At 98 metres above sea level, Parliament Hill offers a view of London that money cannot buy — and has been drawing visitors to Hampstead Heath for centuries.
On a clear morning, from the top of Parliament Hill, you can see further than most people realise. The Shard glitters twenty kilometres to the south-east. The dome of St Paul's rises above the mid-distance roofline. To the west, the arch of Wembley Stadium marks the horizon. Closer in, you can trace the Thames by the glint of water between buildings, watch planes stack above Heathrow, and — if the light and season are right — see as far as the North Downs in Surrey. It is one of the great urban panoramas of the world, and it costs absolutely nothing to see.
Parliament Hill — sometimes called Kite Hill, though that name is more commonly used for the lower summit — sits at the southern edge of Hampstead Heath, about three kilometres from central London. At 98 metres above sea level, it is not especially high by the standards of hills. But London is remarkably flat, and any significant elevation translates into extraordinary views. This guide covers everything you need to know before your first visit.
What You Can See from Parliament Hill
The view from Parliament Hill faces predominantly south and south-east. From left to right as you face south, landmarks visible on a clear day include:
- Wembley Stadium arch — due west, identifiable by its distinctive white steel arch
- BT Tower — the slim telecommunications tower in Fitzrovia, central London
- The City of London skyline — including the Gherkin (30 St Mary Axe), the Walkie-Talkie (20 Fenchurch Street), and Canary Wharf towers further east
- St Paul's Cathedral dome — protected by a view corridor from Parliament Hill, legally ensuring it remains visible
- The Shard — the tallest building in the UK at 310 metres, unmistakable on the south bank
- Crystal Palace transmitter mast — on clear days visible on the southern horizon, about 17km away
The St Paul's view corridor is not an accident. In 1993, the view from Parliament Hill was designated a Protected Vista under the London View Management Framework. This means no building can be constructed anywhere in the corridor between Parliament Hill and St Paul's that would block or significantly impair the view. It is one of eight such protected views in London, and one of the best known.
Best Times to Visit Parliament Hill
Sunrise is exceptional from September through March, when the sun rises in the south-east and bathes the entire city skyline in golden light. The view is at its most dramatic when cloud breaks allow shafts of light to illuminate individual buildings. In summer, sunrise is too early for most visitors (4:30–5am in June), but the quality of light at that hour is extraordinary for photographers.
Midday on clear days offers the widest visibility but flat, harsh light. Good for spotting distant landmarks but less atmospheric photographically.
Evening golden hour (roughly the hour before sunset) illuminates the west-facing sides of City buildings beautifully and is generally considered the prime time for photography. In winter, this golden hour occurs at the very accessible time of 3:30–4pm.
After rain is often the clearest time of all. Rainfall washes particulates from the air, and in the hour after a heavy shower, visibility can exceed 40km. If rain is forecast, plan to arrive shortly after it clears.
Kite Flying on Parliament Hill
Parliament Hill is also, arguably, London's finest kite-flying location. The consistent south-westerly winds that sweep up the slope make it ideal for kite flying almost year-round, and it has been a popular kite-flying spot for well over a century. On weekend afternoons, particularly in spring and autumn, the slope above the lido is dotted with kites of all sizes and designs — single-line kites, stunt kites, delta kites, box kites. There is no booking required and no formal restriction on kite types, though very large power kites can be dangerous near the crowded slope.
If you do not own a kite, several shops in Hampstead village sell basic models, and kites are also available in the Kenwood House gift shop at the northern end of the Heath.
Photography Tips for Parliament Hill
The classic Parliament Hill shot is wide-angle, taken from the summit looking south, with the sloping green hill in the foreground and the London skyline filling the middle distance. A 24mm or wider lens (or the equivalent on a smartphone wide mode) captures the full panorama. Including a kite, a dog, or people on the slope adds foreground interest and scale.
For telephoto shots of individual landmarks, a 200mm+ lens will allow you to isolate St Paul's or the Shard against a dramatic sky. Clear air combined with a long lens and late afternoon light produces some of the most compelling urban skyline photography possible in London.
Getting to Parliament Hill
Parliament Hill is accessed from the Parliament Hill Fields entrance at the south end of the Heath. From Kentish Town Overground station (Gospel Oak line), it is a 10-minute walk via Gordon House Road. From Hampstead Heath Overground station, the walk takes about 15 minutes through the Heath. Buses C11, 214, and C2 stop near Gospel Oak.
Parking is available on the streets around Gordon House Road and Parliament Hill but is heavily used at weekends. The fields are open from dawn to dusk (though the Heath itself has no official closing time). The Parliament Hill Lido café is open daily and provides food and drinks adjacent to the viewpoint.
Parliament Hill in History
The name "Parliament Hill" has several disputed origins. The most romantic theory is that Members of Parliament gathered here to watch London burn during the Great Fire of 1666 — a claim that is almost certainly apocryphal but has persisted for centuries. A more likely explanation is that it refers to the hill's long use as a meeting and speaking ground going back to the English Civil War. In the Victorian era, Parliament Hill became a publicly protected open space following campaigns to prevent its development — one of several battles that ultimately secured the entire Heath for public use in 1871.
More from Hampstead Heath: Kite flying on Parliament Hill · Best running routes on the Heath · The Heath at dawn — a guide to early mornings
