Haymarket, London facts for kids
Haymarket is a famous street in the St James's area of London, England. It stretches from Piccadilly Circus in the north down to Pall Mall in the south. Along this street, you'll find well-known places like the Theatre Royal, His Majesty's Theatre, and New Zealand House. There are also many restaurants and a cinema complex for entertainment.
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History of Haymarket
How Haymarket Got Its Name
This wide street connecting Pall Mall and Piccadilly has been around since the Elizabethan era (the time of Queen Elizabeth I). As its name suggests, it was mainly used as a big street market. Farmers would bring their fodder (food for animals) and other farm goods here to sell.
Back then, this area was quite rural, with the village of Charing being the closest settlement. This tradition of selling hay and straw continued for many years. By the time King William III was on the throne, carts carrying hay and straw could trade here without paying any fees.
In 1692, when the street was paved, a small tax was introduced for the loads. It was 3 pence for a load of hay and 2 pence for a load of straw. Later, in 1830, the market was officially moved by a special law to Cumberland Market, which is closer to Regent's Park.
Famous Theatres on Haymarket
Haymarket is a big part of London's theatre area, known as the West End. People have been watching plays and shows here since the 1600s!
The Queen's Theatre in Haymarket opened in 1705. It was designed by John Vanbrugh. It was meant for plays, but its sound system worked much better for opera. So, from 1710 to 1745, many operas and musical stories by George Frederick Handel were first performed here. When Queen Anne died in 1714, the theatre was renamed the King's Theatre.
Sadly, Vanbrugh's building was destroyed by fire in 1790. But a new King's Theatre was built on the same spot. After another fire, Her Majesty's Theatre opened there in 1897. This building is the fourth theatre on that same site, and it's still used today for big musical productions.
The Theatre Royal you see today is on a different spot on Haymarket. It was originally designed by John Nash in 1820. It replaced an older theatre from the 1720s.
Haymarket Today
Haymarket runs next to Lower Regent Street. Together, these two roads form a one-way system. Lower Regent Street carries traffic going north, and Haymarket carries traffic going south. Both roads are part of the A4 route, which goes from London all the way to Avonmouth, near Bristol.
On June 29, 2007, the Metropolitan Police Service safely dealt with a car that had been parked in Haymarket. This was part of a series of events in London that year.
See also
In Spanish: Haymarket para niños
