Hampstead Heath has many entrances served by different stations and buses. A guide to the best way to reach each part of the Heath, from Parliament Hill to Kenwood.
Getting to Hampstead Heath: Tube, Bus and Train
Hampstead Heath is big, and it has entrances on every side served by different stations and buses. The station you want depends entirely on which part of the Heath you are heading for, and people often pick the wrong one and end up with a long walk before they have even started. Here is how to reach each part of the Heath properly, so you arrive where you actually want to be.
The key point: pick your entrance first
The Heath spreads across a large area with very different character at each edge: Parliament Hill and the bathing ponds in the south, Hampstead village in the west, Kenwood and Golders Hill in the north. Decide where you are going before you choose how to get there, because "Hampstead Heath" is not a single point. Aiming for the wrong corner can add a half-hour walk uphill.
For Parliament Hill and the ponds (the south)
This is the most popular part, with the famous view and the bathing ponds. The best stations are on the Overground: Hampstead Heath station drops you a few minutes from the South End Green entrance and Parliament Hill, and Gospel Oak is also close. These avoid the steep village and the deep tube entirely, which makes them the easiest option for the southern Heath. Several buses also serve South End Green.
For Hampstead village and the west
If you want the village first, or the western side of the Heath, Hampstead tube station on the Northern line is the one. It puts you in the middle of the village, from where you walk a few minutes east to the Heath. Be aware it is the deepest station on the Underground and lift-served, so allow a moment for the lifts. From the village you can walk into the Heath toward Whitestone Pond and the West Heath.
For Kenwood and the north
Kenwood House and the northern Heath are the trickiest to reach by rail, since no station sits right beside them. The usual approach is to get to Hampstead or Highgate and walk in across the Heath, which is a lovely route in itself, or to take a bus along Hampstead Lane, which runs past Kenwood. Golders Green tube, on the Northern line, is the nearest station for the Golders Hill Park and North End side.
For Highgate and the east
The eastern edge, toward Highgate and the Highgate ponds, is served by Highgate tube station on the Northern line, though it sits down the hill from Highgate village and the Heath, so there is a climb. Archway is another option for the south-eastern corner. From Highgate you can walk into the Heath and across toward Hampstead.
Quick reference
- Parliament Hill and ponds: Overground to Hampstead Heath or Gospel Oak.
- Hampstead village and West Heath: Hampstead tube (Northern line).
- Kenwood and the north: walk in from Hampstead or Highgate, or bus along Hampstead Lane.
- Golders Hill Park: Golders Green tube (Northern line).
- Highgate ponds and east: Highgate tube (Northern line).
A note on walking across
One of the best things about the Heath is that you can enter at one side and walk out at another, so do not feel tied to returning to the same station. A classic outing is to arrive at Hampstead Heath Overground in the south, walk all the way up across the Heath to Kenwood, and leave from Golders Green or Highgate. The crossing is the whole point.
Frequently asked questions
What is the nearest station to Hampstead Heath?
It depends which part. For Parliament Hill and the ponds, Hampstead Heath Overground station is closest. For the village and West Heath, Hampstead tube. For Golders Hill Park, Golders Green tube. There is no single nearest station for such a large space.
Is Hampstead Heath the same as Hampstead station?
No. Hampstead tube station is in the village on the Northern line. Hampstead Heath station is a separate Overground station to the south, near Parliament Hill and the ponds. They serve different parts of the area.
How do I get to Kenwood House?
No station sits right by Kenwood. The usual way is to walk in across the Heath from Hampstead or Highgate, or take a bus along Hampstead Lane, which passes Kenwood. It is one of the best walks in North London.
What is the easiest way to reach Parliament Hill?
Take the Overground to Hampstead Heath or Gospel Oak, both a short, level walk from the South End Green entrance and Parliament Hill. This avoids the steep village and the deep tube station.
