Dog Walking on Hampstead Heath: The Unofficial Guide

Hampstead Heath is one of the great dog-walking destinations in Britain, let alone London. Eight hundred acres of ancient common land, mostly off-lead, with woodland, meadow, and enough varied terrain to tire out even the most energetic dog. Here's what you need to know.

Off-Lead Areas

Dogs are welcome off-lead on almost all of Hampstead Heath. The main exceptions are: the area immediately around the bathing ponds (dogs must be on leads within 50 metres of the ponds during swimming season, May–September), the formal gardens at Kenwood House, and the children's play areas. Elsewhere, dogs can roam freely — though common sense applies around other dogs, wildlife, and cyclists.

The Best Routes

For distance and variety, the Parliament Hill–Kenwood circuit (approximately 3.5 miles) takes in woodland, meadow, and the Kenwood estate in a single loop. Start from Gospel Oak, walk north through the eastern woodland, ascend Parliament Hill for views, continue north to Kenwood, and return via the western side of the ponds. Allow 90 minutes to two hours with a dog who wants to investigate everything.

For a shorter, wilder walk, the East Heath woodland (entered from East Heath Road or the Vale of Health) has dense tree cover and a network of paths where dogs disappear happily into the undergrowth. Good for ball-throwing in the open sections; keep dogs close in the dense woodland.

Water and Mud

There are several drinking-water points for dogs around the Heath, including near the Gospel Oak entrance and at the Parliament Hill athletics track. In wet weather — and there is a lot of wet weather — the clay paths become extremely muddy. The boots-and-towel combination is mandatory for dog owners between October and April.

After the Walk

Dogs are welcome in the beer garden and main bar of the Spaniards Inn on Spaniards Road. The Bull & Bush on North End Way also has outdoor seating where dogs are welcome. Most of Hampstead's coffee shops allow dogs in their outdoor seating areas; a few (notably Ginger & White in Perrin's Court) allow well-behaved dogs inside.

Dog-Friendly Vets

Vets4Pets on Finchley Road and PDSA Hampstead on Fleet Road are the two main vet practices serving the area. Medivet also has a branch on Heath Street. For emergencies, Fitzpatrick Referrals is the nearest 24-hour emergency vet (in Guilford, but worth knowing about for serious cases).