History
Neal’s Yard is named after Thomas Neale; a 17th-century businessman who created the Seven Dials area. In 1976, Nicholas Saunders bought one of the buildings and created the Whole Food Warehouse, which became a success. The success attracted other businesses to Neal’s Yard, transforming the courtyard into what it is today.
Food and Drinks
Today Neal’s Yard has a range of cafes, restaurants, shops, and health and beauty products. The cafes and wine bars in the quiet courtyard are great for relaxing during or after a busy day. If you fancy pizza, you should try Homeslice, a popular and highly-rated pizza place offering wood-fired pizzas as a whole or by the slice, as the name suggests. Casanova & Daughters is a wine bar offering drinks and Sicilian antipasti. If you want a meal, they also serve a main or salad of the day. The Compagnie des Vins Surnaturels Seven Dials wine bar and restaurant has a collection of some 400 wines to try. They also serve food and snacks to go with the wine.
One option for breakfast and lunch is 26 Grains, which serves many types of breakfast, including more interesting than usual porridge options, such as Banana & Tahini or Pear & Turmeric porridge. They also have savoury options for breakfast and lunch.
For something sweeter, St. JOHN Bakery has delicious doughnuts, cakes and many more options.
Stores
There are also stores in the courtyard and the surrounding streets. Some popular stores are Neal’s Yard Remedies, which sells organic beauty products, and Neal’s Yard Dairy, which offers British and Irish artisanal cheese.
Location
Neal’s Yard is about ten minutes’ walk from Covent Garden. It’s easy to miss the entrance without knowing where you are going. The main entrance is on Short’s Gardens, one of the streets starting from the Seven Dials Monument. The other way to access it is via Monmouth Street, a cosy shopping street in Seven Dials, beginning from the Seven Dials Monument.
