An art-focused day in North London, Kenwood's Old Masters, the Camden Arts Centre, Burgh House, independent galleries and the studios. A timed itinerary with costs.
An Art Lover's Day in North London: Galleries, Houses and Studios
North London's art is unusually rich and unusually free. Where else can you see a Rembrandt self-portrait and a Vermeer in a stately home at no charge, then walk to a serious contemporary gallery, all in an afternoon? This itinerary threads the area's best art, Old Masters to cutting-edge contemporary, into a single day.
Morning: Kenwood House (10am-12pm)
Begin with the jewel. Kenwood House on the edge of Hampstead Heath holds the Iveagh Bequest, one of the finest collections ever given to the nation, and entirely free to see:
- Rembrandt's late self-portrait (one of his greatest).
- Vermeer's *The Guitar Player*, one of only a handful of Vermeers in Britain.
- Works by Gainsborough, Reynolds, Turner and Van Dyck, in Robert Adam's exquisite neoclassical interiors.
The library alone, pale blue and gold, by Adam, is a work of art. Give Kenwood a full two hours.
Lunch: Burgh House or the Brew House (12pm-1:30pm)
- The Brew House café at Kenwood (in the old kitchen garden), or
- Walk into Hampstead village for Burgh House, a Queen Anne house with a small art gallery and a café in the basement (the Buttery).
Afternoon: Contemporary Art (1:30pm-4pm)
Shift from Old Masters to the contemporary:
- Camden Arts Centre (Arkwright Road, near Finchley Road), one of London's most respected contemporary art spaces, with consistently serious exhibitions and a good café and garden. Free entry.
- The independent galleries of Hampstead and the surrounding streets, commercial galleries showing painting, sculpture and prints, clustered around the village and Highgate.
Late Afternoon: Studios and the Art Scene (4pm-5:30pm)
Hampstead and Highgate have a long history as artists' neighbourhoods, Constable painted the Heath; the modernists (Hepworth, Moore, Mondrian, Gabo) clustered here in the 1930s around the Mall Studios and 2 Willow Road (the modernist house by ErnĆ Goldfinger, now National Trust, check opening times).
If your visit coincides with one of the area's open studios events (typically autumn), it's the best way to see working artists' spaces.
Evening: Reflect Over Dinner (5:30pm onwards)
End in Hampstead village with dinner and a pint, the Old Masters of the morning and the contemporary of the afternoon make good conversation over a table at one of the village restaurants.
Practical Notes
- Most of the art is free, Kenwood and Camden Arts Centre charge nothing; only 2 Willow Road and some special exhibitions have entry fees.
- Check opening days, 2 Willow Road and Burgh House have limited opening; Kenwood and Camden Arts Centre are more reliable.
- Constable connection: The Heath itself is an art destination, the views Constable painted are still there.
- Budget: A near-free art day is genuinely possible here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I see famous paintings for free in North London?
Kenwood House on Hampstead Heath, free entry to a Rembrandt self-portrait, a Vermeer, and works by Gainsborough, Turner and Van Dyck in Robert Adam interiors.
What is the best contemporary art gallery in North London?
The Camden Arts Centre near Finchley Road, a respected free contemporary space with serious exhibitions, a café and a garden.
Did famous artists live in Hampstead?
Yes, Constable painted the Heath, and in the 1930s Hampstead was a centre of modernism, home to Barbara Hepworth, Henry Moore, Piet Mondrian and Naum Gabo around the Mall Studios.
