The complete Hampstead events calendar: from the Bank Holiday fairs to Kenwood concerts, the Guy Fawkes fireworks to Christmas markets. Everything that happens annually in NW3.
Hampstead Events: The Annual Calendar of Festivals and Local Events
Hampstead's event calendar is one of the most consistent in north London: the same events, in the same places, at the same points in the year, for decades. The Bank Holiday fairs on the Heath, the Kenwood concerts, the Bonfire Night fireworks at Parliament Hill, the Christmas market on the High Street, these are not one-off events but recurring fixtures that the neighbourhood organises itself around. This guide covers the main events by season.
Key Takeaways
- The Hampstead Heath Bank Holiday Fairs (Easter, Spring, and August) are traditional funfairs on the Heath that have operated for centuries
- The Kenwood House concerts run from late June to August and are among London's finest open-air music events
- Parliament Hill fireworks on Bonfire Night (5 November area) is one of London's best free fireworks displays
- The Hampstead Christmas market runs in December on the High Street
- Check individual organisers' websites for precise dates, they shift slightly year to year
Spring Events (March-May)
Easter Bank Holiday Fair
The Easter Bank Holiday Fair on Hampstead Heath is one of the oldest surviving traditional funfairs in London. The site, adjacent to the Vale of Health, has hosted a fair on this site for several hundred years. The fair includes traditional rides, stalls, and food, more of a Victorian pleasure ground than a contemporary theme park, which is part of its charm.
When: Good Friday through Easter Monday (4 days). Where: East Heath, Hampstead NW3. Admission: Free entry; rides priced individually.
Spring Bank Holiday Fair
The same site as the Easter fair, operating again over the late May Bank Holiday weekend. Slightly smaller than the Easter iteration.
Summer Events (June-August)
Kenwood House Concerts
The flagship summer event in Hampstead. Open-air classical and popular music concerts on the Kenwood House lawn, running on Friday and Saturday evenings from late June to August. Fireworks finales on selected Saturday evenings. See our full Kenwood Concerts guide.
When: Late June to August (Friday and Saturday evenings). Where: Kenwood House, Hampstead Lane, NW3. Tickets: £35-£75 via Ticketmaster.
Hampstead Heath Ponds Midsummer Open Day
The bathing ponds occasionally run special events around midsummer, early-morning swims, community events. Check the Hampstead Heath website (managed by City of London Corporation) for current year programming.
Parliament Hill Farmers' Market (weekly)
Not a seasonal event, it runs year-round, but summer is when it is at its best. Seasonal produce, outdoor seating, the Heath as backdrop.
Autumn Events (September-November)
Hampstead Heath Fungi Walks
Organised by various operators, these guided walks through the Heath's woodland sections in October are the most reliable way to see the fungi population with expert guidance. See our fungi guide for details.
When: October and November (multiple dates). Booking: Through individual operators.
August Bank Holiday Fair
The third and largest of the traditional Bank Holiday fairs. The August Bank Holiday Fair is typically the most heavily attended, with the warmest weather, the longest opening hours, and the largest range of rides.
When: August Bank Holiday weekend. Where: East Heath.
Bonfire Night: Parliament Hill Fireworks
The Parliament Hill fireworks display on or around 5 November is one of London's finest free fireworks events. The display is fired from the southern Heath and viewed from Parliament Hill and the surrounding slopes. The view of the fireworks above the London skyline, with the City as backdrop, is genuinely spectacular.
When: Evening of 5 November (exact date occasionally shifted to nearest Saturday). Where: Parliament Hill, NW5. Admission: Free. Arrive early for the best position.
Winter Events (December-January)
Hampstead Christmas Market
A traditional Christmas market operates on and around the High Street in December, typically in the two weeks before Christmas. The stalls cover the expected range: handmade gifts, food, mulled wine, craft items. Quality varies but the atmosphere, Hampstead village in December, with the Heath as backdrop, is reliably good.
When: December (specific dates vary annually). Where: Hampstead High Street and adjacent streets.
Christmas Day Swim: The Peter Pan Cup
The Peter Pan Cup Christmas morning race at the men's bathing pond is one of London's oldest sporting events, having run annually since 1904. The race involves a sprint in the pond at 9am on 25 December; the water temperature is typically around 4-5°C.
Spectators are welcome. The atmosphere, a small crowd gathered on Christmas morning to watch people sprint in near-freezing water, is unlike anything else London offers.
When: 25 December, 9am. Where: Men's Pond, Hampstead Heath. Admission: Free to watch.
New Year's Day: Parliament Hill at Dawn
Not an organised event but an established tradition: on New Year's Day, people walk to Parliament Hill for sunrise. The combination of the occasion, the view, and the new year atmosphere makes this one of the best reasons to be on the Heath in the whole year.
Year-Round Events
Saturday Farmers' Market (near Hampstead tube, weekly, year-round): The most reliable weekly event.
Parkrun (Hampstead Heath, Saturday mornings at 9am): Free 5km run across the Heath, starting from the Parliament Hill athletics track. Run or walk; dogs welcome; no registration required.
Heath Guided Walks (various dates, organised by the City of London Corporation): Led by Heath rangers covering ecology, history, and wildlife. Free but often require booking.
Conclusion
Hampstead's event calendar rewards forward planning for the Kenwood concerts and a willingness to show up for everything else. The Bank Holiday fairs, the Bonfire Night fireworks, and the Christmas morning swim operate on their own rhythms and require nothing more than knowing when they are.
Continue exploring: Kenwood Concerts 2026 · Hampstead Heath Parkrun Guide · Hampstead Christmas Guide
