Seven Dials is one of London's most distinctive landmarks — a junction of seven streets radiating from a central sundial column in the heart of Covent Garden. Laid out in 1693 by Thomas Neale, the area was designed with a star-shaped street plan that's survived over three centuries. The original sundial pillar was pulled down in 1773, but a faithful replica was installed in 1989, making the monument you see today one of London's most photographed and least understood landmarks.

The streets around Seven Dials are packed with things to discover on foot. Neal's Yard is hidden just a few steps away — a tiny courtyard bursting with colour, independent cafés, and a history tied to London's occult and alternative medicine scene dating back to the 17th century. Seven Dials Market, housed in a former banana warehouse, is one of London's best indoor food halls. And the independent boutiques, vintage shops, and specialist stores lining Monmouth Street and Earlham Street make this one of the best areas in central London for wandering without a plan.

Seven Dials has reinvented itself dramatically over the centuries. What started as a speculative housing development for the wealthy quickly became one of London's most notorious slums — described by Charles Dickens and feared by Victorian Londoners. Today it's a conservation area and one of Covent Garden's most vibrant neighbourhoods, where centuries of hidden history sit beneath a surface of stylish shops and restaurants.

With Questo, you can explore the stories hidden in these streets through an interactive adventure. Solve puzzles, follow clues, and uncover the secrets that most visitors walk straight past. It's part scavenger hunt, part walking tour, and entirely self-guided so you can start whenever you like.