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
Hampstead in Winter: The Complete Seasonal Guide 2026
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
Local Life
Hampstead Independent Shops: The Complete Guide
In an era of chain homogenisation, Hampstead has held the line. Here is a guide to the independent shops worth seeking out, the bookshop, the cheese merchant, the wine shop, and the rest.
Oliver Hartwell · 13 min read