10+ places to visit near Hampstead

I have a whole new city to explore, new streets to fall in love with, new routines to fall into, new restaurants to become my favorites, delicious food street to try and new corners to photograph.

I’ve even have a pet(wish) :))

I’ve been lucky enough to live in Hampstead, Camden. No, not at one of those big villas with 1 Tesla and 3 Ferraris, just a small but very cozy studio.

There are a lot of things to do in London (oh, really?!), I’ve tried a few part of them, and quite famous ones are here in our neighborhood.

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Get to know the area, a historic district of great literary tradition, with these top picks of things to do, eat, and see it through my 2 pair of eyes.

Greenery

1. Hampstead Heath one of London’s most popular green spaces it is famous for its spectacular views of the city’s skyline. Hampstead Heath it is an expanse of beautiful countryside just a short drive from the city centre or just 5 minutes walk from my apartment.

The area is excellent from a lunch under the sky, a late evening walk, a short run or a swim.

Known also for its swimming ponds very appreciated by the locals, which I guess I won’t use them anytime soon, no until I learn how to swim :D Originally dammed-off clay pits, the three pools remain open to ladies, men and mixed groups. The Men’s and Ladies’ Ponds are open all year round — fancy a swim in an outdoor pool in December?

Just so you know, even in the summer the water is chilly.

Parliament Hill it is a high part of the park with wonderful views looking south over the city. I’ve never got the chance, but it is highly recommended on a clear morning, when you can see from Canary Wharf in the east all the way to Battersea Power Station in the west… so I’ve heard.

2. The Hill Garden and Pergola it’s quite a beautiful hidden garden on West Heath, which is little known even to many Londoners.

3. Kenwood House, a splendid Regency house with enormous gardens and woodlands is one of North London’s hidden gems for art enthusiasts, the world-class art collection featuring works from Rembrandt to Vermeer and intricate interiors of the villa. The gardens alone are worth the visit and are a superb example of 18th century landscaping. Kenwood House. The surrounding grounds are always a constant buzz by children’s loud voices ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

4. Freud Museum was the home of the well known Sigmund Freud, the father of psychoanalysis, and his family when they escaped Austria following the Nazi in 1938. It remained the family home until the death of Freud’s youngest daughter Anna in 1982. Without a doubt, the most impressive feature of the house, preserved as it was during his lifetime, its centerpiece the infamous psychoanalytic couch used by his patients.

Photo credit: artfund.org

I have not yet visited Keats House (priorities!), but if you are passionate about poetry you should definitely check it out.

One of England’s poetic genii, John Keats, is part of the canon of Romantic poetry, alongside Lord Byron and Percy Shelley of the late 19th century. Guests have the privilege of exploring his life and work through new exhibits, including original manuscripts and artifacts that document the young poet’s career and sources of poetic inspiration.

Cinema & Theatre

Given its reputation as a centre of the arts, it is no surprise that Hampstead is home to three of London’s better known repertory theatres and a truly top-class arthouse cinema. Evenings here certainly focus around those performing arts activities.

5. Everyman Cinema is one of London’s most notable art house cinemas and the most impressive I’ve ever been to, offering a high quality experience. You pay for it, but the environment is very classy indeed. Has a sister cinema just down the hill in Belsize Park — The Everyman Belsize Park.

Photo credit: standard.co.uk

Other options (not tested yet, the theatre is currently on the wish list)

• Hampstead Theatre, Eton Ave, NW3 3EU
• New End Theatre, 27 New End, NW3 1JD
• Pentameters Theatre, 28 Heath St, NW3 6TE

Shopping

Hampstead Village has long been known as a home of off-beat, independent shops.

6. Daunt Books a wonderful, old-style independent book shop which has a second branch up the hill at 51 South End Rd.

They also organize book walks. A regular walk to talk books along Hampstead’s beautiful heath. All ages welcome and dogs too. Walkers meet at the Daunt shop before heading to the heath. Sounds pretty awesome!

8. 4 destinations close to each other and worth visiting

• Hampstead Antiques Emporium — Tu-Sa 10:30–17:00, Su 11:30–17:30. More than 30 antique dealers permanently occupy this small arcade and adjacent courtyard. Several genres represented including furniture, paintings, toys and textiles.

• Hampstead Community Centre — Sa 09:00–18:00, on Saturdays, turns into a mini-market selling a variety of things, including a second hand book stall with a fantastic selection, cheese and jam.
• Hampstead Market (Behind the Everyman Cinema) — Sa 10:00–15:00, itis a lovely little market! Quaint and charming site, a surprising number of brilliant stalls, and a lovely atmosphere, hosting award-winning farmers, small-batch producers and street food traders.

• The Hampstead Butcher & Providore it is the go-to destination for all things meaty. The traditional British butcher offers premier meat cuts from a wide variety of free-range and ethically reared beef, pork, lamb, chickens, and game when in season, while their delicatessen and charcuterie display a delicious selection of exotic cheeses, wines, gluten free sweets and bakery, beer, other groceries and even liquorice candy. Everything to complete the meal. I can get enough every time I go.

Hampstead High St, Heath St, Rosslyn Hill and Haverstock Hill have a number of mid and upper market boutiques including. Window shopping is a very encouraging, depending on your budget you could even buy some pieces :))

Eat & Drink

Hampstead and Belsize Park are well known for a wide selection of quality restaurants, cafés and pubs.

10. La Creperie de Hampstead it is a crêpe stall in front of the King William IV pub. A wide variety of tasty sweet and savory crepes and galettes, from Spinach, Garlic, Cheese & Cream to Chocolate and Banana.

It is surprising how the french chefs can get any work done in their tiny claustrophobic kitchen.

11. The King William IV is London’s oldest established gay pub and a pleasant place for a drink whether you are gay or straight. Three bar rooms and a pleasant, if small, outdoor beer garden at the rear. They had some amazing asian food, not too long ago, but it seems they reiterated toward english specialties to reach a market fit. Plenty of beer options, though.

Other 2 famous pubs are on my wish list, where I am planning to try yet a Sunday Roast in the near future.

• The Old Bull and Bush is a former farmhouse that first gained a licence to sell liquor in 1721 and is the pub that gave rise to famous Victorian music hall song “Down at The Old Bull and Bush”. Today it is a thriving pub and one which has modernized sympathetically. A great place to go for a drink and imagine the characters who have done likewise here over the past nearly 300 years.
• The Spaniard’s Inn it has around since 1585 and has just claims to be one of the most famous pubs in London. In his modern days it is a decent pub with a real countryside atmosphere. Dating back to the 16th century, it is one of London’s oldest and most historic pubs, immortalised in The Pickwick Papers by Charles Dickens, and known as the alleged writing space for Hampstead-born Keats’s poet. .

12. Flask Walk is discretely hidden off the Hampstead High, placed on a pedestrian alleyway full of various characters. Along this small strip of shops, you can find a second-hand bookshop and designer store, a magical shop devoted to Mystical Fairies to impress the children, and a charming Victorian pub for the adults. Follow the alley all the way down to head in the direction of Hampstead Heath, and enjoy a stroll past the village’s prettiest houses, home to some of the rich and famous.

No pictures taken during the day, both day/night scenarios are lovely.

13. Camden walk — This deserves an entire article and at least half day, from urban art walk, to the various shops and food to try. Nowhere else brings good food and great people together better than Camden Town.

Image source: lovecamden.org

14. High gate cemetery. As creepy as it sounds, the cemetery is a must see destination. It has some of the finest funerary architecture in the country.

There are a lot more things to see and do, but you know, time and budget is limited … but priorities first! ;)