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.
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
History & Heritage
The Night the Pond Froze: Hampstead Heath's Coldest Winters
In the coldest winters of the 19th century the Heath ponds froze solid enough for skating. The records photographs and memories of those extraordinary events.
James Calloway · 5 min read
Nature & Outdoors
Birdwatching on Hampstead Heath: The Complete Guide 2026
Over 180 species have been recorded on Hampstead Heath. From sparrowhawks hunting over the ponds to the nightingales that inspired Keats, the Heath is one of London's great birding destinations.
James Calloway · 5 min read
Local Life
Hampstead Arts Festivals: Literature, Music & Ideas 2026
Each autumn the villages cultural institutions combine to present two weeks of talks performances and exhibitions.
Beatrice Thornton · 5 min read
Arts & Culture
Cinema in Hampstead: The Everyman & Beyond, Complete Guide 2026
The Everyman Hampstead pioneered the luxury cinema experience. Here is the full picture of where to watch films in NW3.
James Calloway · 5 min read
Arts & Culture
Constable and Hampstead Heath: The Painter and His Skies
Between 1819 and 1837, John Constable produced over 100 oil sketches and paintings on Hampstead Heath. They changed the course of Western landscape painting. Here is the story of those years.
James Calloway · 5 min read
Local Life
Pharmacies in Hampstead: The Complete Guide 2026
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