Seven Dials Covent Garden is a unique quarter of London whose star-shaped layout remains as constructed in the early 1690s. It was brought back to life largely through the dedication of the Seven Dials Trust, working in partnership with the local authorities and landowners for nearly forty years.

Knight’s London (1842) described Seven Dials as the "Hanging Gardens of Babylon". The wide shop entablatures (the ‘shelves’ above the eighteenth- and nineteenth-century shop fronts), provide perfect sites for window boxes.  Taking its cue from this, The Trust offered local residents and businesses ready-planted window boxes at subsidised prices. The scheme was well-received with excellent take up.

In the 1980s, Endell Street, the only ‘boulevard’ type street in the area, was planted with a wide variety of trees, following a well-attended public meeting. This scheme by Camden arboriculturalists has been extremely popular with residents and businesses alike. The Seven Dials Renaissance Study recommended no further planting as it is inappropriate and historically inaccurate. Instead, it recommended a return to the area’s historic planters above shop fronts. Shaftesbury PLC has implemented this recommendation on many of its shop fronts.

One of the most innovative features of the Seven Dials Renaissance Study is its building-by-building section. Each facade in the area is described in detail and illustrated. Recommendations for improvements are included. Major freeholder Shaftesbury PLC has followed this as guidance on all their properties, many of which are listed. They have invested around £3.5m in these works which range from total refurbishment, to replacing shopfronts and re-glazing, to reinstalling awnings and soot washing brickwork. We are delighted that the Seven Dials Renaissance Study has assisted the private sector in maintaining and enhancing the area.