In this detailed guide to Neil’s Yard London in Covent Garden, you’ll learn about the history of the square, where to find the best restaurants and shops, and more.
You will also find the best time to visit Neil’s Yard Covent Garden below to experience one of the most beautiful places in London.
Neil’s Yard is one of London’s most colorful little corners, even on a gray day. It is an oasis from the busy shopping hub.
Wander through the small alley to the courtyard, and you’ll be amazed by the bright, quirky, colorful buildings, windows and shops. Neil’s Yard’s charming shops and restaurants are sure to put a smile on your face.
If you’re looking for more about London or planning a trip to the Big Smoke, read my London Travel Tips guide.
Neil’s Garden is a hidden street in London that many locals don’t even know about. So, I have put together a small travel guide to one of the most beautiful places in the city.
Tip: If you’re looking for quirky things to do in London, this is one of the best.
Neal Yard: London’s hidden gem
Located in the heart of central London, Neil’s Yard is a hidden gem that is definitely worth a visit. It’s one of the top things to do in Covent Garden, which has become one of the capital’s most iconic areas.
Here you’ll find many street performers, top restaurants and some of London’s best theaters on Shaftesbury Avenue vying for your attention.
Most people forget to explore the smaller, relatively unknown side streets and areas around Covent Garden such as the Seven Dials and Neil Yard.
Tucked away down an alley, just off Neil Street from the hustle and bustle of Shaftesbury Avenue, is this secret London spot.
The alleys in Neil’s Yard are so small that if you blink as you pass, you might miss a turn. The courtyard is surrounded by shops and is not visible from the streets if you don’t know where you are going.
A walk down the high winding alleyways will take you to the exotic and colorful Neel Yard Seven Dials.
If you’re spending a day in London when the sun is shining brightly, you’ll notice shop front courtyards painted in yellows, reds and greens illuminated by its warm glow.
Neil Yard is one of the few shops in London with an open-air terrace that overlooks a courtyard. The atmosphere in the garden is very relaxed, and has a ‘stop and stay a while’ feel.
Where is Neil Yard Covent Garden?
Neil’s yard lies in the middle Seven dials district (known for its artisan coffee shops and independent boutiques).
How to get to Covent Garden Neil Yard
A secluded garden in an eclectic neighborhood around a six-minute walk from Covent Garden underground station.
The colorful courtyard is accessible through two small lanes at either end. One alleyway is off Neil Street through Short’s Gardens, and the other is through an alleyway on Monmouth Street in the heart of London’s Covent Garden.
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Neil Yard History
The Neal Yard that many people see and know today is a far cry from what the area was or looked like 40 years ago. Let’s take a look at some interesting things to know about Neil’s Yard history.
Thomas Neale makes seven dials
In the early 1690s the courtyard area was named after Thomas Neale, MP and industrialist. Neil received a piece of land in central London from William III and created the Seven Dials district in which Neil’s yard is located.
Tip: If you want to browse around some of the popular shops in central London, check out this guide to London’s famous shopping streets
Thomas Neale’s aim was to establish the district as one of London’s most fashionable addresses following the successful Covent Garden piazza.
But the area failed to establish itself as the industrialist had hoped, and deteriorated into a slum famous for its gin shops.
Meanwhile this area was a notorious place The London Gin Craze. Until 1976, the courtyard was a rat-infested, barren place where tramps used the toilet. There were also a few warehouses supporting the Covent Garden fruit and vegetable market.
The area was so low that even the colorful square on London A to Z was not visible.
Nicholas Saunders buys Neil’s yard
Entrepreneur Nicholas Saunders was looking for a cheap place to live in Soho and Covent Garden. He finds Neal’s yard for sale at a bargain as it is scheduled for demolition.
Nicholas tried to stay in the area to save it from demolition but was refused planning permission.
However, with some persistence, Saunders was granted permission, and in 1976 he decided to open an entire restaurant.
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A village community begins in the colorful streets of Covent Garden
Taking what he learned from his time living in Christiania in Copenhagen, Saunders began building his shop.
A few months later, the first shop was born in Neil’s yard. The original small shop grew, and it grew into a social scene.
Regular customers liked the shop and Neil’s yard so much that they asked him to work there, bringing together Nicholas’ idea of a village community.
This has now transformed the courtyard into a thriving, colorful village-style community that many Londoners and tourists enjoy.
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Neil Yard restaurants, cafes and shops
In keeping with Neil’s Yard Physiology for holistic and sustainable health and beauty, all shops around the courtyard are organic and focus on sustainable and ethical practices.
Whether you visit Neil’s Yard Restaurant during the week or on the weekend, you will undoubtedly find a comfortable place to enjoy breakfast. Here are the top cafes and restaurants Neal’s Yard has to offer.
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Neil Yard Remedies London
Neil’s Yard Remedies Covent Garden is well-known in London and has a cult following around the world.
They specialize in beauty and skin care products, using only organic ingredients wherever possible.
If you’re not a fan of heavily scented beauty products, Neil’s Yard Remedies’ lightly scented products will be a treat to your senses.
Address | 15 Neil’s Yard, London, WC2H 9DP
Opening Time | Monday to Saturday: 10:00 – 19:00; Sunday: 11:00 – 18:00
Neill’s Yard Dairy Covent Garden
Cheese lovers rejoice! The cheeses at Neil’s Yard Dairy are handpicked from the best creameries and farmers in Britain and Ireland. It is one of the best Neal Yard shops to visit and offers a selection of cheeses for every occasion and taste bud.
Address | 17 Shorts Gardens, London WC2H 9AT, UK
Opening Time | Monday to Saturday: 10:00 – 19:00; Closed on Sundays
St. John’s Bakery Neil’s Yard
St. John’s Bakery is located near the lively Seven Dials in a neighborhood with many successful food enterprises.
Visitors can pick up Eccles cakes, donuts and sourdough from St. John’s bakery Neal’s Yard and Lancashire cheese from their neighbor and longtime St. John’s friend Neal’s Yard Dairy.
Address | 3 Neil’s Yard, London
Opening Time | Monday to Saturday: 08:00 am – 18:00 pm; Sunday: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Casanova and Daughters
This Sicilian deli and wine bar serves authentic Italian produce and some of the best antipasti you’ll find in London.
At the deli, you can also have your meal on the terrace and enjoy the view of the courtyard from above. At Neal’s Yard, food options are plentiful, but if you want to enjoy a casual meal or drink in a relaxed atmosphere, be sure to check out Casanova and Daughters.
Address | 6 Neil’s Yard, London WC2H 9DP, UK
Opening Time | Tuesday to Thursday: 12:00 – 22:00; Friday to Saturday 12:00 – 23:00; Closed on Sundays and Mondays
26 Grain’s Neil Yard Cafe, London
26 Grains is loved by Londoners for its posh porridge and avocado toast, perfect on a chilly morning. It is one of the best Neil Yard Covent Garden restaurants to visit for a delicious experience.
Weekend specials are also not to be missed but get there early as the place is small and fills up fast. If you’re looking for a new favorite A brunch spot in Covent Garden Which offers a mouth-watering menu, reach 26 grains.
Address | 1 Neil’s Yard, Seven Dials, London WC2H 9DP
Opening Time | Monday to Sunday: 9:00 – 16:00
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Neil Yard London – location and opening hours
Neil’s Yards is a six-minute walk from Covent Garden station via Short’s Gardens on Neil Street. Neil Yard Covent Garden opening times are:
- Monday to Saturday: 10:00 – 18:00
- Sunday: 10:00 – 17:00pm
Location of Neil’s Yard: 15 Neil’s Yard, London WC2H 9DP
Ready to explore Neil’s Yard London restaurants and shops?
To really appreciate this vibrant area, it’s best to get there early to avoid other tourists and Londoners, as Neal Yard restaurants, shops and outdoor spaces are small and get crowded quickly.
There are many reasons to visit Neil’s Yard in London, and I would recommend adding this stop to every first-time London itinerary. However, there’s nothing stopping you from going back on your 2nd, 3rd and every subsequent visit.
Have you been to Neil’s Yard in London? What did you think about it?
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