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
Shopping in Hampstead: The Independent Shops Worth Your Money
The boutiques, bookshops, kitchen shops and independent retailers that make Hampstead High Street worth exploring — and a few tips on what to avoid.
Oliver Hartwell
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
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
Local Life
A Weekend in Hampstead: The Perfect 48-Hour Itinerary
Two days in one of London's most beloved neighbourhoods — where to eat, what to see, which pubs to settle into, and how to find the bits most visitors miss entirely.
Beatrice Thornton
10 min read
Local Life
Schools in Hampstead: A Guide for New Families
State schools, independent options, admission processes, and what local families actually say about education in the NW3 area — an honest guide without the estate agent gloss.
James Calloway
8 min read
Local Life
GP Surgeries in Hampstead: Finding the Right Practice
Registering with a GP in Hampstead, what to expect from the main local surgeries, and how to navigate NHS primary care when the system feels impenetrable.
Beatrice Thornton
6 min read
Local Life
Living in Hampstead: What No One Tells You
The Heath, the village, the pubs, the Georgian streets — everyone knows the appeal of Hampstead. Here is the honest version: what daily life is actually like in NW3.
Beatrice Thornton
7 min read
Local Life
Hampstead's Hidden Alleys and Courtyards
Flask Walk, Oriel Place, Perrin's Court, Mount Vernon — Hampstead is a village built on lanes and alleys that most visitors never find. Here is where to look.
James Calloway
5 min read
Local Life
Best Pharmacies in Hampstead: A Local's Guide
From the late-night dispensary on South End Road to the trusted independents on Heath Street — where to fill your prescription, get a flu jab, and find a pharmacist who actually listens.
Oliver Hartwell
5 min read
Local Life
Your Guide to the Royal Free Hospital
Everything you need to know about visiting, attending A&E, finding the right department, and getting to the Royal Free — Hampstead's major NHS teaching hospital.
Beatrice Thornton
7 min read
Local Life
Hampstead in Winter: Why the Cold Season is the Best
Most visitors come in summer. The regulars know that winter is when Hampstead reveals itself — in the frost-clear light on the Heath, the warmth of the pubs, and the city laid out below Parliament Hill on a clear December morning.
Oliver Hartwell
5 min read