Eight hundred acres of ancient woodland, meadow, and heath, with some of the best long-distance views in London, three open-air swimming ponds, and more squirrels, foxes, and deer than most people expect to find four miles from Oxford Circus. Hampstead Heath is, by common agreement among north London dog owners, the finest urban dog-walking ground in England.

This guide covers everything you need to plan a great walk with your dog: where dogs can go off-lead, which areas require leads, the best circular routes, the dog-friendly cafés and pubs, the dedicated dog swimming pond, and the practical details that make the difference between a good day out and a frustrating one.

The Basics: What You Need to Know

Hampstead Heath is managed by the City of London Corporation, and the rules for dog walkers are clear and sensible. The vast majority of the Heath — roughly 700 of its 800 acres — is open to off-lead dogs at all times of day. There are a small number of restricted areas, clearly signed, where dogs must be kept on a lead.

Where Dogs Must Be on a Lead

  • The formal gardens at Golders Hill Park (the western extension of the Heath)
  • Within 10 metres of the designated children's play areas
  • The formal garden areas immediately surrounding Kenwood House
  • The Parliament Hill Lido enclosure

Outside these areas, your dog can run free across the meadows, woodland paths, and heath proper. There are no mandatory lead hours, which makes Hampstead exceptional by London standards.

The Dog Walking Code

The City of London asks that dog walkers pick up after their dogs (bags available at dispensers throughout the Heath), do not walk more than four dogs at once (relevant for professional walkers), and avoid congregation points where large groups of dogs might cause difficulties for other visitors. These are reasonable asks, and the vast majority of the dog-walking community on the Heath takes them seriously.

The Best Routes for Dog Walking

Route 1: The Parliament Hill Circuit (3.5 miles, 1–1.5 hours)

This is the most popular route on the Heath, and deservedly so. Starting from the Parliament Hill entrance (via Highgate Road or the footpath from Gospel Oak station), the route climbs steadily to the summit of Parliament Hill — 98 metres above sea level — from which the view of the central London skyline, from Canary Wharf to the Shard to St Paul's, is one of the finest in the city.

From the summit, drop south towards the athletics track and then curve east through the meadows below Nassington Road, returning through the oak woodland that runs along the eastern edge of the Heath. The meadow section is particularly good for dogs who enjoy open running space; the woodland is shadier and cooler in summer, with a denser network of paths to explore.

The entire circuit takes roughly 90 minutes at a comfortable walking pace. Add 20 minutes if your dog is a dawdler (many are).

Route 2: The Kenwood and Highgate Ponds Loop (4.5 miles, 1.5–2 hours)

A longer route that takes in the northern and eastern edges of the Heath, passing Kenwood House and the Highgate Ponds before returning through the central Heath. This is arguably the most scenically varied walk: open meadow, dense ancient woodland, ornamental parkland around Kenwood, and the reed-fringed ponds in the east.

Start from Hampstead tube or the Whitestone Pond on Heath Street. Head north across the open heath to Kenwood, passing the Hill Garden and Pergola (worth a detour — it is extraordinary). Continue east along the northern edge of the ponds, then south past the Men's and Ladies' Bathing Ponds and back west through the central meadows to the starting point.

The Kenwood section requires dogs to be on leads in the immediate garden area. The woodland paths around the ponds are off-lead and, in our experience, some of the best on the entire Heath — complex, slightly wild, with excellent smells.

Route 3: The Golders Hill Extension (add 1.5 miles to any route)

At the western edge of the Heath, Golders Hill Park is a formal extension maintained by the London Borough of Camden. Dogs must be on leads in the walled garden and deer enclosure (yes, there are deer), but the perimeter paths and the wilder sections to the north are open to off-lead dogs.

The park also contains a small zoo — entirely free, with wallabies, flamingos, and various waterfowl — which makes it a good addition to a walk if you have children along with the dog. The café here is better than average.

The Dog Swimming Pond

This is one of Hampstead Heath's most distinctive features: a dedicated swimming pond for dogs, located on the eastern side of the Heath near the Highgate Ponds. It is exactly what it sounds like — a natural pond with a wooden jetty, maintained specifically for dogs to swim in, separate from the three human ponds nearby.

The pond is open year-round. Most dogs take to it immediately; some require encouragement. The water is cool even in summer, which means it is particularly popular on hot days when dogs can overheat on long walks. It is also, in our observation, an extremely effective social lubricant: dogs and their owners become friends very quickly around the dog pond.

There are no facilities at the pond itself — bring a towel, and perhaps a dry bag for anything electronic in your pockets. The water is clear but your dog will emerge wet and happy and probably smelling of pond.

Dog-Friendly Pubs and Cafés

The Spaniards Inn (Spaniards Road, NW3)

The sixteenth-century coaching inn on the north edge of the Heath is one of the most dog-friendly establishments in London. The sprawling beer garden — tree-shaded, with plenty of space — is explicitly welcoming to dogs, and the bar allows well-behaved dogs on leads. The Sunday roast is exceptional. Water bowls are provided without asking.

The Bull and Bush (North End Way, NW3)

A large, traditional pub at the northern edge of the Heath, much frequented by walkers and dog owners. The garden is dog-friendly; the bar is generally tolerant of well-behaved dogs. Good range of ales.

The Brew House Café, Kenwood

The café at Kenwood House has outdoor seating in the courtyard that is dog-friendly. Good coffee, decent food, and a calm atmosphere — a useful stop on the Kenwood loop, particularly if you need to be on a lead in the formal garden and want to sit somewhere nice while the dog rests.

Parliament Hill Café

The main café at the Parliament Hill section of the Heath (near the Lido) has outdoor tables that welcome dogs. Basic but functional: coffee, sandwiches, hot food. Particularly useful after an early-morning walk when you want something warm before the commute.

Seasonal Tips

Summer (June–August)

The Heath gets busy on warm weekends, particularly around Parliament Hill and the main paths. Start before 9am to get the open meadows to yourselves — the dawn light in the midsummer meadows is genuinely beautiful — and aim for the woodlands in the afternoons when the shade makes it more comfortable for dogs. The dog pond is popular; arrive early to claim a good spot on the jetty.

Autumn (September–November)

In our view, the finest season on the Heath. The ancient oaks and beeches turn in early October, and the woodland walks become extraordinary. Footfall drops significantly after the school summer holidays, and many mornings you will have large sections of the Heath essentially to yourself. Bring waterproof boots: the clay soil retains water and can become muddy quickly after rain.

Winter (December–February)

The Heath in winter has a particular quality — cold, stark, and strangely peaceful. Frost on the meadow grasses, mist in the woodland hollows, the city skyline sharp and clear from Parliament Hill. Dogs seem to enjoy it enormously. The Spaniards Inn with its open fires is the correct reward for a cold morning walk.

Spring (March–May)

Bluebells appear in the woodland north of the Men's Pond in mid-April — one of London's finest bluebell displays, and largely unknown outside the local dog-walking community. The meadows begin filling out from late April, and by May the Heath is at its lush, green best.

Getting to the Heath

  • Hampstead tube (Northern line): 2 minutes walk to the Heath via East Heath Road. The main Heath car park is nearby.
  • Gospel Oak station (Overground): Direct access to the Parliament Hill section via Nassington Road.
  • Highgate tube (Northern line): 10 minutes walk to the Highgate Ponds and Kenwood via Millfield Lane.
  • Parking: There are pay-and-display car parks at Parliament Hill (off Gordon House Road) and near Kenwood on Hampstead Lane. Both fill quickly on sunny weekends.

A Few Final Notes

Hampstead Heath has a well-established dog-walking culture — regulars greet each other by their dogs' names, not their own — and newcomers are generally welcomed into it without ceremony. The etiquette is relaxed but real: you pick up, you keep control near young children, and you don't let your dog antagonise other dogs or wildlife.

The Heath has deer in the Golders Hill extension and nesting birds in several areas (particularly around the ponds in spring). Keep this in mind during March to July.

Finally: a word on the foxes. Hampstead Heath has a very healthy fox population, and they are considerably bolder than rural foxes. Your dog will smell them everywhere. This is apparently very exciting and can lead to lengthy detours from your planned route. Factor in accordingly.