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Area of Camden in London, England
Photo: Christine Matthews, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Hampstead is a district of north inner London. The key sights are a wealth of under-stated historical attractions, and the magnificent open spaces of Hampstead Heath. Kenwood House is one of the most accessible of London's great Regency homes, John Keats has a museum devoted to his life and work at his former residence here, and the inspiration for many of John Constable's landscapes is all around you on Hampstead Heath. Combine those with some of the most interesting historical pubs in the whole city, and a vibrant restaurant and cafe scene, and Hampstead really does have much to offer the visitor.
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A house designed by Erno Goldfinger in 1939 and regarded as an icon of modernist architecture. The contents are just as impressive as the house and include original works by Henry Moore and Max Ernst. Local lore has it that Hampstead resident of the time Ian Fleming objected so strongly to Goldfinger's modernist design that he named his famous Bond villain after him.
This beautiful grade I listed Georgian building houses the Hampstead Museum, which has an interesting collection of exhibits on the history of the local area.
A contemporary arts centre with exhibitions focused on exposing new talent. Housed in a lovely Victorian mansion.
A magnificent old house dating from 1667 that is administered by the National Trust. It is most famous for its globally important collection of early keyboard instruments, and there is also a fine collection of art and porcelain. Frequently hosts recitals.
The former home of Sigmund Freud. A wide range of exhibits, most famously including the psycho-analytic couch that all of his patients used. Freud was an avid collector of antiquities and there is a fine collection of Greek, Roman and Oriental pieces on show.
Parish Church of St John-at-Hampstead
The church building is rather lovely but it is the graveyard that will most interest visitors. Notable personalities buried here include Sir John Constable (artist), Hugh Gaitskell (Labour Party leader and Chancellor of the Exchequer), Kay Kendall (actress) and several members of the du Maurier family. Tomb trails are available at the church. Visiting should be OK in daylight hours, but check ahead if you are making a special trip.
Take a guided tour of the overgrown Western Cemetery which gives it a special beauty and charm, or visit the East Cemetery unaccompanied where you will find the grave of Karl Marx. There are at least 850 notable people buried at Highgate, from authors Douglas Adams and George Eliot, to Jean Simmons and Michael Faraday; high society Victorians wouldn't be seen dead anywhere else. It has been said that Highgate has the finest collection of Victorian funerary architecture in the country, and the cemetery certainly has more than its fair share of ghosts. There's even a resident vampire!
The poet John Keats lived here from 1818 to 1820 until he travelled to Rome where he died of tuberculosis, aged just 25. The house was restored in 2009 as a museum with period decor, furnishings and a collection of Keatsiana. Some events take place in the building next door within the grounds (Ten Keats Grove); the building also houses a volunteer-run public library, with a collection of books and periodicals, and free internet access.
A large open grassed hill just to the north of Regent's Park. Offers a free panorama of Central London. The views are probably only bettered by those from Parliament Hill on Hampstead Heath.
A secret jewel of a park. Beautifully landscaped grounds, hills, mature trees, lakes, a walled garden, visitor's centre, café, tennis courts, and children's playgrounds. Bequeathed to the public as a "garden for the gardenless" by Sir Sidney Waterlow in 1889. A visit here combines very well with Highgate Cemetery.
A community garden for inner peace next to Hampstead Heath station. No smoking, alcohol or dogs allowed.
There are three notable outdoor bathing ponds on the heath. The Men's Pond and Women's Pond are both part of the line of small lakes on the eastern edge of the heath known as Highgate Ponds, and the Mixed Pond is part of Hampstead Ponds on the opposite side. Swimming hours are seasonal, complicated, age-dependent and change frequently, so it is worth checking before making a special trip.
A more formal tended area of the heath at its north-western extremity. Has as a small aviary and zoo that kids always enjoy.
A quite beautiful hidden garden on West Heath, which is little known even to many Londoners. It was originally part of the gardens of 19th-century Inverforth House built by Viscount Leverhulme (the then owner of Lever Brothers, now Unilever). The gardens are now common land and part of Hampstead Heath, and the most impressive feature is a restored timber pergola, covered with various climbing plants including roses, honeysuckle, clematis, wisteria and various vines. The pergola offers two stunning views from its north-western point. You can look straight out and over the heath's canopy and see nothing but mature trees. Alternatively, you can look down and see the beautifully manicured herb garden and the length of the pergola stretching out before you. The adjacent Hill Garden offers a complete contrast to the wildness of the pergola. The garden is beautifully manicured and is a favourite haunt for artists. The bench by the ornamental fish pond here gives a stunning view of Hampstead Heath with the towers of urban London as the backdrop.
A splendid Regency house with enormous gardens and woodlands. The gardens alone are worth the visit and are a superb example of 18th-century landscaping. On show at the house is art by masters such as Rembrandt, Turner, Reynolds and Vermeer, and the gardens have a very notable sculpture by Henry Moore. A regular program of outdoor opera takes place here every summer. Movie buffs will recognise Kenwood from Mansfield Park among other famous films. Administered by English Heritage, separately from the rest of Hampstead Heath.
This is a high part of the Heath with clear open vistas, and the views looking south over the city are quite wonderful. 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.
One of London's most notable art house cinemas which offers 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.
A repertory theatre that is about as far removed from glitzy west end productions as you could imagine. Dedicated to exposing new writing talent. Harold Pinter gained some of his earliest experience here.
Small, intimate theatre known for edgy, high quality productions. Located above The Horseshoe pub.
A crepe stall in front of the King William IV pub. A wide variety of tasty sweet and savoury crepes for under a fiver. Queues can get long at the weekends. Been around a long time and passes the longevity test.
Really good value, no frills sushi restaurant.
A very well known fish and chip shop. The great British invention to either take away or eat in. Locals travel a long way to buy here.
The only cafe actually on Hampstead Heath, and a nice place to stop for a drink or quick bite after exploring the heath.
Modern coffee shop chain just around the corner from Hampstead tube station. Serves decent coffee with cakes and savoury snacks at slightly lower prices than elsewhere in Hampstead Village. Part of a large chain.
Serves cheap and decent, if not terribly inspired, Italian food. Good value for this area. Also has a deli attached. Part of a large chain.
formerly Czechoslovak
Serves traditional Czech-Slovak dishes such as svíčková (beef steak in a creamy sauce) and guláš (goulash) with knedlíky (boiled bread dumplings) at reasonable prices, also has plenty of memorabilia on display particularly from World War II.
A gastro pub offering both homely dishes and some more ambitious options. Good location only one minute walk from Hampstead Heath. Has a large open garden with many tables which is lovely in the summer.
Stands out as a bohemian deli/cafe with beautiful if not cheap food. Excellent for brunch/long weekend lunches. Chunky rustic furniture, specials on blackboards, free newspapers. Quite child friendly.
European cuisine.
The UK's oldest vegetarian restaurant which has been in operation since 1966. That says a lot about the quality of the food, and the presentation and service are also top notch.
Italian bistro with an extensive menu of pizzas and grill items.
Modern European cooking in the Primrose Hill district. Interesting set degustation menu for £60 per head.
The name dates from the 18th and 19th centuries, when Hampstead was known as an area with many freshwater springs and people went there to take the waters. The current building has been a pub since 1874. Two bar rooms and a separate dining area.
It has been around since 1807 and is an absolute traditional favourite. Two bar rooms with open fireplaces. Consistently rated as one of the best traditional pubs in the whole of London.
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. Right in the heart of Hampstead village.
This former farmhouse gained its first 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 modernised sympathetically. A great place to go for a drink and imagine the characters who have done likewise here over the past nearly 300 years.
Been around since 1585 and has just claims to be one of the most famous pubs in London. Keats, Shelly and Byron all drank here and Dickens mentions it in Pickwick Papers. Local lore has it that Dick Turpin used the pub and that his ghost still does. These days it is a decent pub with a real countryside atmosphere.
Local favourite with a lively bar downstairs and excellent restaurant on the first floor.
Intimate pub with a cozy inside bar and a very popular beer garden which gets packed in summer.
Traditional pub which offers a fine selection of beers and has a relatively broad food menu. Traditional jazz is played on Thursday nights. One of the more reasonably priced pubs in the area.
Old fashioned London pub which runs a regular program of themed nights including some quite eclectic musical themes. Saturday is comedy night and especially popular. Named after the notable Georgian journalist and writer whose home was on this site.
Swiss chalet-style pub that gave its name to the tube station.
Traditional B&B with 43 rooms ranging from singles to family suites. The cheapest rooms do not have private bathrooms.
Budget guest house with 15 rooms including family options. A five-minute walk to the West Hampstead stations.
Bed and breakfast in a converted Victorian building in Belsize Park. Quiet and reserved residential neighbourhood but easy access to Hampstead Village.
Charming boutique bed and breakfast accommodation above a restaurant and wine bar of the same name. Family owned and managed.
Converted townhouse within walking distance of Hampstead Village.
A high-quality hostel in a converted Victorian mansion. Has private rooms and a number of dorm options. Offers free WiFi, breakfast included in the price and nice touches such as serving fair trade coffee only.
Best Western
Converted Victorian townhouse with 59 rooms. Two-minute walk to Swiss Cottage tube station.
A wonderful, old-style independent book shop which has a second branch up the hill at 51 South End Rd.
A regular farmer's market selling fresh organic produce every Saturday
More than 30 antique dealers permanently occupy this small arcade and adjacent courtyard. Several genres represented including furniture, paintings, toys and textiles.
On Saturdays, turns into a mini-market selling a variety of things, including a second hand book stall with a fantastic selection.
A rare and antiquarian bookshop with a special focus on the great literary characters who lived in Hampstead. Also carries a huge stock of more run-of-the-mill secondhand titles. An absolute must for booklovers.
An independent haberdashery.
By train
Hampstead is reachable via Thameslink trains and the London Overground.
By bus
Finchley Rd is a major bus route through London.
By road
The best advice for any visitors wishing to drive into Hampstead is, don't. This is a largely residential area, and there is virtually no on-street parking available.
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