The story
The yard is named after Thomas Neale, a seventeenth-century developer who laid out Seven Dials. For centuries it was a service yard used by warehouses. In the 1970s, the entrepreneur Nicholas Saunders opened a wholefood warehouse here, and other businesses followed, including Neal's Yard Remedies, founded in 1981.
The bright colours, plants and small shops make it one of the most photographed corners of Covent Garden.
What to look for
- The painted shopfronts.
- Plants and window boxes.
- Cafés and wholefood shops.
- The Seven Dials sundial pillar nearby.
Why it's worth seeking out
Neal's Yard shows how a forgotten service yard can become one of London's most loved small spaces. Its bright colours and greenery are a contrast to the grand theatres and busy streets nearby, and its independent cafés and shops reflect the area's history as a centre for wholefoods and alternative health. It is also a good starting point for exploring the Seven Dials area, with its seven streets meeting at a sundial column, and the small specialist shops that have made Covent Garden distinctive.
Combine it with
Seven Dials, Covent Garden Market, Goodwin's Court and the West End theatres are all nearby.
Visiting tips
The yard is small and can be crowded at weekends. Visit early in the day for photographs.
Getting there
Covent Garden station (Piccadilly line) is a short walk. With Mason & Green, we can drop you near Seven Dials.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Neal's Yard?
Off Shorts Gardens and Monmouth Street, near Seven Dials in Covent Garden.
Is Neal's Yard free to visit?
Yes. It is a public courtyard.
Who was Thomas Neale?
A seventeenth-century developer who laid out Seven Dials.