 contributions
Nov 2013 • Solo
This is a magical place. It is famous for being the model for Diagon Alley, but PLEASE forget this. It is far more interesting than this, and full of history. Read about it, walk up and down and drink in it's atmosphere. It is old London at it's best. It is the original Flicker Alley, the birth of the movie industry, how good is that? The shops here are wonderful, eccentric places. It is one of the last places left with proper individual, independent shops. I collect vintage jewellery and this street has one of the best shops ever. It is Christopher St. James at No 12. His stuff is amazing. He makes for some of the top movies as well as West End and Broadway shows and catwalks. His shop is very glam, with pieces on show worn by great Hollywood stars like Bette Davis, Joan Crawford, Elizabeth Taylor, Dietrich, and many more.. Last week I saw a fabulous collection of pieces used in Downton Abbey. There is also a great antique shop called Mark Sullivan, full of incredible bits and pieces. I defy you not to want to buy something here. There are also antique maps, books, prints, coins, and poster art. I would'nt bother with all the clone shops in Covent Garden, this is the REAL Covent Garden, like it used to be, like it should be, truly magical. I love it. GO GO GO.
Written November 8, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
satorotas
Houston, TX28 contributions
Mar 2018 • Friends
A precious jewelry store with a selection of one of a kind costume jewelry. The owner is funny and witty. The customer service is excellent. The prices are reasonable and I recommend this place to anyone visiting London.
Written February 9, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
WMIM
Horsham, UK3,201 contributions
Jul 2016 • Friends
This is a fascinating pedestrianised Court in the heart of the West End, and quintessentially English. The shopfronts are quaint and you could browse for hours here looking for old maps, books, 'objets d'art' and other curios.
It is only a short walk from Covent Garden but unlike that place has no pretensions to 'crowd-pleasing'.
I love to walk through here when in this part of town. Even if only 'window shopping' it is a pleasure to do so.
An interesting historic fact is that this was the 8-year-old W. A. Mozart's first London address when his family came here in 1764 and although they moved to Soho after a few months it was here where his first symphony is believed to have been composed. The buildings of that period no longer exist so it isn't known exactly where the lodgings were.
It is only a short walk from Covent Garden but unlike that place has no pretensions to 'crowd-pleasing'.
I love to walk through here when in this part of town. Even if only 'window shopping' it is a pleasure to do so.
An interesting historic fact is that this was the 8-year-old W. A. Mozart's first London address when his family came here in 1764 and although they moved to Soho after a few months it was here where his first symphony is believed to have been composed. The buildings of that period no longer exist so it isn't known exactly where the lodgings were.
Written July 24, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jeannie F
Edinburgh81 contributions
Feb 2014 • Couples
Cecil Court is indeed a magical little lane and well worth the visit. Part of me wants to keep it as a hidden treasure trove, but you really shouldn't miss Mark Sullivan's Antique Shop at number nine. It is an Aladdin's Cave of fascinating antiques of all shapes and sizes and sorts. Mark is a really lovely man who is happy to talk about the history and provenance of all his stock, and is so helpful he even helps you to carry your purchases along Cecil Court to your car! Be warned, though, it's dangerous! Mark gives you all the time and space you need and doesn't try to 'hard sell' you anything - quite the opposite, in fact! - but we've been in twice and bought a bronze statuette each time, even though we were "just looking"! There are such lovely things that it's hard to resist buying something. We are delighted with our bronzes, though, and they were both a complete bargain. Highly recommended!
Written March 9, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lodesgymraeg
Carmarthen, UK77 contributions
Oct 2013 • Solo
I've been coming here for years and love this little alley. It is a but like stepping back in time, with each shop having a little swing sign outside. There are lots of antique and old map and militaria shops. The guy who does the jewellery for Downton Abbey and certain Hollywood blockbusters can be found here (not everything is for sale, but the stuff that is is fantastic!). But most of all I go for the books. There are some VERY good second hand bookshops here, but I go mainly for Watkins, purveryors of esoteric books since the late 1800s. A great place stuffed full with books on health, religion, magic and the weird and wonderful. You never know who you will meet here. And they do free evenings with authors too. Cannot recommend this place enough. Never miss visiting whenever I'm in London.
Written October 11, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ali
Chicago, IL23 contributions
Jun 2013 • Family
Every trip to London, Cecil Court is one of the first stops that we make when venturing out. It's a lovely little "street." If you love books, you will be in awe of what they have to offer. So much to see, so much to read! :) Always a great experience and can't wait to get back there on our next trip.
Written October 5, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Roz P
Hobart, Australia4 contributions
Jan 2017 • Couples
The meeting of Christopher St James was an experience I'll never forget. What an amazingly talented man with so many stories to tell. His jewellery was the thing that drew my daughter and I into this shop. Just dazzling!!! I ended up buying a Josephine Baker brooch after Christopher told me how it was made and his personal friendship with the maker. Then we became enthralled by his stories - meetings with the stars and the shows he's designed jewellery for and gotten to see. What a thrill. After we departed my daughter turned to me and said "I can't believe that just happened." A hightlight of our trip to London.
Written February 25, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Spike G
London, UK7 contributions
Nov 2015 • Friends
A part of old London that visitors rarely see. A cornucopia of individual shops in a quiet turning off busy Charing Cross Road and the historic hub of Britain's emerging film industry, this turning has antiques, rare books, prints, music, theatre memorabilia, contemporary art - the list is almost endless, there is even a shop that makes costume jewellery for world-famed TV and film productions (mentioning no names, but a famous Abbey ...). Opposite to this is a boys' (young and old) heaven selling miniatures of practically any car you can name. The whole place is a delight. Please note, I am NOT a shop owner, just an average Londoner proud of this bit of our city.
Written December 15, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Do you happen to know the store hours of Christopher St. James? I walked by the store in the evening and absolutely want to return.
Written December 1, 2017
11.30-5.30 It is a very special shop. Make sure you visit. Hope your London adventure continues! Safe travels!
Written December 2, 2017
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