Welcome to Seven Dials
Master of the Mint, Thomas Neale devised the Seven Dials layout of cobbled streets leading from the famous Dial monument in the 17th century. With a rich history and a host of cultural and consumable delights the area is now known as London's most fashionable shopping destination, offering a village like feel right in the heart of the West End.
With an eclectic mix of urban flagship stores, one off fashion and footwear boutiques, vintage emporiums and funky café-bars plus a selection of theatres and hotels, Seven Dials is the antithesis to impersonal high street shopping. The area continues to attract a mix of shoppers - from the skater crowd to fashionistas.
What can you do in Seven Dials?
The flower market on Earlham Street provides a colourful backdrop to an unrivalled selection of edgy streetwear retailers including the Stussy, Fred Perry, Firetrap and adidas Originals flagship stores.
Monmouth Street hosts a range of designer delights and was described by Esquire as ‘London's sexiest street’. It's easy to see why with sophisticated and cult boutiques such as Coco de Mer and Koh Samui providing a touch of glamour to the area. Monmouth Street offers an unrivalled selection of gorgeous retail treasures just a stone’s throw from each other - including Poste Mistress, Orla Kiely, Laura Lee jewellery and The West Village.
Neal’s Yard, a picturesque courtyard hidden behind Shorts Gardens and Monmouth Street, specialises in vegetarian and organic cafes. You will also find holistic and homeopathic treatment rooms such as The Walk-In Back Rub and Neal’s Yard Remedies. Packed in among the colourful cafes and artists studios are quirky and specialist stores - Slam City Skates, Neal’s Yard Dairy and the famous record shop, Rough Trade who celebrate 30 years at the cutting edge of the Indie music scene this year.
Thomas Neal’s Centre, the destination street/surf/skate shopping centre forms a triangle bordered by Neal Street, Earlham Street and Shorts Gardens. Dedicated urban sports fanatics, and those who just want the look, will find everything they could possibly want in Quiksilver, Fat Face, Mooks and Urban Kaos.
Recently opened on Shorts Gardens is Nickel’s men-only spa - the fifth worldwide outlet from renowned grooming expert Philippe Dumont, offering everything from manicures to waxing in a luxurious and masculine setting. Space NK’s original Earlham Street boutique runs a selection of makeover and skin tutorials while Karine Jackson Hair and Beauty on Litchfield Street boasts the first Organic colouring system in the area. With Kiehl’s flagship store as well as MAC and Pout completing the mix, Seven Dials offers pampering treats a-plenty for both girls and boys.
A short stroll down Neal Street will take you past all the shoe shops you’ll ever need, including Soletrader, Birkenstock and Offspring. You’ll also find established brands such as Mac, Speedo and Office tucked next to quirky retailers such as Superlovers, Appletree and Indian Rose. Venture off Neal Street into Shorts Gardens and you’ll find industrial style flagship stores from Boxfresh and GStar.
There is much to choose from in terms of theatrical venues including the intimate 250 seats Donmar Warehouse Theatre, situated off Earlham Street and home to the best in contemporary shows, and the long established Cambridge and Mousetrap venues for classic musical and theatrical productions.
Eating and drinking is not forgotten with plenty of places to refuel and reflect after a hard days shopping. Carluccio’s famous delicatessen and his Neal Street Restaurant, the cosy and cavernous African-Moroccan restaurant Souk Medina and Portuguese café bar Canela ensure all tastes are catered for. Those after some liquid refreshment can find fabulous cocktails at Detroit and a selection of beers from across the world in Bunker’s basement bar.
After all that shopping, eating and drinking those in need of a place to rest their weary heads need not leave the Seven Dials parameters with the celeb hang out, The Covent Garden Hotel, the small and cosy Seven Dials Hotel and the classy Mountbattan on hand to provide a fitting end to the Seven Dials experience.