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
Hampstead Heath Walking Guide: The Best Routes 2026
Eight square miles of ancient woodland, meadow, ponds and hilltop views. A neighbourhood-by-neighbourhood guide to getting the most out of Hampstead Heath, whatever the season.
Oliver Hartwell · 5 min read
Arts & Culture
Hampstead Theatre: History and Visitor Guide 2026
Founded in 1959 in a church hall, Hampstead Theatre has launched the careers of Harold Pinter, Mike Leigh, and dozens of the most significant playwrights of the past six decades.
Beatrice Thornton · 5 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
History & Heritage
Hampstead & Highgate: Twin Villages and the Cemetery That Links Them
Highgate Cemetery a short walk from Hampstead village holds an extraordinary concentration of Victorian figures. A guide to the most significant graves.
Beatrice Thornton · 5 min read
History & Heritage
A Journey Through Hampstead's History
From a medieval manor to a bohemian retreat for London's greatest writers and thinkers, Hampstead's 900-year story is written in every cobblestone and Georgian doorway.
James Calloway · 9 min read
Nature & Outdoors
The Ancient Trees of Hampstead Heath: A Complete Guide
Some of the oaks and hornbeams on Hampstead Heath are over 400 years old, predating the Great Fire of London. Here is a guide to finding and understanding them.
James Calloway · 5 min read
Food & Drink
The Art of the Hampstead Sandwich
From sourdough to ciabatta Hampstead takes its lunch seriously. Here are the spots that have earned devoted regulars.
Beatrice Thornton · 3 min read
Local Life
Hampstead's Hidden Alleys & Courtyards: A Walker's Guide 2026
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
Food & Drink
The Rise of the Hampstead Gastropub: A Decade of Change
The gastropub revolution of the 1990s hit Hampstead earlier and harder than most places. How has the village pub food scene evolved since?
James Calloway · 5 min read
Arts & Culture
Kenwood House: Art & Gardens on Hampstead Heath
Free to enter and containing one of the finest small art collections in England, Kenwood is the kind of place you discover once and return to for the rest of your life.
Oliver Hartwell · 5 min read
History & Heritage
Hampstead's Lost Spa Quarter: The Georgian Spa Town
In the 18th century Hampstead rivalled Bath as a fashionable spa resort. The wells that brought the crowds have long since dried up but traces survive.
Beatrice Thornton · 7 min read
Food & Drink
Best Brunch Spots in Hampstead: The Complete Guide 2026
The art of the Saturday morning, the cafés and restaurants that do brunch properly, from flawless eggs Benedict to the best sourdough toast in NW3.
Beatrice Thornton · 5 min read
Food & Drink
Hampstead's Coffee Scene: The Best Independent Cafes 2026
Chain coffee shops have made limited inroads in Hampstead. The village remains a stronghold of the independent cafe each with its own character.
Oliver Hartwell · 5 min read
Local Life
The Architecture of Hampstead: A Street-by-Street Guide 2026
Hampsteads built environment spans four centuries. This guide works through the key periods and the streets that best represent each.
James Calloway · 5 min read
History & Heritage
Famous Residents of Hampstead: The Blue Plaque Trail
Hampstead has more blue plaques per square mile than almost anywhere in Britain. A walk through the neighbourhood's commemorative history, from H.G. Wells to Sigmund Freud.
Beatrice Thornton · 11 min read