Goodwin's Court, London, Guida per visitatori e cosa fare nei dintorni

Goodwin's Court is a narrow pedestrian alley in London's West End, running between St Martin's Lane and Bedfordbury. It is lined with bow-windowed shopfronts from the Georgian era, a rare survival in a city that has rebuilt itself many times. Walk in off the busy street and the noise drops away, which is why it is a favourite with photographers and with anyone who likes old London.

The story behind it

The court is a small lane of terraced buildings tucked behind the theatres and shops of the West End. Its houses are old, and the curved bay windows along the row are the feature that gives it away: this style of shopfront was once common in London, but very few unbroken runs of it remain. The alley is a protected historic site, which is a large part of why it has changed so little.

The gas lamps that light the court add to the effect. After dark, and especially on a foggy or wet evening, it is easy to lose track of which century you are standing in. The setting has also led many visitors to compare it with Diagon Alley from the Harry Potter stories, though that remains a popular association rather than anything officially confirmed.

What to look for

• The row of bow-windowed shopfronts, with their small panes and curved glass, which is the main reason people come here.
• The gas lamps along the alley, which are most atmospheric once the light starts to fade.
• The narrowness of the court itself, a reminder of how tight the lanes of old London were compared with the broad streets around it.
• The contrast at each end, where you step from a quiet lane straight back into the crowds of St Martin's Lane and Bedfordbury.

Tips for your visit

• Ten minutes is plenty for the alley itself, so combine it with a wider walk through Covent Garden and the West End.
• Go at dusk or in the evening to see the lamps lit, or early in the morning for the quietest and best photographs.
• The court is an ordinary public lane that you can walk through, but the buildings are in use, so keep your voice down and do not block doorways.
• Trafalgar Square, Leicester Square and Covent Garden are all a short walk away, which makes it an easy add-on to a day of sightseeing.

See it on a quest

The Wizard's Mystery: Unveil London’s Dark Secrets Escape Game passes this alley as one stop on a longer walk through the area. You reach each place on foot, the app tells you about it when you arrive, and you solve a puzzle based on what is in front of you. The wizard theme suits a lane like this one. It is a paid quest, and one ticket covers the whole group.

West End, London Detective Mystery: Infiltrate a Secret Society. is another self-guided route through the West End that includes Goodwin's Court. You walk from place to place at your own pace, hear the story of each stop, and work out a puzzle on the spot. It is a paid quest, and one ticket covers the whole group.