Hampstead Heath ★☆☆
A vast park in North London, with lovely views, wooded rambles, swimming ponds, cozy pubs, and Old Master art in a genteel manor house
You can ramble these 790 acres of old growth forest just a Tube's ride north of the city center.
Hampstead Heath—"The Heath" to its aficionados—is just about the highest point in all of Greater London, and you can get excellent (if distant, urban-hazy) views over London and its increasingly skyscraper-prickled skyline from a viewpoint on the heights of Parliament Hill.
The only real "sight" is the genteel, early 17th century manor of Kenwood House, with its free art gallery featuring works by Rembrandt and Vermeer. (If it looks vaguely familiar, perhaps you are recalling the "filming the Henry James picture" scenes towards the end of the Julia Roberts/High Grant romcom Notting Hill.) » more
The park is vast. You can swim in the string of swimming ponds on its east and southwest edges, visit a small zoo in the western Golders Hill Park section, use the public sports facilities (including a pool and a petanque pitch) in the park's southeastern corner, dine in the restaurant-filled trendy village at its southwestern edge where many international celebrities live quietly, and relax in the countryside pubs scattered throughout the Heath itself (My favorite: The cozy and literary 16th century Spaniards Inn; » more)
The third decade of the twentieth century saw the lush North London suburb of Hampstead become a hub both for modern, experimental architects and controversial psychoanalysts. This Hampstead Tour will explore some of the most significant locations in the story of this peculiarly-Hampstead, yet internationally-significant brand of modernism, visiting sites ranging from the Isokon Building, a one-time commune and modernist masterpiece, and discussing the intellectuals that gave Hampstead its distinct character.
Meet your guide near Hampstead tube station in the early afternoon, then set off through the cobbled streets to begin your walking tour. Widely considered among the UK capital’s prettiest districts, Hampstead boasts traditional pubs, quaint boutiques, and plenty of London character.
On your 2-hour tour, admire centuries-old Georgian homes once lived in by great writers, poets, and painters such as H.G. Wells, John Keats, Robert Louis Stevenson, George du Maurier, John Constable, John Galsworthy, D.H. Lawrence, and Katherine Mansfield.
Discover historic churches, pass pubs dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries, and see the house where the most famous playwright of his day — Oscar Wilde — spent much of his time. As you explore, gain insight into the area’s history and see what sets Hampstead apart from other corners of the capital.
Head up to Hampstead Heath — an area of rolling woodlands and meadows made famous by the art of John Constable — and admire sweeping views over the capital’s skyline from your vantage point on the hillside.
After around two hours exploring the streets and parks of Hampstead, return to central Hampstead to conclude your tour.
These might include Hampstead Heath
More toursTips
It's a park! Spend as long as you need to relax and regroup for the sightseeing.
With all the woods and pathways, I could easily spend an hour or two here, leaving the bustle of the city behind for a bit.
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A 16th century pub on Hampstead Heath that inspired Keats, Dickens, and Stoker
A 17th century manor house in Hampstead Heath with a fabulous free art collection
