The Kenwood concerts, the Heath summer fair, Open House Weekend, and the other calendar events that structure life in the village throughout the year.
Hampstead has a rich calendar of annual events and festivals, from summer fairs and music concerts to literary festivals, Christmas markets, and the traditions of Hampstead Heath. This guide covers the year-round highlights, helping you plan a visit around the village's best annual occasions.
- Hampstead hosts events year-round, many of them free and family-friendly
- Summer brings fairs, the Kenwood concerts, and the kite festival
- Winter highlights include the Kenwood Christmas Market
- The Hampstead Heath swimming traditions mark Christmas and New Year
- Literary and arts festivals reflect the village's cultural heritage
- Check exact dates each year as they vary
A Village That Celebrates
Hampstead's strong community spirit and rich cultural heritage are reflected in its busy calendar of annual events. From traditional village fairs to world-class music concerts, literary gatherings, and the much-loved seasonal traditions of the Heath, there is something happening throughout the year, much of it free and welcoming to all.
Planning a visit around one of these events adds a special dimension to experiencing Hampstead. Here is the year-round highlights guide.
Spring
The Kite Festival
As the spring winds pick up, the Heath's annual kite festival fills Parliament Hill with spectacular kites, display flyers, and families, a joyful, free celebration on one of London's finest hills.
Spring on the Heath
Spring brings the Heath alive with wildflowers and wildlife, bluebells in the woods, the dawn chorus, and the fresh green of new growth. Guided spring walks celebrate the season.
Summer
Kenwood Concerts
Summer brings open-air concerts in the grounds of Kenwood House, a magical experience of live music in a beautiful landscaped setting on the edge of the Heath, often with a picnic on the grass. A highlight of the London summer.
Summer Fairs and Fêtes
The summer months bring community fairs, fêtes, and village events, often raising money for local causes and bringing the community together. These traditional gatherings, with stalls, games, music, and food, capture the village's community spirit.
Outdoor Swimming and the Heath in Summer
Summer is peak season for the Heath's swimming ponds and lido, and for picnics, walks, and outdoor life across the 790 acres. The bandstand at Golders Hill Park hosts summer concerts.
Eleanor Voss, a Hampstead resident of twenty years, plans her year around the village's events. "There's always something," she said. "The kite festival in spring with the grandchildren, the Kenwood concerts in summer with a picnic and a bottle of wine, the Christmas market when it gets cold, and of course the mad New Year's Day swim, though I only watch that one now. These events are the heartbeat of the village. They mark the seasons and bring everyone together. It's what makes Hampstead feel like a real community and not just an expensive postcode."
Autumn
Autumn on the Heath
Autumn is one of the Heath's most beautiful seasons, celebrated with autumn walks through the gold and copper woodlands. Seasonal events may include fungi forays and harvest celebrations, such as the apple day at Fenton House's historic orchard.
Literary and Arts Events
Reflecting Hampstead's deep literary and artistic heritage, the autumn often brings literary festivals, talks, and arts events to the village's cultural venues, fitting for the home of Keats, Constable, and so many other creative figures.
Winter
The Kenwood Christmas Market
The Kenwood Christmas Market is one of the most atmospheric festive markets in London, artisan stalls, food and drink, and the illuminated Kenwood House as a backdrop. A magical winter highlight.
Christmas and New Year Swims
The Heath's famous Christmas Day and New Year's Day swims are beloved traditions, when hardy swimmers gather at the ponds to brave the cold water in a celebration of community and seasonal madness.
Winter on the Heath
Frost, occasional snow (and sledging on Parliament Hill), crisp clear views, and cosy pub afternoons make winter a special, if bracing, time in Hampstead, see the winter village guide.
Planning Around Events
Because exact dates vary year to year, it is worth checking ahead:
- Confirm dates: Check local listings and official sources for the current year's dates.
- Book where needed: Some events (Kenwood concerts, ticketed market evenings) require booking.
- Plan for weather: Many events are outdoors, dress accordingly and have a backup.
- Combine with the Heath: Most events pair naturally with a Heath walk and village exploring.
Practical Information
- When: Events run year-round, spring kite festival, summer concerts and fairs, autumn walks and literary events, winter market and swims
- Cost: Many are free; some (concerts, ticketed market evenings) require booking
- Best for: Experiencing Hampstead's community spirit and seasonal traditions
- Dates: Vary each year, always check ahead
- Getting there: Hampstead (Northern line), Golders Green for Kenwood, Hampstead Heath/Gospel Oak (Overground)
Hampstead's calendar of annual events and festivals is one of the village's great pleasures, a year-round celebration of community, culture, and the seasons of the Heath. From spring kites to summer concerts, autumn walks to the Christmas market and the famous New Year swim, these occasions mark the rhythm of village life and offer visitors a wonderful way to experience Hampstead at its most vibrant. Time your visit around one of them, combine it with a walk on the Heath, and you'll see why this community celebrates its calendar with such enthusiasm.
