GCI Places

Restaurants · Covent Garden

Rules

Rules is a restaurant on Maiden Lane in Covent Garden, trading since 1798 and the oldest restaurant in London. Its premises are Grade II listed.

Photograph of Rules in London
Rules, London's oldest restaurant. The private dining rooms were well favoured by the PM of the day Margaret Thatcher. Steve F · CC-BY-SA-2.0

Why it matters

Included for continuity: it has served on the same Covent Garden lane since 1798, through the market's arrival, departure and replacement.

Editorial context written by Global City Intelligence, not a statement from the venue.

Sources & verification

coordinates.latitude
National Heritage List for England, entry 1238981: Rules Restaurant (Primary) — checked 2026-09-07
Read from an authoritative geospatial publisher; see the coordinate's own status and role.
coordinates.longitude
National Heritage List for England, entry 1238981: Rules Restaurant (Primary) — checked 2026-09-07

Not verified: opening hours, admission prices and access rules. These change frequently and we have not checked them, so this page does not state them. Check the official website before travelling.

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