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.

The first stage — lighting the dial faces — has now been implemented. Camden removed the ugly lamp columns from around the Dials and replaced them with three elegant 'Brompton' style columns which feature the crest of the old Borough of Holborn. These  provide support and power for the brackets holding the spotlights as well as lighting the Dials.

A community partnership project, initiated and led by the Trust, with Camden Council, the Corporation of London (advisory), Historic England, Westminster City Council, the Mercers' Company and Shaftesbury PLC. This home-grown project saw the replacement of all lamp columns (except the few remaining historic gas columns) by bespoke façade-mounted lanterns from Shaftesbury Avenue down to Long Acre (the largest area in the West End with façade lighting).

We are currently in the process of up-dating, amalgamating and expanding the three existing volumes of the Seven Dials Renaissance Study.  This will be published as a website, making it accessible to a wider audience. Web designers Radford Wallis have been contracted to design and build the site.

The Seven Dials Renaissance Study is the the key document in the work of the Trust. It provides a detailed framework for the care and enhancement of the total environment of the Seven Dials area. An example of its influence and efficacy is that freeholders Shaftesbury PLC have invested more than £3 million implementing its recommendations for restoring façades.