London is a city made up of dozens of beautiful and unique neighborhoods. One of the pleasures I’ve had of living and working in London is the opportunity to explore these neighborhoods at will and often in the peaceful early hours of the morning.

A self guided walking tour of Seven Dials is a great way to explore the neighborhood and learn more about it’s unique characteristics.

Wandering in Seven Dials

Seven Dials is a favorite of mine for wandering; it has great shopping and fantastic restaurants. I find it quaint and with a charm that is all it’s own. I’ve walked through these streets countless times and on a recent morning I strolled through the streets of Seven Dials.

I’ve created a map of my recommend paths in Seven Dials. It’s most easily accessible by Covent Garden Station (Piccadilly Line), Leicester Square (Northern Line) or Tottenham Court Road (Central or Northern Line).

What is Seven Dials?

Seven Dials refers to the neighborhood near Soho and Covent Garden where 7 streets converge. In the middle of the square there is a monument featuring 6 sun dials at the very top. This area was originally designed by Thomas Neale, who’s name appears on many of the buildings, and dates back to the 1690s.

Although by design Seven Dials was meant to build on the success of Covent Garden and attract wealth to the neighborhood, it instead became one of the most notorious slums in London.

In modern London this area has a lot of good restaurants and shopping. And quaint passages that you can’t find in other areas of London.

Photos of Seven Dials