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.
Nature & Outdoors
The Parkland Walk: London's Longest Linear Nature Reserve
The Parkland Walk: a practical, locally written guide, what to know, where to go, and how to plan your visit.
Oliver Hartwell · 2 min read
Nature & Outdoors
Golders Hill Park: The Complete Guide to Hampstead Heath's Best-Kept Secret
A guide to Golders Hill Park — the free animal enclosures, the playground, the walled garden, the butterfly house and the café, on the edge of Hampstead Heath.
Oliver Hartwell · 5 min read
Nature & Outdoors
The Pergola and Hill Garden Hampstead: London's Most Secret Walled Garden
The Pergola and Hill Garden Hampstead: London's Most Secret Walled Garden The Pergola and Hill Garden on the western edge of Hampstead Heath is, by some margin, the most impressive thing in this part
Oliver Hartwell · 6 min read
Nature & Outdoors
Hampstead Heath at Sunrise: Why the First Hour Is Worth the Alarm
Hampstead Heath at Sunrise: Why the First Hour Is Worth the Alarm Hampstead Heath at sunrise is one of the few genuinely transformative experiences available in Zone 2 London, and almost nobody does
Oliver Hartwell · 10 min read
Nature & Outdoors
Hill Garden & Pergola Hampstead Heath: London's Most Romantic Secret
A raised Edwardian pergola draped in wisteria and climbing roses, hovering above a formal garden on the western edge of Hampstead Heath, one of London's most breathtaking hidden spaces.
Oliver Hartwell · 8 min read
Nature & Outdoors
Hampstead Heath parkrun: The Complete Guide 2026
Every Saturday at 9am, several hundred people run 5km together across Hampstead Heath for free. Here is what you need to know before joining them.
Oliver Hartwell · 5 min read
Nature & Outdoors
Parliament Hill: London's Best Free View, Complete Guide 2026
At 98 metres above sea level, Parliament Hill offers a view of London that money cannot buy, and has been drawing visitors to Hampstead Heath for centuries.
Oliver Hartwell · 5 min read
Nature & Outdoors
Dawn & Sunrise on Hampstead Heath: The Complete Guide 2026
Most visitors arrive when the Heath is already busy. The people who know it best arrive before 6am. Here's what they know that you don't.
Oliver Hartwell · 5 min read
Nature & Outdoors
Golders Hill Park Zoo: Opening Times & Animals (Completely Free)
Tucked into Golders Hill Park on the western edge of Hampstead Heath, a completely free zoo houses flamingos, fallow deer, meerkats, wallabies, and exotic birds. It is one of London's great underrated secrets.
Oliver Hartwell · 9 min read
Nature & Outdoors
Kite Flying on Parliament Hill: The Complete Guide 2026
Parliament Hill has been London's kite-flying heartland for over a century. Here is everything you need to make the most of it.
Oliver Hartwell · 5 min read
Nature & Outdoors
Autumn Walks on Hampstead Heath: The Complete Seasonal Guide 2026
Autumn transforms Hampstead Heath into one of London's most spectacular seasonal experiences, golden oak and beech woodland, fungi foraging season, and a quieter Heath that belongs to its most devoted visitors.
Oliver Hartwell · 5 min read
Nature & Outdoors
Cold-Water Swimming in Hampstead's Ponds: The Winter Guide 2026
Hampstead Ponds are open every day of the year, rain or shine, including in the depths of winter when the water drops to 4°C. Here is how to swim safely in the cold.
Oliver Hartwell · 5 min read
Nature & Outdoors
Hampstead Heath Running Routes: The Complete Guide 2026
From Parliament Hill sprints to the full Heath circuit, Hampstead Heath offers some of the finest off-road running in London, once you know which paths to take.
Oliver Hartwell · 5 min read
Nature & Outdoors
Hampstead Heath Playgrounds: The Complete Family Guide 2026
Hampstead Heath has multiple playgrounds, an adventure playground, and a lido paddling pool, making it one of London's most complete family destinations.
Oliver Hartwell · 5 min read
Nature & Outdoors
Dog Walking on Hampstead Heath: The Complete Local Guide
800 acres of ancient woodland, meadow, and heath, plus a dedicated dog swimming pond. Everything you need to plan the perfect dog walk on Hampstead Heath: routes, off-lead zones, dog-friendly pubs, and seasonal tips.
James Calloway · 12 min read