Highgate to Parliament Hill

A point-to-point walk across the northern and central Heath — start in Highgate village, cross the Heath at its widest point, and finish at Parliament Hill with the London skyline stretched out below you. At 6.5 kilometres this is the longest route in the collection, and the one that best conveys the scale of what 790 acres of open land actually means in the middle of a city. Start at Highgate tube station on Archway Road and walk up Highgate Hill to the village. Stop at The Flask on Highgate West Hill — not to be confused with The Flask in Hampstead village, though both are excellent — before entering the Heath at Millfield Lane. The northern Heath has a different character from the Hampstead side: quieter, wilder, with longer lines of sight across open grassland. The Highgate Ponds from this approach reveal themselves gradually — first the fishing ponds, then the bathing ponds, which in summer are among the most pleasant places in London. Cross the main meadow below Parliament Hill, climb to the summit, and look south. On a clear day you can see past Canary Wharf to the North Downs in Surrey — about 30 miles. The descent to Gospel Oak or Hampstead Heath overground stations takes 15 minutes.

Highlights

• Highgate village — pubs and Georgian architecture
• Northern Heath — wilder and quieter than the Hampstead side
• Highgate Ponds from the north approach
• Parliament Hill summit — 30-mile view on clear days
• Walking the full width of the Heath

Route Map

Route Waypoints

1. 1

   Highgate Tube Station

   Northern line — alight here, not Archway

2. 2

   Highgate Village

   The Flask pub (Highgate West Hill), independent shops, Georgian houses

3. 3

   Millfield Lane

   Heath entrance — narrow lane, residential feel

4. 4

   Kenwood Meadows

   Open grassland — wide views north, kestrels hunting the margins

5. 5

   Highgate Men's Pond

   Year-round outdoor swimming — one of three ponds open to the public

6. 6

   Mixed Bathing Pond

   Open to all — busiest in summer, quieter in shoulder seasons

7. 7

   Parliament Hill Summit

   134m — London panorama including The Shard, Canary Wharf, St Paul's

8. 8

   Gospel Oak Station

   Overground — frequent services to Highbury & Islington, Clapham Junction

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