Seven Dials, London

Situated between Covent Garden and Soho, you'll find Seven Dials, a quaint cobblestone area that beckons fashion enthusiasts with its vintage clothing and accessory boutiques, streetwear specialists, and cosmetics shops. It's a fantastic destination for shopping without the hefty London price tags, and it also offers a glimpse into the history of the UK's capital city.

Comprising seven interconnected streets and courtyards, this area was once part of the Saint Giles Rookery, a destitute neighborhood frequented by the impoverished, prostitutes, and petty thieves. Thanks to its seven escape routes, pickpockets frequently eluded capture. However, in 1690, Thomas Neale envisioned a transformation of this locale into an upper-middle-class district. His original plan centered on a square where six streets converged, featuring a pillar adorned with six sundials. Just before the project's completion, a seventh street was added, and while the name Seven Dials persisted, a seventh sundial was never affixed to the pillar. Nevertheless, the central spike was often interpreted as such.

In 1773, the Town Council removed the column, ostensibly for repairs but primarily to disperse the "undesirable elements" congregating at the central square. This move didn't significantly reduce crime, but it became a topic of local discussion. Over time, the "undesirable elements" lost interest and relocated to more lucrative areas, leading this spot to evolve into a favored gathering place for students.

Pubs and shops were either refurbished or newly opened around the pillar, which was replaced by a replica of the original in 1988. Today, Seven Dials draws millions of tourists annually who come to meander through its charming cobbled streets and discover hidden courtyards brimming with unique shops, boutiques, high-end cosmetics stores, bars, and restaurants.