Neal Street and Seven Dials

Neal Street and neighbouring Seven Dials are located in the heart of Covent Garden, and you’ll find that when most Londoners say they’re “off to Covent Garden”, they’re talking about this part. Just around the corner from Covent Garden station and the madness of the piazza, Neal Street is a haven for independent retailers and funky, youthful chains. It is particularly strong on hipster stores (Urban Outfitters, American Apparel), streetwear (Energie, WESC, G-Shock) and footwear – the outlet of Size? is a veritable sneaker paradise, and the almost every major hip shoe store is represented, from Sole Trader and Terra Plana to Aldo and Office.

Neighbouring Seven Dials is also an excellent shopping area, though not in the energetic, commercial sense like Neal Street. It specialises in urban fashion and the kind of free-minded indie store beloved by the media and creative set – Magma’s bookstore and gift shops are both located on Earlham Street along with skatewear hard-hitter Volcom, great menswear at Santos and Mowen along with more familiar labels like Carhartt and Superdry. The area is rich in great bars and restaurants, so it’s well worth making an afternoon of.

Nearest Tube: Covent Garden, Leicester Square and Holborn are all within 5 minutes.