Neal's Yard

The Basics

Neal’s Yard is best explored on foot, with several walking tours stopping here during wider London exploration. The cafés and wine bars offer a great start—or end—point for West End nights out and pre-theatre dinners, while daytime visitors can combine with the nearby National Gallery or British Museum. Don’t miss the Neal’s Yard Remedies and Monmouth Coffee flagship stores or the Neal’s Yard Dairy, which all played a key role in making the area what it is today.

Things to Know Before You Go

• Not all shops in Neal’s Yard are wheelchair accessible.

• Beauty and self-care enthusiasts will love the salons, stores, and treatments available all around the square.

• Many restaurants and bars have limited indoor seating, so be prepared to sit outside.

How to Get There

Neal’s Yard is a short walk from Covent Garden and Tottenham Court Road tube stations, which are serviced by the Northern, Central, and Picadilly tube lines. Local buses stop on nearby St. Giles High Street and along Cambridge Circus. The square itself is only accessible on foot, though some city tours also stop nearby, including hop-on hop-off buses and coach tours.

When to Get There

The tiny space gets packed easily, so prepare for crowds and potentially long waits, especially in summer. Avoid the after-work rush where possible, and don’t be put off by the chill of winter, when it's usually far easier to get a seat.

Alternative London

If Neal’s Yard whets your appetite for London’s more alternative side, try heading north to Camden Town, best known for its sprawling market, or out east to Shoreditch and Hackney, home to some of the city’s trendiest nightlife. Down south, try Brixton Market for a taste of international fare, or west to Notting Hill, where you can see how the city’s wealthier residents live alternatively.

Ways to explore

Previously used for storage space, Neal’s Yard is enjoying a new lease of life after demolition plans were binned and new businesses moved in. Learn its history—from 17th-century beginnings to present day—on Covent Garden walking tours, food tours, or even photography shoots that pass through.

If you have time to linger, browse the courtyard’s famous Neal’s Yard Remedies for organic skin care products, shop for cheese at Neal’s Yard Dairy, and relax with a coffee or a beer at one of its cafés or restaurants. It’s a place to enjoy some relaxation away from the bustle of nearby Covent Garden.

Accessibility

The historic alleyways to enter the courtyard are narrow; business accessibility varies.

Age limits

None

What to pack

Credit cards, if you plan to shop

What to wear

Comfortable shoes and a small bag

Not allowed

Selfie sticks aren’t banned, but could be annoying in this small space

Amenities

Shops, restaurants, cafés with outdoor seating

Address

Neal’s Yard is near Covent Garden and Seven Dials in central London, and is walkable from London attractions, such as Chinatown, Leicester Square, and Soho.

Driving

You need to pay the London Congestion Charge and the ULEZ (Ultra Low Emission Zone) fee, if applicable for your vehicle. Leave your car at the paid-for Q-Park Covent Garden parking lot, which is beneath St. Martin’s Lane Hotel.

Public transportation

Take the tube to Covent Garden via the Piccadilly line, and then walk for five minutes to Neal’s Yard, entering the courtyard via alleyways from either Short’s Gardens or Monmouth Street. Bus No. 24 stops at Leicester Square, from where Covent Garden is a short, signposted walk.

Best times to visit

To catch the enclave at its liveliest, visit around lunchtime. To see it with fewer people around, visit either early in the morning or late in the evening.

Best days to visit

Visit Neal’s Yard midweek to avoid too many other tourists, especially in the busy summer.

Best months to visit

Having become one of London’s most snappable sites, it could be busy in the peak summer months of July and August. A sunny spring or fall day would be ideal.

Special events

Shops such as Neal’s Yard Remedies offer private wellness events throughout the year.