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Hampstead is a district north of the city of London.
To know
There is an abundance of things to see and most of them are of historical importance even if ignored a little by mass tourism. Kenwood House is the most accessible of the great London residences. John Keats has a museum dedicated to his life and work located inside the house where he lived. This area has also inspired many of John Constable's views. There are also many historic pubs here as well as a great selection of restaurants and cafes.
Hampstead Village, with its myriad of restaurants, old pubs and cafes it is a good place to spend a couple of days. The area retains much of its original character and when you consider that Hampstead High Street alone is home to 18 Grade II listed buildings. Here we are in one of the richest areas of London and you can also find interesting and independent shops, many theaters and essay cinemas.
The large green spaces of Hampstead Heath they are the main attraction for Londoners but actually few tourists know this part of the city.
Literary, artistic and dramaturgical tradition district. Among the illustrious citizens who have lived there are: Kingsley Amis, William Blake, John Constable, Ian Fleming, William Hogarth, John Keats, Anna Pavlova and Alfred Tennyson. This tradition continues today and the area is chosen as a residence by many actors, musicians, writers and media figures. The inhabitants of this area are very aware of the historical importance of this area, so any proposed changes are subjected to rigorous discussions and protests.
Belsize Park it is in many ways a southward extension of Hampstead Village and similarly consists of many residential streets and is also home to one of London's largest and most famous hospitals: the Royal Free.
The western part of Highgate, the Dartmouth Park area is always within the Hampstead district which includes the Highgate Cemetery which houses, among others, the tomb of Karl Marx.
Primrose Hill is a quiet residential area in the south of the borough that borders Regent's Park. Due to the lack of busy main roads, it feels like miles away from the hustle and bustle of London, creating an oasis in the center of the city.
West Hampstead it is less grandiose and traditionally was a zone for the working class, but gentrification has transformed it into a zone of young professionals. Apart from some accommodations, there is nothing of interest to tourists.
How to orient yourself
Hampstead: full screen map.How to get
By subway
The district is served by the following "tube" stations:
1 Hampstead (lines: Northern Line).- 2 Belsize Park (lines: Northern Line).
- 3 Chalk Farm (lines: Northern Line).
- 4 Golders Green (lines: Northern Line).
- 5 Swiss Cottage (lines: Jubilee Line).
- 6 Finchley Road (lines: Jubilee Line and Metropolitan Line).
- 7 West Hampstead (lines: Jubilee Line).
| Subway lines running through Hampstead |
| Terminus ← North London ← | OR  S. | → Paddington and Maida Vale → Westminster |
| West London ← North London ← | OR  S. | → Mayfair and Marylebone → Bloomsbury - Camden |
| Terminus ← North London ← | No.  S. | → Camden → Bloomsbury |
| Richmond and Kew ← North London ← North London Line ← | OR  IS | → North London Line → Camden → East London |
| Terminus ← Gospel Oak to Barking Line ← | OR IS | → Line from Gospel Oak to Barking → Islington Town Hall → East London |
On the train
Hampstead Heath and Gospel Oak stations are on the London Overground and both are useful stops for Hampstead Heath. Further west the Overground also stops at Finchley Road & Frognal and West Hampstead. The area is covered by Belsize Park and Hampstead tube stations on the Northern Line.
West Hampstead is also on the Thameslink Line train line allowing for easy access from the English Midlands to the north and Brighton in the south of the country.
South Hampstead is also on the Euston to Watford line with approximately 4 trains per hour.
By bus
- Finchley Road is a major hub for London buses. Lines 13,139 and 82 originate downtown and run along Finchley Road, allowing access to Swiss Cottage and West Hampstead.
- Hampstead and Belsize Park are less well served with only one direct connection to the center via Line 46 which originates at Farringdon Street.
- The N5 night bus is an excellent and comfortable way to get to Hampstead, Belsize Park and Golders Green after an evening in the West End. It originates in Trafalgar Square and passes through King's Cross and Camden Town before traveling along Chalk Farm Road. Haverstock Hill, Hampstead High Street and North End Way. It runs every 15 minutes from midnight to 6am.
By car
The best advice for visitors wishing to drive through Hampstead is "don't!". It is a residential area and there is practically no on street parking available. Public transport is very good so there is no need to use a car.
If you insist on driving, there is a public car park on the southeastern side of Hampstead Heath which can be accessed from East Heath Road. The "easiest" (so to speak) roads to use to get here from the center are:
- A41 north of Marylebone Road and Baker Street. The A41 becomes Finchley Road in this district.
- A4200 (Eversholt Street) north of Euston Station towards Camden High Street then continue on the A502 which runs to the heart of the district via Chalk Farm Road, Haverstock Hill and then Hampstead Street.
Coming from the north, the A41, A502 and A598 connect to the district from the A406 North Circular Road and consequently the M1 motorway.
How to get around
Much of the district, particularly Hampstead Village and Hampstead Heath, lends itself well to being strolled.
By bus
- Line 268 offers a regular and comfortable service connecting Golders Green, Hampstead, Belsize Park, Swiss Cottage and Finchley Road in both directions. Stops frequently in relevant areas such as Heath Street, Hampstead High Street, Haverstock Hill and Finchley Road.
- Line 210 is a convenient service to Kenwood House, near Highgate Cemetery and Waterlow Park, as well as other areas along Spaniard's Road and Hampstead Lane. It flows south from Golders Green station to North End Road, turns east along Spaniard Road then flows along Hampstead Lane and ends outside the district at Finsbury Park. On the contrary, the path is identical.
What see
Declining from the status of the hottest graveyard in England in the 19th century to the total neglect of the 1970s of the 21st century, Highgate Cemetery has always attracted the creation of supernatural stories albeit mostly of benign ghosts. Public hysteria exploded when rumors of a "vampire" appeared in local newspaper articles.
The letters al Hampstead and Highgate Express they told of locals who had met the devil. One person claimed to have seen a creature with bright red eyes looking at him through the bars of the fence, while another wrote that she was knocked down by something that slid off the wall and then faded into the air when the lights of a cars illuminated him.
Not too long after two rival occultists, David Farrant and Seán Manchester, took care of the matter. Both tried to bully the other with increasingly extreme statements, stating that black magic was being practiced inside the abandoned cemetery by a group of devil flatterers, that dead foxes had been found with their throats cut and that one of the mausoleums it contained the remains of the "Vampire King" of Wallachia. All of this culminated in a live television interview on March 13, 1970, in which Farrant complained that proper ways to get rid of the vampire (by impaling, decapitating and burning the body) would be considered illegal at the time.
In less than two hours, a crowd of vampire hunters from all over London broke into the cemetery, thwarting any attempt by the police to keep them out. Manchester later admitted that he had used the confusion to break into a crypt and sprinkle garlic and holy water. That night no trace of vampires was found but events became more gruesome that year when the body of a woman, burned and beheaded, was discovered near the "vampire's grave". The police suspected that the body was used for black magic, and Farrant was charged and arrested because he was found hidden not far away, armed with a crucifix and a wooden stake. The case was closed in court even though Farrant was imprisoned for damaging monuments and interfering with the remains of the dead inside the cemetery.
Nowadays Farrant and Manchester are free to continue enriching their stories and feeding the general fear. While there have been no official vampire sightings since the mid-1970s, the couple mounted a full-fledged feud, accusing each other of quackery.
Many of the places to visit are concentrated in an area that can be reached in just 10 minutes on foot from the Hampstead tube station. If you plan to spend a full day in the area, a morning visit to Hampstead Heath park is recommended, then travel to Hampstead Village and continue with the historic attractions.
- 1 2 Willow Road, 2 Willow Road, NW3 1TH (Tube station: Hampstead), ☎ 44 20 7435 6166, @[email protected].
Adults £ 7, children £ 3.50. 
Thu-Fri 12: 00-17: 00. House designed by Erno Goldfinger in 1939 and considered an icon of modern architecture. The furnishings are as beautiful as the building and inside there are works by Henry Moore and Max Ernst. Urban legend has it that Ian Felmin, a local resident, objected so much to Goldfinger's project that he decided to give the same name to the villain from the James Bond series. 
- 2 Burgh House and Hampstead Museum, New End Square, NW3 1LT (Tube station: Hampstead), ☎ 44 20 7431 0144. Free. Wed-Sun 12: 00-17: 00. Beautiful Georgian building on the Grade I List of Historic Buildings, it houses the Hampstead Museum which has an interesting exhibit on the history of the area.
- 3 Camden Arts Center, Arkwright Road, NW3 6DG (Tube station: Finchley Road), ☎ 44 20 7472 5500, @[email protected]. Free. Thu-Sun 10: 00-18: 00, Wed 10: 00-21: 00, closed on Mondays and public holidays. Center for Contemporary Arts with exhibitions focused on emerging artists. It is located inside a beautiful Victorian house.
- 4 Fenton House, Hampstead Grove, NW3 6SP (Tube station: Hampstead), ☎ 44 20 7435 3471, @[email protected]. £5.70. Sat-Sun 11: 00-17: 00. Superb old house built in 1667 managed by the National Thrust association. Famous for its collection of antique keyboard musical instruments, as well as an art and porcelain collection. He often stages recitals.
Adults £ 7, children £ 3.50. 
Thu-Fri 12: 00-17: 00. House designed by Erno Goldfinger in 1939 and considered an icon of modern architecture. The furnishings are as beautiful as the building and inside there are works by Henry Moore and Max Ernst. Urban legend has it that Ian Felmin, a local resident, objected so much to Goldfinger's project that he decided to give the same name to the villain from the James Bond series.
- 5 Freud Museum (Freud Museum), 20 Maresfield Gardens, NW3 5SX (Tube station: Finchley Road or Swiss Cottage), ☎ 44 20 7435 2002, @[email protected]. £6. Wed-Sun 12: 00-19: 00. Sigmund Freud's house which houses a variety of objects on display, among the most famous is the sofa used by all his patients. Freud was an avid collector of antiques and Greek, Roman and Oriental pieces can be seen on display.
- 6 Hampstead Parish Church (Parish Church of St John-at-Hampstead), Church Row, NW3 6UU (Tube station: Hampstead), ☎ 44 20 7794 5808, @[email protected]. The church building is quite beautiful but the cemetery is the main attraction for visitors. Notable characters resting here include: Sir John Constable (artist), Hugh Gaitskell (Labor Party leader and Chancellor of the Treasury), Kay Kendall (actress) and many members of the Maurier family.
- 7 Highgate Cemetery (Highgate Cemetery), Swain's Lane, N6 6JP (20 minutes from Archway tube station: turn left and walk towards Highgate Hill until you reach St Joseph's church (the one with a big green man). Enter Waterlow Park on the left and follow downhill to the Swain's Lane exit (under the tennis court). The bus from Golder's Green station is 210), ☎ 44 20 8340 1834, @[email protected]. East Cemetery £ 4, West Cemetery Guided Tour & East Cemetery Admission £ 12. Eastern cemetery: Mon-Fri 10: 00-sunset, west cemetery: you can enter only with guided tours from 1 Mar to 30 Nov Mon-Fri 14:00; from 1 Nov to 28 Feb Sat-Sun every hour between 11:00 and 15:00; from 1 Mar to 31 Oct Sat-Sun every hour from 11:00 to 16:00. You can follow a guided tour of the western cemetery, full of greenery, or you can stroll through the eastern one looking for the tomb of Karl Marx. There are at least 850 noteworthy people buried in Highgate, from Douglas Adams and George Elliot to Jean Simmons and Michael Faraday. High society Victorians should all be here. This cemetery is said to have the finest collection of funerary architecture in the whole country, and the cemetery also has its fair share of ghosts, including a resident vampire!
- 8 Keats House, Keats Grove, NW3 2RR (Tube station: Hampstead; train: Hampstead Heath), ☎ 44 20 7332 3868, @[email protected]. £6.50. Wed-Sun 100: 00-17: 00. Poet John Keats lived here from 1818 to 1820 until he decided to travel to Rome where he died of tuberculosis at the age of 25. The house was renovated in 2009 as a museum with period-style furnishings. Some events take place in the building next door, at 10 Keats Grove. There is also a public library run by volunteers in the building which contains books and periodicals and provides free internet access.
- 9 Primrose Hill, off Regent's Park Road, NW1 (Metro station: Chalk Farm). A large green hill just north of Regent's Park. Offers views of central London. Best views can only be seen on Parliament Hill on Hampstead Heath.
- 10 Waterlow Park, Swain's Ln N6, ☎ 44 20 7974 8810. A little gem of a park. Very well maintained, with hills, ancient trees, lakes, a garden within a wall, a visitor center, a café, a tennis court and a playground for children. Bequeathed to the public as "The Garden of the Gardenless" by Sidney Waterlow in 1889. A visit here goes well with a visit to Highgate Cemetery.
Hampstead Heath
At 320 hectares this is the largest green space in central London.
Hampstead Heath, or the Heath as the inhabitants of the area call it, it is not a park and has a different characteristic than the more than well-kept royal parks in the center. This is what remains of the great Middlesex Wood forest, which somehow survived as a public domain despite the expansion of the metropolis. Its proximity and ease of access to overcrowded areas of London have allowed Hampstead Heath to have a special place in the heart of Londoners.
This moor has a lot to offer visitors but is generally not well known as a tourist attraction. If you are in the city and want to breathe fresh air surrounded by nature, there is no better option than to take the metro and come here for a morning walk. Both Hampstead and Belsize Park stations are about a 10 minute walk from here. Hampstead Heath Station is located on the southwestern side of the reserve.
Hampstead Heath is administered by the City of London Corporation and is worth a visit to them website, where you can find route maps and other information for visitors.
Cultural inspirations
Like many other iconic landscapes, Hampstead Heath has inspired many works from every artistic discipline, some of which are:
- John Constable painted many panoramas sitting upstairs in his house, on nearby Well Walk, and on the moor. While enjoying the view over the reserve one can easily understand why Constable was so inspired.
- John Keats composed his Ode to a nightingale as he sat at Spaniard's Inn pub listening to a nightingale song on the moor. Unfortunately, the nightingales are gone but the park still has a rich bird population.
- CS Lewis was inspired to write The lion, the witch and the wardrobe walking through Hampstead Heath on a snowy winter day.
- In contemporary literature, Hampstead Heath is the setting for the village of Ham in Will Self's superb book Dave's book.
- The cult film Scenes of a Sexual Nature was filmed in Hampstead Heath.
How to orient yourself
Hampstead Heath is a large space and visitors might find grouping into sections useful:
- There main part of Hampstead Heath it is bounded by Spaniards Road and Hampstead Lane to the north, Highgate Road to the east, the North London railway line to the south, and East Heath Road and Spaniards Road to the east. A series of ponds borders the moor: Highgate Ponds on the eastern side, Hampstead Ponds on the western side. The northern part of this section is occupied by Kenwood House, managed by the English Heritage association and the only part of the reserve that is not maintained by the City of London Corporation. Parliament Hill forms the southern part of this section.
- West Heath it is across Spaniards Road and North End Road from the main section. It includes Golder's Hill Park, the Pergola and The Hill Garden as well as a stretch of wood made up of old oak, hornbeam and birch trees.
- Sandy Heath it is located northeast of Spaniard Road and consists mainly of a wood of old oak trees.
- L'Hampstead Heath extension it is located north of Sandy Heath which borders the Golders Green urban area and consists mainly of sports fields. The older people in the area still call this area "armory" because it was during the Second World War and it was not cleared until the 1960s.
Specific attractions on Hampstead Heath
- 11 Bathing ponds (The Bathing Ponds). £2. 2 May-30 Sep 07: 00-18: 30, 31 Sep-30 Apr 07: 00-12: 00. There are three outdoor ponds where you can swim. The Men's Pond and Women's Pond are both part of the row of small lakes found on the east side of the moor, known as Highgate Ponds, while the Mixed Pond Pond is part of the Hampstead Pond ponds on the opposite side. Dive times are seasonal, complicated, age dependent and change frequently, so it's best to check before embarking on your trip.
- 12 Golders Hill Park (Golders Hill Park), North End Way, NW3 (Tube station: Golders Green, then take bus 210 or 268). Free. 07:30 until before dark. A part of the heath maintained more formally located in the northwestern area. It has a small aviary and a zoo.
- 13 The Hill Garden and the Pergola (The Hill Garden and Pergola), North End Way, NW3 (Tube station: Golders Green, then take bus 210 or 268 to the entrance next to Golder's Hill Park). Free. 07:30 until just before dark. Beautiful hidden garden on the west side of the moor, little known even to many Londoners. It was originally part of the gardens of the Inverfort House, built in the 19th century by Viscount Leverhulme (later owner of the Lever Brothers company, now Unilever). The gardens are now public domain and part of Hampstead Heath, whose main attraction is a renovated pergola covered with various vines including roses, honeysuckle, clematis, wisteria and vineyards. The pergola offers two beautiful views from its north western point. You can look out of the canopy and see only trees. Otherwise you can look down and see the manicured garden and the pergola escape. The nearby Hill Garden offers a great contrast to the wild state of the pergola. The bench next to the ornamental fish pond offers a stunning view of Hampstead Heath and the backdrop of the city's skyscrapers.
- 14 Kenwood House, Hampstead Lane, NW3 7JR (Tube station: Golders Green, then bus 210), ☎ 44 20 8348 1286. Free; a donation of £ 3 is required. House Mon-Sun 11: 30-16: 00, gardens Mon-Sun 10: 00-17: 00. A splendid regency house with large gardens and a wood. The gardens alone are well worth the visit and are a superb example of 18th century landscape architecture. Inside the house, pieces by Rembrandt, Turner, Reynolds and Vermeer are on display and in the garden is a sculpture by Henry Moore. A regular program of opera concerts is organized every summer. Managed by the English Heritage association, separated from the rest of Hampstead Heath.
- 15 Parliament Hill (on the south side of the moor between Hampstead and Highgate Ponds). This is an elevated part of the moor with unobstructed panoramic views. The one facing south is particularly beautiful. It is recommended to come here on a sunny morning when you can see from Canary Wharf in the east to Battersea Power Station in the west.
What to do
Given its reputation as a center for the arts, it's no surprise that Hampstead is home to three of London's best repertoire theaters and a great essay cinema. The evenings here focus mainly on this type of performing arts. Extemporaneous shows (sometimes in unusual places) are not uncommon, so it is advisable to check the local leaflets one of which is in the local weekly Hampstead and Highgate Express.
- 1 Everyman Cinema, 5 Hollybush Vale, NW3 6TX (Tube station: Hampstead), ☎ 44 870 066 4777. from £ 13. One of London's most noteworthy essay cinemas offering high quality experiences. It has its price but the environment is certainly classy. It has a sister cinema nearby, in Belsize park.
- 2 Hampstead Theater, Eton Avenue, NW3 3EU (Metro station: Swiss Cottage), ☎ 44 20 7722 9301, @[email protected]. £15-20. Repertory theater far from the west end productions dedicated to staging new talents. Harold Pinter staged his first works here.
- 3 Pentameters Theater, 28 Heath Street, NW3 6TE (Tube station: Hampstead), ☎ 44 20 7435 3648. £10-12. Small, very intimate theater known for its cutting edge productions. It is located above the Horseshoe pub.
Shopping
Hampstead village has always been known for its independent shops. Today, however, it is falling due to increasingly prohibitive rents that have forced many businesses to close. Some resist and the buyer will be rewarded if he explores the narrow streets hidden behind the main streets.
Hampstead High Street, Heath Street, Rosslyn Hill and Haverstock Hill contain various boutiques including Nicole Farhi, Gap, Karen Millen, Nine West, Kurt Geiger and Molton Brown.
The usual chains have their own representation in the Finchley Road and Swiss Cottage areas.
- 1 Daunt Books, 193 Haverstock Hill, NW3 4QL (Metro station: Belsize Park), ☎ 44 20 7794 4006, @[email protected]. Mon-Sat 09:00 21:00; Sun 11: 00-21: 00. Beautiful, old fashioned independent book shop with a second location at 51 South End Road.
- 2 Farmer's Market, Parliament Hill Fields (between the tennis court and the schoolyard at the base of Parliament Hill), ☎ 44 20 7833 0338. Sat 10: 00-14: 00. Market for products sold by direct growers. Every Saturday.
- 3 Hampstead Antiques Emporium, 12 Heath Street, NW3 6TE, ☎ 44 20 7794 3297. Tue-Sat 10: 30-17: 00, Sun 11: 30-17: 30. More than 30 sellers of antiques of all kinds.
- 4 Hampstead Community Center, 78 Hampstead High Street, NW3 1RE (Tube station: Hampstead), ☎ 44 20 7794 8313. Sat 09: 00-18: 00. Every Saturday this place turns into a flea market that sells various things, including second hand books with a great selection.
- 5 Keith Fawkes Books, 1–3 Flask Walk, NW3 1HJ (Tube station: Hampstead), ☎ 44 20 7435 0614. Mon-Fri 10: 00-17: 30, Sun 12: 00-18: 00. Antique and rarity book shop specializing in the great literary characters who lived in Hampstead. Not to be missed for book lovers.
How to have fun
Historic pubs can be found everywhere in the area and visitors will have little trouble finding one of good quality. It is not difficult to find ones that have been open for over 200 years and many will have rich stories to tell.
It is not a district with a regular evening life but it is not very far from Camden and King's Cross.
Hampstead Village and surroundings
Among the many pubs in the area, some are jewels:
- 1 The Flask, 14 Flask Walk, NW3 1HE (Tube station: Hampstead), ☎ 44 20 7435 4580, @[email protected]. Mon-Sat 12: 00-23: 00, Sun 12: 00-22: 30. The name derives from the time when Hampstead was famous for its many springs of surgiva water and people used to come here to get water. The building has been a pub since 1874 and inside there are two bar lounges and a separate dining area.
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- 2 The Holly Bush, 22 Holly Mount, NW3 6SG (Tube station: Hampstead), ☎ 44 20 7435 2892, @[email protected]. Mon-Sat 12: 00-23: 00, Sun 12: 00-22: 30. Open since 1807 it is one of the favorite traditional pubs. Two bar rooms with fireplaces. Always regarded as one of London's traditional pubs.
- 3 The King William IV, 77 Hampstead High Street, NW3 1RE (Tube station: Hampstead), ☎ 44 20 7435 5747, @[email protected]. Mon-Thu 11: 00-23: 00, Fri-Sat 11: 00-00: 00. London's oldest gay pub. It is a pleasant place to drink beyond the sexual tastes. Three bar rooms and an outdoor rear garden. Downtown in Hampstead Village.
- 4 The Old Bull and Bush, North End Road, NW3 7HE (Tube station: Golders Green), ☎ 44 20 8905 5456, @[email protected]. Mon-Sun 11: 00-23: 00. An old farmhouse that was licensed to sell liquor in 1721 and inspiration for the Victorian song "Down at The Old Bull and Bush". Today it is a very busy pub, great for drinking and imagining the characters who have frequented it for the last 300 years.
- 5 The Spaniard's Inn, Spaniard's Road, NW3 7JJ (Tube station: Golders Green, then bus 210), ☎ 44 20 8731 8406, @[email protected]. Mon-Sun 11: 00-23: 00. Open since 1585 and considered one of the most famous pubs in London. Keats, Shelly and Byron frequented him while Dickens mentioned him in his "The Pickwick Circle". Local accounts say that Dick Turpin was a customer and that his ghost still stays here today. Great pub with a country atmosphere.
Surrounding areas
- 6 The Lansdowne, 90 Gloucester Avenue, NW1 8HX (Metro station: Chalk Farm), ☎ 44 20 7483 0409, @[email protected]. Mon-Fri 12: 00-23: 00, Sat 09: 00-23: 00, Sun 09: 00-22: 30. Very popular with locals with a bar downstairs and a restaurant upstairs.
- 7 The Pembroke Castle, 150 Gloucester Avenue, NW1 8JA (Metro station: Chalk Farm then walk over the bridge), ☎ 44 20 7483 2927. Mon-Sat 12: 00-23: 00, Sun 12: 00-22: 30. Very intimate pub with a very cozy bar and a garden that is used a lot especially in summer.
- 8 The Princess of Wales, 22 Chalcot Road, NW1 8LL (Metro station: Chalk Farm), ☎ 44 20 7722 0354. Mon-Sat 11: 00-23: 00, Sun 11: 00-22: 30. Traditional pub offering a good selection of beers and an extensive food menu. There are traditional jazz concerts on Thursday evenings.
- 9 The Sir Richard Steele, 97 Haverstock Hill, NW3 4RL (Metro station: Belsize Park), ☎ 44 20 7483 1261, @[email protected]. Mon-Sat 11: 00-23: 00, Sun 12: 00-22: 30. Old-fashioned pub with a themed night program that also includes eclectic music. On Saturdays they do comedy and it's very busy. It is named after the famous Georgian-era journalist and writer whose home was on the grounds of this building.
Where to eat
Hampstead Village and Belsize Park are well known for their great selection of quality restaurants and cafes. The locals here do expect a lot, so those who can stay open for long will definitely serve good food and have good service. During the day you can see the crowds of coffee enthusiasts following the current fashion as in the rest of London, while in the evening the restaurants attract customers from all over the city.
Primrose Hill has a few seats on Glouchester Avenue and is London's oldest vegetarian restaurant.
The West Hampstead and Swiss Cottage areas have good restaurants.
Moderate prices
- 1 The Creperie de Hampstead, 77 Hampstead High Street, NW3 1RE (Tube station: Hampstead). Mon-Sun 12: 00-22: 00. A stall making crepes opposite the King William IV pub. The choice is between sweet and savory, and they cost less than five pounds. Queues can be long on weekends. It has been open for a long time, so it passed the quality test.
- 2 Jin Kichi, 73 Heath Street, NW3 6UG (Tube station: Hampstead. Once outside you turn right and it is across Heath Street), ☎ 44 20 7794 6158. Set menu from £ 8. Mon-Sun 12: 30-23: 00. A sushi restaurant with excellent value for money.
- 3 Nautilus, 27-29 Fortune Green Road, NW6 1DT (Tube station: West Hampstead), ☎ 44 20 7435 2532. Mon-Sat 11: 30-14: 30, 17: 00-23: 00. Very famous fish and chips shop and customers come from all over.
- 4 Parliament Hill Café (just off Highgate Road, between the tennis court, bowling green and outdoor stage.), ☎ 44 20 7485 6606. From 09:00. The only coffee shop within Hampstead Heath, great place to stop for a quick bite to eat.
Average prices
- 5 Black coffee, 1 Hampstead High Street, NW3 1UN (Tube station: Hampstead), ☎ 44 20 7431 5958, @[email protected]. Mon-Fri 07: 30-18: 30, Sat 7: 30-19: 00PM, Sun 08: 00-19: 00. Chain of cafes next to Hampstead tube station. Passable coffees, cakes and savory snacks.
- 6 Carluccio's, 32 Rosslyn Hill, NW3 1NH (Tube station: Hampstead), ☎ 44 20 7794 2184, @[email protected]. £12-20. Mon-Fri 08: 00-23: 00, Sat 09: 00-23: 00, Sun 09: 00-22: 30. Chain serving Italian, or inspirational, passable food. Great for the area and also has a grocery store inside.
- 7 Gratismason's Arms, 32 Downshire Hill, NW3 1NT (Tube station: Hampstead), ☎ 44 20 7433 6811. £25. Mon-Sun 12: 00-21: 00. A gastro pub in a good location just a few minutes' walk from Hampstead Heath. Large outdoor garden with many tables, great in summer.
- 8 Little Bay Kilburn, 228 Belsize Road, NW6 4BT (Tube station: Kilburn High Road), ☎ 44 20 7372 4699, @[email protected]. Three course meal £ 11-16. Mon-Sat 12: 00-00: 00, Sun 12: 00-23: 00. European cuisine.
- 9 Manna, 4 Erskine Road, NW3 3AJ (Metro station: Chalk Farm), ☎ 44 20 7722 8028, @[email protected]. £40. Mon-Sun 06: 30-23: 00, Sun 12: 00-15: 00. The UK's oldest vegetarian restaurant, open since 1966, which says a lot about the quality of the food. Presentation and service are also top notch.
- 10 Mimmo la Bufala, 45a South End Road, NW3 2QB (Metro station: Belsize Park), ☎ 44 20 7435 7814, @[email protected]. £15-20. Mon-Fri 12: 00-15: 00 and 18: 00-23: 00, Sat-Sun 12: 00-23: 00. Italian bistro with an extensive menu of pizzas and grills.
High prices
- 11 Goldfish, 82 Hampstead High Street, NW3 1RE (Tube station: Hampstead), ☎ 44 20 7794 6666. £60. Mon-Thu 12: 00-22: 30, Fri-Sat 12: 00: 23: 00, Sun 12: 00-22: 00. Asian fusion cuisine, better defined as "modern Chinese", with main dishes such as wasabi shrimp, mocha ribs, pan-fried duck with special curry and apple sauce.
- 12 Odette's, 130 Regent's Park Road, NW1 8XL (Metro station: Chalk Farm), ☎ 44 20 7586 8569, @[email protected]. Tue-Sat 12: 00-14: 30, 18: 30-22: 30, Sun 12: 00-15: 00, 18: 00-22: 30. Modern European cuisine. Tasting menu for £ 60 each.
Where stay
This is not a known district for accommodation and few visitors stop here. The hotels available tend to be in the south of the borough, although Hampstead Village has a couple of good bed and breakfasts. A West Hampstead c'è un piccolo gruppetto di bed and breakfast.
Average prices
- 1 Charlotte Guest House, 195-197 Sumatra Road, NW6 1PF (Stazione metro: West Hampstead), ☎ 44 20 7794 6476, @[email protected]. Da £50. B&B tradizionale con 43 stanze che vanno dalla singola alla familiare. Le stanze più economiche non hanno bagni privati.
- 2 Dawson House, 72 Canfield Gardens, NW6 3EG (Stazione metro: West Hampstead), ☎ 44 20 7624 0079, @[email protected]. da £59. Guest house economica con 15 stanze che includono opzione familiare. A cinque minuti a piedi dalla stazione di West Hampstead.
- 3 Dillons, 21 Belsize Park, NW3 4DU (Stazione metro: Belsize Park), ☎ 44 20 7794 3360, @[email protected]. From £ 65. B&B situato in un vecchio edificio vittoriano. Vicinato residenziale tranquillo e discreto con facile accesso ad Hampstead Village.
- 4 La Gaffe, 107-111 Heath Street, NW3 6SS (Stazione metro: Hampstead), ☎ 44 20 7435 8965, @[email protected]. Da £85. B&B a gestione familiare, piccolino ma con un bel carattere situato sopra un ristorante che porta lo stesso nome.
- 5 Langorf Hotel and Apartments, 20 Frognal, NW3 6AG (Stazione metro: Finchley Road), ☎ 44 20 7794 4483, @[email protected]. Da £75. Villa residenziale convertita a distanza camminabile da Hampstead Village.
- 6 Palmer's Lodge Hostel, 40 College Crescent, NW3 5LB (Stazione metro: Swiss Cottage), ☎ 44 20 7483 8470, @[email protected]. Letti in dormitorio da £21, stanze private doppie £77. Ostello di alta qualità, che ha ottenuto molti riconoscimenti situato in una villa vittoriana convertita. Ha stanze private oltre all'opzione dei dormitori. Offre connessione internet Wi-Fi gratuita, colazione compresa e buoni piccoli accorgimenti, come ad esempio servire solo caffè equo e solidale.
- 7 Swiss Cottage Hotel (Best Western), 4 Adamson Road, NW3 3HP (Stazione metro: Swiss Cottage), ☎ 44 20 7722 2281, @[email protected]. Da £56. Villa residenziale convertita con 59 stanze. A due minuti dalla stazione della tube Swiss Cottage.
How to keep in touch
Internet
- 8 Biblioteca Belsize (Belsize Library), Antrim Road, NW3 4XN (Stazione metro: Belsize Park), ☎ 44 20 7974 6518. Mar-Mer 10:00-19:00, Sab 10:00-17:00, chiuso Lun, Gio, Ven, Sab. Piccola biblioteca pubblica gestita dal municipio di Camden che offre accesso a internet pubblico gratuito anche se le code sono spesso lunghe.
- 9 Biblioteca Swiss Cottage (Swiss Cottage Library), 88 Avenue Road, NW3 3HA (Stazione metro: Swiss Cottage), ☎ 44 20 7974 6522. Lun-Ven 10:00-20:00, Sab 10:00-17:00, Dom 11:00-16:00. Biblioteca pubblica gestita dal municipio di Camden che offre connessione internet Wi-Fi e un numero limitato di computer.
Safety
Questo è un distretto piuttosto sicuro e frequentato dalle classi agiate della città. Siamo comunque sempre a Londra, quindi si consiglia di stare sempre attenti, soprattutto dopo il tramonto. Se si incorre in problemi, la stazione di polizia più vicina è:
- 10 Kentish Town Police Station, 10-12A Holmes Road, NW5 3AE, ☎101. 24 hours.
Useful information
- Hampstead and Highgate Express (The Ham and High), 100A Avenue Road, NW3 3HF, ☎ 44 20 7433-0000, @[email protected]. Pochi distretti londinesi hanno il loro giornale locale e non sorprende che Hampstead ne abbia uno. Ottima sorgente per notizie, eventi e cose che accadono. Pubblicato ogni giovedì e largamente disponibile nelle edicole e negozi vari di zona.
- 11 Royal Free Hospital, 23 East Heath Road, NW3 1DU (Stazione metro: Belsize Park), ☎ 44 20 7794 0500. Uno degli ospedali più grandi di Londra con un reparto emergenze (A&E).
