Seven Dials, Neal’s Yard

London, United Kingdom

Contributed by Project for Public Spaces

A comfortable neighborhood that shows a kinder, gentler side of London that you didn’t think existed.

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Why It Works

This district at the northern end of Covent Garden is very comfortable – almost too comfortable – for London. It is truly special, on a scale that shows a kinder, gentler side of London that you didn’t think existed. The small buildings, narrow streets, and little alleyways reveal wonderful treasures of little courtyards, such as Neal’s Yard, that seem almost like a hidden paradise. And while it is very historic, the overwhelming feeling is that it is contemporary, with uses that fit the setting. New York has Greenwich Village and Paris has the Marais, but this area is somehow even more enchanting. It’s one of those places positively draws you toward it, and makes you want to return to often.

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User Comments:

10/11/04 Shin-pei Tsay said:
I love this part of London. It provided hours of free entertainment from just walking around while I was attending school nearby. The only problem with Seven Dials is that cars tend to rush through, and it is difficult to cross the street when there are many cabs coming from all directions. But that is a London-wide problem, not necessarily specific to Seven Dials.
07/21/09 JD Evans said:
Seven Dials and Neal's Yard are just two roads in the area Covent Garden. Neither is a 'neighbourhood', even Covent Garden isn't a neighbourhood - nobody lives there, it's a shopping area for tourists. A very nice one without doubt but I wouldn't call it one of the top 20 neighbourhoods in London let alone the world.

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