The Journal
From the Blog
Dispatches from the village — written by people who walk these streets every day. History, food, culture and the stories behind the places you love.
Food & Drink
The Best Restaurants in Highgate: A Local's Guide
The best restaurants in Highgate, from village bistros to gastropubs and Sunday lunch spots. Where locals eat in N6, what to book and what makes Highgate dining special.
Beatrice Thornton · 6 min read
Food & Drink
A Foodie Day in North London: Markets, Delis and Great Restaurants
A food-focused day in North London, the best markets, delis, cheese shops, street food and restaurants from Camden to Islington. A timed itinerary for food lovers.
James Calloway · 6 min read
Food & Drink
A North London Pub Crawl: A Route Through the Historic Pubs
A North London pub crawl itinerary, historic Hampstead and Highgate pubs, the Heath-edge inns and a walkable route through centuries of London drinking. Map and tips.
James Calloway · 5 min read
Food & Drink
Best Pubs in North London: A Local's Guide
The best pubs in North London, from Hampstead to Highgate, Camden to Islington. Historic pubs, gastropubs, community locals and hidden gems across N1-NW8.
Oliver Hartwell · 3 min read
Food & Drink
Best Halal Restaurants in London 2026: The Complete Guide
With over 700 halal-certified restaurants across every cuisine imaginable, London is the best city in Europe for halal dining. This guide covers the finest halal restaurants by area and cuisine, from the legendary Pakistani grills of Whitechapel to the Lebanese mezze of Edgware Road and the fine dining of Knightsbridge.
Oliver Hartwell · 9 min read
Food & Drink
Bonoo Indian Tapas Muswell Hill: North London's Favourite Small Plates
Bonoo's Muswell Hill outpost carries the same inventive small-plates philosophy as its Hampstead sibling, colourful, boldly spiced, and entirely worth the trip to N10.
Oliver Hartwell · 7 min read
Food & Drink
Bonoo Indian Tapas Hampstead: The Best Indian Restaurant in NW3
Bonoo brings the street-food energy of Mumbai and Delhi to Hampstead High Street, one beautifully spiced small plate at a time.
Oliver Hartwell · 7 min read
Food & Drink
Best Bubble Tea in London 2026: The Complete Boba Guide
From Taiwanese originals in Chinatown to Korean fruit teas in Soho and inventive new hybrids across London, the bubble tea scene has become one of the city's most exciting drink cultures. Here is a complete guide to the best boba tea in London.
James Calloway · 6 min read
Food & Drink
Afternoon Tea in Hampstead: The Complete Guide 2026
Whether you want a traditional cream tea with scones and clotted cream or a full tiered afternoon tea with champagne, Hampstead delivers it beautifully.
Oliver Hartwell · 5 min read
Food & Drink
Hampstead Farmers' Market: The Complete Guide 2026
Every Saturday morning behind Hampstead High Street, one of London's finest small farmers' markets brings the best seasonal produce of the home counties to NW3.
Oliver Hartwell · 5 min read
Food & Drink
West Hampstead Restaurants & Food: The Complete Guide 2026
West Hampstead has outgrown its reputation as the area you pass through on the way to Hampstead. Its restaurant scene is genuinely excellent and significantly underrated.
Oliver Hartwell · 6 min read
Food & Drink
Best Coffee in Hampstead: 10 Cafés That Are Actually Worth the Journey
Hampstead has more good coffee per square mile than almost anywhere in London. The difficult part is knowing which ten to prioritise, and which ten to skip.
Oliver Hartwell · 8 min read
Food & Drink
Primrose Hill Restaurants, Cafes & Pubs: The Complete Local Guide 2026
Primrose Hill has one of London's most focused and genuinely excellent neighbourhood restaurant scenes, a small area packed with places that locals return to weekly.
Oliver Hartwell · 8 min read
Food & Drink
The Spaniards Inn Hampstead: Complete Guide 2026
Highwaymen, poets, a mob that nearly burned it down, the Spaniards Inn has seen it all. Here's the full story, and why it's still worth the pilgrimage.
Oliver Hartwell · 5 min read
Food & Drink
Golders Green Food Guide 2026: London's Most Diverse Eating Quarter
Golders Green Road is one of London's most extraordinary eating streets, a kilometre of kosher bakeries, Japanese restaurants, Israeli cafés, and Turkish grills that few Londoners outside NW11 fully appreciate.
Oliver Hartwell · 10 min read