Hello Hamsptead
The Local Guide
From wild swimming and Rembrandt paintings to literary pub crawls and hidden gardens — the complete guide to Hampstead Village, London NW3. Written by locals.
One of London's great pleasures — wild swimming in the men's, ladies' or mixed ponds on Hampstead Heath. Open every day of the year (including winter), with lifeguards on duty. Entry is around £4 for adults. Cold water swimmers gather even in January when temperatures dip to 4°C.
A magnificent 18th-century mansion on the northern edge of Hampstead Heath, managed by English Heritage and completely free to enter. The collection includes Rembrandt's self-portrait, Vermeer's Guitar Player and works by Turner and Gainsborough. The grounds are equally stunning for a stroll.
Parliament Hill (or Kite Hill) offers one of the finest panoramic views of London. On a clear day you can see St Paul's, The Shard, Canary Wharf and the Wembley Arch. Sunrise is magical and the hill is a popular spot for kite-flying with children on weekends.
One of London's most historic pubs (c.1585), The Spaniards Inn sits at the edge of Hampstead Heath. Dickens, Keats, Byron and Bram Stoker all drank here. The beer garden is exceptional and the Sunday roast is legendary. It's a short walk from Hampstead tube via the Heath.
Follow in the footsteps of Keats, Freud, Orwell and Constable. Our 3.2km literary walk takes you past Keats House, the Freud Museum, John Constable's grave and the homes of a dozen literary giants. Download the route for free on our Walks page.
Flask Walk is a charming pedestrian lane off Hampstead High Street, lined with independent shops, the historic Flask pub and elegant Georgian terraces. From here, weave through Well Walk, Christchurch Hill and Church Row — considered one of the finest Georgian streets in London.
A beautiful early Georgian mansion (1703) in the heart of the village, now housing a charming local museum and gallery with rotating exhibitions about Hampstead's rich history. The basement café is one of the village's best-kept secrets.
Hampstead High Street and the surrounding lanes have an outstanding restaurant scene — from Jin Kichi (a beloved Japanese yakitori, one of the oldest in London) to Gung Ho Chinese, Cote Brasserie, and numerous brunch spots. Booking is recommended for weekend evenings.
Keats House in Keats Grove is where John Keats wrote "Ode to a Nightingale" in 1819. Now a museum, it preserves original letters, manuscripts and furnishings from the poet's time. The small garden where Keats composed some of his greatest work is genuinely moving.
Attached to Hampstead Heath, Golders Hill Park has a free animal enclosure with deer, flamingos and wallabies — perfect with children. The formal gardens, walled flower garden, and Hill Garden & Pergola (a romantic Edwardian structure) are all free to explore.
A handsome 17th-century merchant's house on Hampstead Grove with a walled garden and a superb collection of keyboard instruments, including a harpsichord that Handel is said to have played. National Trust members enter free.
Hampstead Theatre on Eton Avenue is one of London's leading producing theatres, with a track record of transferring productions to the West End and Broadway. The Downstairs studio space supports new and emerging writers. Book ahead for popular shows.
Our 5.4km Classic Heath Loop is one of London's great running routes — from Hampstead tube, up to Parliament Hill viewpoint, around the ponds, through ancient woodland and back via Kenwood. Mostly trail running with some hills. Download the GPX route on our Walks page.
The Kenwood Picnic Concerts on the lawn in front of Kenwood House are a Hampstead summer institution. Bring a picnic, a blanket and a bottle of wine and listen to orchestral music with the Heath as a backdrop. Fireworks often follow. Tickets sell out quickly.
One of Hampstead's best-kept secrets — the Edwardian Pergola and Hill Garden is a raised walkway covered in wisteria and climbing roses, with views across the Heath. It's free, often uncrowded and genuinely spectacular in late May/June when the wisteria blooms.
Hampstead has resisted the chains that have homogenised many London high streets. You'll find independent bookshops, wine merchants, artisan bakeries, jewellers, galleries and vintage clothing shops. Heath Street and Flask Walk are the best areas to explore.
Louis Patisserie on Heath Street has been an NW3 institution since 1963 — a traditional Hungarian café with excellent cakes, pastries and afternoon tea. The decor hasn't changed much in 60 years and that's exactly the point. Always busy, no bookings taken.
A short walk or tube ride from Hampstead, Cherry Tree Wood in East Finchley is a beautiful ancient woodland with bluebells in spring. Combine with a walk along the Dollis Valley Greenwalk for a longer route away from the crowds.
Sigmund Freud's final home in Maresfield Gardens (he fled Vienna in 1938 and died here in 1939) is now a museum preserving his famous consulting room with the original couch, his vast antiquities collection and personal library. A fascinating and intimate glimpse into one of the 20th century's great minds.
End your day in Hampstead at The Holly Bush — a Grade II listed 18th-century pub tucked away in a quiet lane off Holly Mount. Low beams, open fires in winter, real ales and an excellent menu. One of the most atmospheric pubs in all of London. Booking essential for dining.
