Hidden on New End Square, Burgh House is a Queen Anne mansion turned community arts centre and local history museum. Free to enter, rarely crowded, and entirely worth your time.
Burgh House is one of Hampstead's hidden gems, a beautiful Queen Anne house in the heart of the village, home to the Hampstead Museum, an art gallery, a café, and a programme of events. Free to enter and rich in local history, it is one of the most charming places to visit in Hampstead. This guide focuses on Burgh House and its museum.
- Burgh House is a Grade I-listed Queen Anne house (built 1704) in Hampstead Village
- Home to the Hampstead Museum, telling the story of the area
- Includes an art gallery, the Buttery café, and a programme of events
- Free to enter, a genuine Hampstead treasure
- A short walk from Hampstead Underground station
- Combine with the village's other historic houses and the Heath
A Queen Anne Treasure
Burgh House, on New End Square, was built in 1704, during the reign of Queen Anne and at the height of Hampstead's popularity as a spa town. A handsome, Grade I-listed brick house with a beautiful garden, it is one of the finest historic houses in the village and a wonderful example of early 18th-century domestic architecture.
Over its three centuries, Burgh House has served many roles. Today it is run as a community resource, home to the Hampstead Museum, an art gallery, a café, and a busy programme of concerts, talks, and events. Remarkably, entry is free, making it one of the best-value cultural attractions in London.
The Hampstead Museum
At the heart of Burgh House is the Hampstead Museum, which tells the story of Hampstead and its people. The museum's displays explore:
- The history of Hampstead, from rural village to spa town to the celebrated neighbourhood of today
- The spa era, Hampstead's heyday as a fashionable Georgian watering place (the story behind Flask Walk)
- Notable residents, the writers, artists, and figures who have shaped Hampstead, from Constable to Keats and beyond
- The Heath, the story of Hampstead Heath and how it was saved for the public
- Local life, the social history of the village over the centuries
For anyone interested in understanding Hampstead, its history, its character, and the remarkable people who have lived here, the museum is the ideal starting point.
Eleanor Whitfield, a long-time Hampstead resident and museum volunteer, treasures Burgh House. "People walk past it for years without realising what's inside," she said. "A perfect Queen Anne house, free to enter, with a museum that tells you everything about how Hampstead became Hampstead, the spa, the writers, the artists, the saving of the Heath. And a lovely café with a terrace. I bring every visitor here first; once they understand the history, they see the whole village differently. It's the key that unlocks Hampstead, and hardly anyone knows it's here."
The Art Gallery
Burgh House includes an art gallery with a changing programme of exhibitions, often showing the work of local and regional artists, continuing Hampstead's long tradition as a home for art and artists. The exhibitions add a contemporary cultural dimension to the historic house and are well worth seeing alongside the museum.
The Buttery Café
The Buttery, Burgh House's café, is one of the village's loveliest spots for refreshment, serving coffee, lunch, cakes, and a charming afternoon tea in a genuinely historic setting. The garden terrace is a delight in summer. Affordable and atmospheric, the Buttery is a reason to visit Burgh House in its own right, and a perfect stop during a day exploring the village.
Events and Concerts
Burgh House hosts a busy programme of events, concerts (often in the intimate music room), talks, lectures, exhibitions, and family activities. The historic setting makes these events especially atmospheric. Check the Burgh House programme for what's on during your visit; the music events in particular are a lovely way to experience the house.
Visiting Burgh House
Combine with the Village
Burgh House sits in the heart of Hampstead Village, close to its other attractions:
- Fenton House: Another historic house, with its collection of keyboard instruments, a short walk away.
- Keats House: The poet's home, nearby.
- Flask Walk and Church Row: The village's beautiful historic streets.
- The Heath: The village's green heart, minutes away.
A day combining Burgh House, Fenton House, and Keats House, three historic houses within a short walk, all free or modestly priced, is one of the most rewarding cultural days in London.
Practical Information
- Address: New End Square, Hampstead, NW3
- Built: 1704 (Queen Anne); Grade I-listed
- Includes: Hampstead Museum, art gallery, the Buttery café, events programme
- Entry: Free (museum and house)
- Nearest Tube: Hampstead (Northern line), a short walk
- Best for: Local history, architecture, a charming café stop
- Combine with: Fenton House, Keats House, and the village
Burgh House is one of Hampstead's quiet treasures, a beautiful Queen Anne house, free to enter, home to a museum that tells the whole story of Hampstead, an art gallery, a lovely café, and a rich events programme. For anyone wanting to understand the village's remarkable history, or simply to enjoy a charming historic house and a cup of tea on a garden terrace, it is essential. Start your Hampstead exploring here, and you will see the whole village with new eyes. For a broader overview, see the Burgh House guide.
