Originally called Little Earl Street, this is a gateway into Seven Dials and Covent Garden. It is predicted that footfall will increase substantially when the new CrossRail station opens and efforts have been made in recent years to improve pedestrian movement towards The Dials and Covent Garden from Shaftesbury Avenue. This has included the closing up of vehicular access from The Dials to Shaftesbury Avenue which has significantly reduced the volume of traffic. A recent scheme has created a semi-pedestrianised area, shared with bicycles, at the junction with Shaftesbury Avenue.
