London area of Seven Dials guide

What to do and where to stay in London's Seven Dials neighbourhood

The Seven Dials refers to the layout of the cobbled streets in this scenic part of Covent Garden which includes Monmouth Street, Earlham Street and Mercer Street. The seven streets radiate out from the central sundial - which can still be seen today but is a replica of the original. Looking closely you'll see the dial only has only six faces; this is due to an earlier urban planning drawn up by Thomas Neale in the 17th century who devised the characteristic seven dials street layout to maximise the number of houses that could be built on the site - so maximising his profit. His aim was to create an affluent, upper class area similar to Covent Garden Piazza. He didn't exactly succeed. By the 1700s it was home to shops selling second and third hand goods, Charles Dickens Junior noted the shops stocking "every rarity of pigeon, fowl and rabbit, together with rare Birds such as hawks, owls and parrots, love birds and other species native and foreign". Today, Neale would be proud of the fashionable shops, cafes, theatres and the fashionable crowd they attract. The area has a distinctive community spirit thanks to the promotion of independent stores alongside more mainstream names. This is close to a village as you'll get this deep into central London.

See our recommended nearby Seven Dials Hotels, and Pubs.

The Bloomsbury Hotel
London > Hotels > Mid-Range Chain Hotel
16-22 Great Russell Street, WC1B3NN
A smart, fashionably furnished yet traditional hotel in the centre of town with first-class service, The Bloomsbury Hotel is great value for money among the capital’s ... More

 

 

Radisson Blu Edwardian Bloomsbury Street Hotel
London > Hotels > Luxury Chain Hotel
9-13 Bloomsbury Street, WC1B
Near to the British Museum, this Edwardian hotel is something of a Bloomsbury landmark. Relaunched in January 2009 following a £25million makeover, each of the 174 ... More

 

 

The Soho Hotel
London > Hotels > Luxury Chain Hotel
4 Richmond Mews, W1D
... More

 

 

Hotels in Seven Dials

 

Norman's Coach & Horses
London > Nightlife > Pubs
29 Greek Street, London, Seven Dials, London W1D
Claiming to be 'the West End's Best Known Pub', Norman's Coach & Horses certainly has more than its fair share of unique features. Firstly there's the ... More

 

 

Lamb & Flag
London > Nightlife > Pubs
33 Rose Street, London, Seven Dials, London WC2E
One of the oldest pubs in London, the Lamb & Flag was once known as the Bucket of Blood, thanks to the bare-knuckle fights held here. ... More

 

 

The Cove
London > Nightlife > Pubs
1 The Piazza, London, Seven Dials, London WC2E
Overlooking Covent Garden Piazza, the Cove is a world away from the crowds outside. Tucked up in a worn, leather armchair under the pub’s low, beamed ... More

 

 

Pubs in Seven Dials