A two-day North London itinerary, Hampstead, the Heath, Highgate, Camden, Islington and Primrose Hill across a full weekend, with timings, costs and where to eat.
Two Days in North London: The Perfect Weekend Itinerary
Two days is the sweet spot for North London. One day is enough for the headline sights but leaves you rushing; three opens up the quieter corners but needs more planning. Two days lets you do the villages and the Heath properly on day one, slowly, the way they reward, then explore the canals, markets and the Islington-Camden axis on day two without watching the clock. This itinerary is built for a weekend but works on any two days, with timings, costs and plenty of room to follow your own pace.
At a glance: Day one is calm and green, Hampstead, the Heath, Kenwood and Highgate. Day two is urban and lively, Primrose Hill, the Regent's Canal, Camden and Islington. Both days are largely walkable, bridged by short Northern line hops, and much of the best of it is free.
Before You Go: The Essentials
- Where to base yourself: Hampstead or Belsize Park for atmosphere and Heath access; King's Cross for the best transport links and modern hotel stock; Camden for budget options and nightlife. See our where to stay guide.
- Transport: The Northern line connects nearly everything, supplemented by the Overground and the Regent's Canal towpath. Tap in with contactless, the daily cap (zones 1-2, around £8.90) limits your spend however many hops you make.
- Book ahead: The Highgate Cemetery West Cemetery tour, the Almeida or Sadler's Wells, and any Kenwood summer concert all sell out, reserve before you travel.
- What to wear: Proper shoes for the Heath (hilly and muddy year-round), with layers and a waterproof.
Day One: Hampstead, the Heath and Highgate
The calm, green day, Georgian villages, a wild park and free Old Master art.
Morning, Hampstead village (9am-11:30am) Start at Hampstead station (the deepest on the Underground) and turn straight into the side streets: Flask Walk, Church Row (the finest Georgian street in London) and the alleys around Holly Mount. Coffee at Ginger & White on Perrin's Court. Anchor the morning with Keats House (where Keats wrote "Ode to a Nightingale") or Fenton House (a 1686 merchant's house) if you want an interior, check opening days.
Midday, Hampstead Heath (11:30am-2pm) Up to Whitestone Pond and out onto the Heath. Parliament Hill for the protected skyline view; the Hill Garden and Pergola for romance; the bathing ponds if it's warm. Cross north to Kenwood House, free entry to a Rembrandt self-portrait, a Vermeer and works by Gainsborough and Turner in Robert Adam interiors.
Lunch, Kenwood Brew House (2pm) Eat in the old kitchen garden café, explore Kenwood's grounds (the lake, the sham bridge), then walk into Highgate village (about 15 minutes).
Afternoon, Highgate (3pm-5pm) Pond Square, the high street's independent shops, and Highgate Cemetery, the Victorian Gothic masterpiece where Karl Marx and George Eliot are buried (book the West Cemetery tour ahead; the East Cemetery takes same-day tickets).
Evening, Hampstead dinner and a pub Return to Hampstead (two Northern line stops, or back across the Heath) for dinner and a pint by the fire at The Holly Bush or the 16th-century Spaniards Inn on the Heath's edge.
Day Two: Canals, Markets and Islington
The urban, lively day, a skyline view, a canal walk, markets and theatre.
Morning, Primrose Hill and Regent's Park (9am-11:30am) Start at Chalk Farm. Climb Primrose Hill for the best free skyline view in London, browse the independent shops on Regent's Park Road, then walk south into Regent's Park, Queen Mary's rose garden (peak in June), the boating lake and the Open Air Theatre.
Midday, the Regent's Canal to Camden (11:30am-1pm) Join the canal towpath and walk east to Camden Lock, the canal-side approach (past the back of London Zoo) is by far the best way to arrive at Camden.
Lunch, Camden Market (1pm) Eat from the canal-side street food stalls, Camden's single strongest asset, a global food court. Browse the Stables Market for vintage and antiques.
Afternoon, Islington (2:30pm-5pm) Northern line or a continued canal walk to Angel/Islington. Upper Street, the Camden Passage antiques arcades, Exmouth Market, and the canal at City Road Basin. Islington is the elegant counterpoint to Camden's chaos.
Evening, Islington dinner and theatre Dinner on Upper Street (Ottolenghi, the original) or Moro at Exmouth Market, then a play at the Almeida (one of London's best theatres) or dance at Sadler's Wells (the country's premier dance venue).
What a North London Weekend Costs
A rough per-person guide:
| Budget weekend | Fuller weekend |
|---|
| Transport (2 daily caps) | ~£18 | ~£18 |
| Coffee + snacks (x2 days) | £12-£16 | £14-£20 |
| Lunches (x2) | £16-£24 (market/café) | £36-£60 (restaurants) |
| Attractions | £0 (Heath, Kenwood, hills free) | £30-£60 (cemetery, Keats House, theatre) |
| Dinners + drinks (x2) | £30-£40 | £80-£120 |
| Two-day total | ~£75-£100 | ~£180-£280 |
Accommodation is extra. The headline experiences, the Heath, Kenwood, Parliament Hill, Primrose Hill, the villages and the canal, are all free.
How to Adapt the Two Days
- With kids: Swap Highgate Cemetery for Golders Hill Park's free zoo; add the Heath playgrounds; trade the evening theatre for the canal boat trip from Camden to Little Venice.
- Food-focused: Build day two around a market, Broadway Market (Hackney, Saturday) or Columbia Road (Sunday) instead of Camden, with London Fields or the canal alongside.
- Slower pace: Drop Islington from day two and spend a long afternoon on the canal and in Camden, or back on the Heath.
- Rain: Kenwood House, the Freud Museum, the Almeida and the Everyman cinema make a weatherproof spine, see our wet weather guide.
- Culture-led: Add the Camden Arts Centre, the Freud Museum and a Sadler's Wells matinee for an arts-heavy weekend.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is two days enough for North London?
Yes, two days covers the villages, the Heath, Kenwood, the canals, the markets and Islington at a comfortable pace. A third day lets you add the wider neighbourhoods, Stoke Newington, Crouch End, Alexandra Palace or Walthamstow Wetlands.
What's the best base for a North London weekend?
Hampstead or Belsize Park for atmosphere and Heath access; King's Cross for transport convenience and modern hotels; Camden for budget options and nightlife.
Can you walk between the main North London sights?
Largely yes, the Heath, the villages and the Regent's Canal are all walkable, with short Northern line hops to bridge the longer gaps (Highgate to Camden, Camden to Islington).
How much does a North London weekend cost?
A budget weekend runs about £75-£100 per person (excluding accommodation), since the Heath, Kenwood and the views are free. A fuller weekend with paid attractions, theatre and restaurant meals runs about £180-£280.
What should you not miss in North London in two days?
Hampstead Heath and Parliament Hill's view, Kenwood House's free art, Highgate Cemetery, Primrose Hill's skyline, Camden Market, and the Regent's Canal, the core of any North London weekend.
Is North London good for a weekend with kids?
Yes, Golders Hill Park's free zoo, the Heath playgrounds, the canal boat trip, London Zoo and Primrose Hill make an excellent family weekend. See our family day out guide.
Do you need to book restaurants and theatres in advance?
For weekend evenings, yes, the better restaurants (Moro, Ottolenghi) and the theatres (Almeida, Sadler's Wells) fill up. Book a few days ahead, more for popular shows.
What's the best order to do the two days?
Either order works, but day one (calm villages and Heath) followed by day two (lively canals and markets) builds nicely. If the weather is better on one day, do the outdoor-heavy day one then.
