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Maiden Lane runs along the southern side of Covent Garden, a narrow street between Southampton Street and Bedford Street, close to the Strand. It is best known as the home of Rules, which claims to be the oldest restaurant in London and has traded here since the late eighteenth century, giving the street a strong link to the district's long dining history. The lane is tight and enclosed, with buildings rising close on either side, and its ground floors carry restaurants, bars and small shops. Its narrowness and age give it a distinct character among the streets of the district, and it keeps a quieter feel than the market quarter to the north while still drawing a steady evening trade. The street has a long association with writers and diners, and its enduring eating places tie it to the culinary reputation of Covent Garden. Its position near the Strand and the theatres to the west keeps it within the orbit of theatreland, within easy reach of stage doors and pre-theatre dining. Maiden Lane is one of the district's most characterful streets, valued for its history and its restaurants.
