Neal's Yard, Covent Garden

The triangular central area enclosed by buildings on three Seven Dials' streets - Monmouth Street, Short's Gardens and Neal Street - forms the Neal's Yard, accessed through alleyways from Monmouth Street and Short’s Gardens. Neal’s Yard, takes its name from Thomas Neale Master of the Mint who developed the Seven Dials (History: www.sevendials.com) from 1693 to around 1710.

Neale aimed to establish Seven Dials as the most fashionable address in London, following in the footsteps of the successful Covent Garden Piazza development earlier that century. Unfortunately, the area did not establish itself as Neale hoped until the late 20th century.

Today, Seven Dials remains as the only shopping village (www.sevendials.co.uk) of Covent Garden with Neal's Yard being the hidden gem of Seven Dials.