Go-To’s For a Day Out at Neal’s Yard

Tucked away in a quiet alley in Covent Garden, Neal’s Yard contains a colourful, eco-friendly and ethical shopping district. Wanna know the best places to visit? Here’s a list of places that are our unmissable go-tos.

Neal’s Yard Remedies

Need a new skincare routine or a thoughtful gift? ‘Neal’s Yard Remedies’ is a family-owned health and beauty business, founded in 1981 by natural health advocate, Romy Fraser.

The business is a passionate advocate for organic living and protecting the planet; becoming the UK’s first certified health and beauty brand, to helping ban plastic microbeads. Neal’s Yard Remedies is the perfect place to sample all different kinds of eco-friendly beauty products.

Using sustainable and ethically sourced ingredients, from Mexican honey to organic chiuri butter from Nepal, all of Neal’s Yard Remedies products are crafted with love. At their eco factory in Dorset, they select the finest herbs, botanicals and essential oils to maximise the therapeutic benefits of all of their products.

Make sure to pop in and sample their most popular products of the season – bath and body sets. Coming in a variety of scents, such English Lavender and Seaweed and Arnica, there will for sure be a scented product you will love.

Opening hours: Mon-Sat: 10am-7pm; Sun: 11am-6pm

26 Grains

If you’re fancying a bite or a quick pick-me-up coffee, 26 Grains is the place for you in Neal’s Yard.

Founded in July 2014 by Alex Hely-Hutchinson, 26 Grains has grown to sell over 872 bowls of porridge per week.

26 Grains has become the go-to breakfast spot in Neal’s Yard. A vast choice are available; such as the bestseller named by the founder: Nordic Pear Porridge with a cacao crumble and crystallised ginger. There’s also a lunch menu for later in the day. Take a look at the whole menu here.

With their most popular speciality being customisable porridge, 26 Grains also offers a huge selection of fresh bakes, artisan coffee – and a variety of alcohol – if you’re feeling slightly parched.

It’s definitely the place to visit for a quick pit-stop to relax in the outdoor seating area, and admire the beauty of Neal’s Yard with a mug of hot chocolate, or an Americano. Whichever floats your boat.

Opening hours: Weekdays 8am-9.30pm | Saturday 9am-9.30pm| Sunday 10am-4pm

Neal’s Yard Dairy

With the mission to ‘improve British cheese’, Neal’s Yard Dairy is the perfect place to pop if you’re into cheese tasting – or need a fresh block for your toasties in the morning.

It first found its feet in 1980, when British farmhouse cheese was in a state of seemingly terminal decline. Founder Randolph Hodgson improved the quality of British cheese by putting more research into the flavours and variety.

The cheese is matured in its own site in Bermondsey, and hand-cut and wrapped by their team of expert cheesemongers.

So when you do pop in, have a taste of the Colston Bassett stilton and Montgomery’s cheddar, the two most popular cheeses at the moment. Or, if you’re too spoilt for choice, ask for a “lucky dip cheese”. They’ll provide you with a random cheese to experience a new taste.

Opening hours: Weekdays 10am-7pm | Sat 10am-7pm| Sun CLOSED

Hair By Fairy

Make a stop at Hair by Fairy for alternative, modern and colourful cuts; before or after your food, drinks and shop. There aren’t any rules.

As well as ‘shag’ cuts and mullets, Hair By Fairy offers a range of colour, perm, nails, facials, massages and more. This salon is entirely unisex and caters to all identities.

Hair By Fairy was recognised in 2001 as one of the UK’s top hair salons and has been reported regularly in the French, German and Japanese press. Popular because of their modern and fresh cuts that stand out from the ‘everyday’ salon – inspiring fresh and fashionable cuts rather than the average and repetitive.

So if you’re looking for a quick manicure, a nice relaxing facial or a new and modern do, make sure to visit Hair By Fairy in Neal’s Yard.

Opening hours: Weekdays 10am-7pm | Sat 10am-7pm| Sun CLOSED

Wild Food Cafe

Eating clean and raw for the New Year is on a lot of people’s resolutions list. If you’re looking to find a healthy lunch at Neal’s Yard, Wild Food Cafe is the spot for you.

Serving organic produce only, Wild Food Cafe has plenty of healthy meals available to you. If you’re not feeling too peckish, you can still take up a raw food cookery class and learn all about the raw diet health benefits.

From my last visit the Green Samurai Burger, pictured above, was a win. It was a taste sensation from start to finish – with the patty assembled with raw pink olive, shiitake mushrooms and burdock root.

Their shop inside sells organic produce for you to cook for yourself at home, as well as a gorgeous view of Neal’s Yard on their first floor.

Opening hours: Mon 11.30-4pm |Tue-Sat 11.30-9pm | Sun 11.30-6pm