Hampstead's Annual Events and Festivals

Hampstead has a richer calendar of events than its size might suggest — the combination of Kenwood House, the Heath, the arts institutions, and the village's own community organisations produces a year-round programme worth planning around.

Kenwood Concerts — June to August

The outdoor classical and popular music concerts at Kenwood House are one of London's best summer traditions. The performances take place on the south-facing lawn below the house, with the audience on the grass; the house itself and the tree line form the backdrop. A fireworks finale closes many concerts. Tickets sell out months in advance for popular acts — book in December or January. Gates open several hours before the performance; most people bring a picnic. Worth it for the atmosphere alone.

Hampstead Festival — Various dates, May–June

The Hampstead Festival is a community arts festival running across several weekends in late spring, with exhibitions, open studios, walking tours, and performances in venues across the village. The open studios programme (usually in May) is particularly valuable — it gives access to working artists' spaces that are normally private and is the best way to see the full range of creative activity in the neighbourhood.

Open House Weekend — September

London's annual Open House Weekend opens architecturally significant buildings to the public for free. Hampstead typically has 15–20 buildings participating, including private Georgian houses, Modernist buildings from the 1930s (Erno Goldfinger's work particularly), and institutional buildings that are normally closed. The Hampstead listings are usually among the most interesting in London. Check the Open House London website for the annual programme from July onwards.

The Heath Fair — August Bank Holiday

The traditional funfair on the Heath at August Bank Holiday has been held continuously (with wartime interruptions) since the 1860s. It is not particularly sophisticated, but it is authentic — the rides, the stalls, the noise, and the crowds are genuinely part of the Heath's character. The Bank Holiday Monday is the main day; the fair runs for several days on both sides.

The Christmas Market

A small but well-curated Christmas market appears on the High Street and Perrin's Court area in the first three weekends of December. Local craftspeople, food producers, and artists. More interesting than most London Christmas markets and considerably less crowded.