What and where is Seven Dials in London?
Posted on Jan 08, 2026 / Travel
Seven Dials is a historic neighbourhood and road junction in the West End of London, located within the Covent Garden area of the London Borough of Camden. The district is named for its unique layout where seven streets converge on a central roundabout crowned with a sundial column. Although the sundial column has six faces, the pillar itself acts as the seventh, creating the iconic “Seven Dials” name. Thomas Neale laid out the distinctive star‑shaped street plan in the early 1690s as part of a new residential development. Over the centuries the area evolved from planned affluent housing, to a notorious slum in the 18th and 19th centuries, and finally to the vibrant mixed‑use quarter it is today. Seven Dials is now a popular destination for visitors exploring London’s West End because of its charm, shops, and eateries. Its central location and historic character make it a notable part of any London itinerary.
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