Writer
Oliver Hartwell
Hampstead, London
Oliver is a lifelong Hampstead resident and architectural historian who has spent three decades uncovering the stories behind the village's Georgian terraces, hidden lanes, and literary landmarks. His writing blends meticulous research with a warm, accessible style.
Articles by Oliver Hartwell
147 articles
History & Heritage
Highgate Cemetery: The Complete Visitor Guide 2026
Highgate Cemetery is one of the great Victorian burial grounds of the world, a place of extraordinary atmosphere, Gothic architecture, overgrown pathways, and the graves of some of history's most remarkable people.
8 min read· 6 June 2026
Nature & Outdoors
Hill Garden & Pergola Hampstead Heath: London's Most Romantic Secret
A raised Edwardian pergola draped in wisteria and climbing roses, hovering above a formal garden on the western edge of Hampstead Heath, one of London's most breathtaking hidden spaces.
8 min read· 6 June 2026
Local Life
London Sightseeing by Private Black Cab: The Complete 2026 Guide
London's black cab drivers are the city's most knowledgeable guides, and a private sightseeing tour in a classic TX cab is the most personal, flexible way to see the capital.
9 min read· 6 June 2026
Arts & Culture
Camden Art Centre: Complete Visitor Guide 2026
Camden Art Centre sits at the intersection of Hampstead and West Hampstead, a free, fiercely independent gallery with one of the most adventurous exhibition programmes in London.
8 min read· 6 June 2026
History & Heritage
Fenton House Hampstead: Complete Visitor Guide 2026
Fenton House is one of London's oldest surviving mansion houses, a National Trust property that rewards slow exploration, from its walled garden to its extraordinary keyboard instrument collection.
6 min read· 6 June 2026
Food & Drink
Bonoo Indian Tapas Hampstead: The Best Indian Restaurant in NW3
Bonoo brings the street-food energy of Mumbai and Delhi to Hampstead High Street, one beautifully spiced small plate at a time.
7 min read· 6 June 2026
Local Life
Hampstead Heath Kite Festival: The Complete Guide 2026
Once a year, Parliament Hill turns into the most colourful sky in London. Here's everything you need to know about the Kite Festival, and why it is worth planning your calendar around.
5 min read· 6 June 2026
Local Life
Romantic Things to Do in North London: The Complete Guide 2026
North London, and Hampstead in particular, provides some of the most romantic settings in the city. This guide to the best romantic experiences requires no Tube to central London.
5 min read· 6 June 2026
Arts & Culture
Burgh House Hampstead: Complete Visitor Guide 2026
It's free to enter, it sits in one of London's most beautiful Georgian gardens, and it contains Hampstead's finest local museum. So why does almost nobody visit Burgh House?
5 min read· 6 June 2026
Nature & Outdoors
Hampstead Heath parkrun: The Complete Guide 2026
Every Saturday at 9am, several hundred people run 5km together across Hampstead Heath for free. Here is what you need to know before joining them.
5 min read· 6 June 2026
Food & Drink
Afternoon Tea in Hampstead: The Complete Guide 2026
Whether you want a traditional cream tea with scones and clotted cream or a full tiered afternoon tea with champagne, Hampstead delivers it beautifully.
5 min read· 6 June 2026
Local Life
West London Guide: The Complete 2026 Guide to Every Neighbourhood, From Notting Hill to Richmond
West London stretches from the grand terraces of Notting Hill and the royal parks of Kensington through the canal paths of Little Venice and the riverside villages of Chiswick and Kew to the ancient deer park of Richmond. This comprehensive guide covers every significant neighbourhood, with everything you need to know about visiting, eating, drinking, and exploring.
15 min read· 5 June 2026
Food & Drink
Hampstead Farmers' Market: The Complete Guide 2026
Every Saturday morning behind Hampstead High Street, one of London's finest small farmers' markets brings the best seasonal produce of the home counties to NW3.
5 min read· 5 June 2026
Food & Drink
West Hampstead Restaurants & Food: The Complete Guide 2026
West Hampstead has outgrown its reputation as the area you pass through on the way to Hampstead. Its restaurant scene is genuinely excellent and significantly underrated.
6 min read· 5 June 2026
Local Life
North London Guide: The Best Neighbourhoods, Things to Do and Places to Eat (2026)
North London is a world unto itself, ancient heaths, Georgian villages, Victorian high streets, and a cultural diversity that makes it one of the most interesting parts of any major city. This complete guide covers the best neighbourhoods, green spaces, restaurants, markets, and things to do across Camden, Islington, Hampstead, Highgate, Muswell Hill and beyond.
13 min read· 5 June 2026