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.
Local Life
New to Hampstead? Everything You Need to Know About Living in NW3
A field guide for arrivals — written with the precision of an observer and the warmth of a neighbour. The geography, the rhythm, the services, and the streets worth knowing before the crowds find them.
Oliver Hartwell
18 min read
Local Life
Kenwood House Concerts 2026: Everything You Need to Know
The Kenwood House concerts are one of London's great summer traditions — open-air classical and popular music on the lawn of a Robert Adam mansion, with fireworks over Hampstead Heath.
Oliver Hartwell
7 min read
Local Life
Visiting Hampstead: The Perfect Day Trip from London
Hampstead is 25 minutes from central London and feels like another world. Here is how to spend a day — or a weekend — in one of England's most remarkable urban villages.
Oliver Hartwell
10 min read
Local Life
New Years Day on the Heath: The Swim the Walk and the Tradition
Hampstead marks the first morning of the year with an open water swim in near freezing water and a walk that draws thousands. The tradition explained.
Oliver Hartwell
3 min read
Local Life
Hampstead High Street: The Complete Guide to London's Best Village High Street
Hampstead High Street — locally known as Heath Street — runs from the tube station to the edge of the Heath. It is one of the few remaining high streets in London where chains have not entirely won.
Oliver Hartwell
9 min read
Local Life
Primary Schools in Hampstead: A Parents Guide
School choice is one of the biggest decisions families face when moving to Hampstead. Here is an honest account of what is available.
Beatrice Thornton
3 min read
Local Life
Things To Do in Hampstead: The Complete Local Guide
Hampstead offers more per square mile than almost anywhere in London. This is the complete guide to the neighbourhood — from dawn swims on the Heath to late-night pints at the Spaniards Inn.
Oliver Hartwell
14 min read
Local Life
Hampstead's Annual Events and Festivals
The Kenwood concerts, the Heath summer fair, Open House Weekend, and the other calendar events that structure life in the village throughout the year.
James Calloway
6 min read
Local Life
Getting Around Hampstead: Transport Guide
Northern line, buses, cycling, and when to just walk — how to get around Hampstead and into central London without a car.
Beatrice Thornton
6 min read
Local Life
Renting in Hampstead: What Your Money Gets You
Hampstead is one of Londons most expensive rental markets. Here is an honest breakdown of what different budgets can realistically expect.
James Calloway
3 min read
Local Life
The Hampstead Farmers' Market: A Saturday Morning Ritual
Every Saturday morning on Hampstead High Street, a cluster of stalls sells some of the best produce in North London. Here is what to buy and how to make the most of it.
Oliver Hartwell
4 min read
Local Life
Emergency Services in Hampstead: What to Know
Police, fire, ambulance, dental emergencies, mental health crisis lines — the numbers and locations you need when things go wrong in NW3.
Oliver Hartwell
5 min read