Things to do in Hampstead

Spanning a whopping 790 acres, Hampstead’s ancient grasslands occupy one of the highest points in London. And with great elevation comes great views. From up here in this bucolic paradise, you can spy countless highlights of the London skyline. Is that the dome of St Paul’s Cathedral way over yonder? Why, yes it is. And that big pointy thing way down there? The Shard, of course. Soak it all up from atop Parliament Hill, then enjoy a gentle walk on the wild side as you amble aimlessly along the heath’s undulating walkways. Be sure to nod hello to the noisy parakeets and occasional brooding kestrel as you pass beneath the great beech and oak trees in Hampstead Heath Woods.

Fancy a dip? Your luck’s in: there are several places to swim al fresco on Hampstead Heath: the Parliament Hill Lido, plus three additional bathing ponds, all open year round, so that even the hardiest of winter water babies is well catered for. 

A suburb as attractive as Hampstead was always destined to attract its fair share of monied folks, and with the average house costing somewhere in the region of £1.5m here, we mere mortals have to content ourselves with taking a peek at how the other half live. Thankfully, the area’s glut of stately homes-turned-museums mean you can do so without getting yourself arrested for gawping into the front windows of surprised locals. Here are some of our favourite Hampstead homes for your delectation…

• Kenwood House. You may recognise this 17th-century Georgian confection from its starring role in the movie Notting Hill. But if not, you’ll surely find plenty to enjoy in its creamy neoclassical facade and Robert Adam interiors adorned with masterpieces by Vermeer, Turner and Rembrandt. There’s an excellent al fresco café overlooking neatly manicured gardens and, perhaps best of all, admission to this stately Hampstead Heath home is entirely gratis! 
• Fenton House. Set on the west side of Hampstead Grove, this National Trust-run 17th-century merchant’s house is a veritable treasure trove of cool and quirky artefacts. Ogle elegant Georgian furniture, several paintings (including a couple of Constables) from the collection of British actor Peter Barksworth, carved marble fireplaces and delicate Chinese porcelain figures as you make your way though its hushed rooms. If you’re lucky, you might even get to hear some of the museum’s splendid collection of early keyboard instruments in full flow. There’s also an attractive walled garden to explore in spring and summer.

• Burgh House. This superbly preserved Queen Anne house can be found in the heart of Hampstead village and is a repository for all things Hampstead, including many pieces donated by local people and institutions. Highlights include an extensive selection of works by Victorian illustrator and watercolourist Helen Allingham, plus several pieces by expressionist Marie-Louise von Motesiczky, and much more besides.
• Keats House. Spend an hour or two in leafy Hampstead and you’ll quickly understand what so inspired doomed Romantic poet John Keats to produce so much poetry here. You can visit the museum inside his former home with The London Pass® and view his death mask, several love letters and the engagement ring Keats gave to Fanny Brawne. Access to the garden where Keats is said to have written many of his most famous odes, including Ode to a Nightingale, is also included.

Hampstead’s cute shops, boutiques and cafés are a far cry from, say, the consumerist nightmare of tacky souvenir shops and American candy stores that blight London’s worst tourist hellscapes (looking at you, Oxford Street). Indeed, this village feels very much like a throwback to more innocent (and analogue) times, with old-school bookstores and cute coffee bars like the bougie Ginger & White and High Street stalwart The Coffee Cup.

Peel off into the pedestrian paradise of Flask Walk where your thirst for vintage fashions, bright bouquets of fresh blooms, artisan baked goods and garden-related gifts will be very quickly quenched. And don’t miss the weekend farmers’ and artisan craft markets that take place here throughout the year.

In a city with around 3,500 pubs, Hampstead can lay legitimate claim to having some of the very best. To wit…

• The Spaniards Inn. Believed to date back to the 16th Century and often dubbed London’s most haunted pub, this Hampstead Heath boozer is nothing if not atmospheric. Think dark wood panelling, dogs snoring by the fire and roof beams that require the occasional strategic duck. You might even run into resident celebrity spook Dick Turpin here, the likelihood of which, we suspect, increases after each subsequent ale.
• The Holly Bush. This one also has some pedigree, as evidenced by its maze of wood-paneled rooms and winter fires. No ghosts of the celeb variety here, but this old-school pub is a favourite haunt of one Liam Gallagher who, when he orders the soup of the day, always asks for a roll with it. 🥁 Badum-tsss! 🥁
• The Flask. Vintage posters and photographs adorn the walls of this pub on Flask Walk, which is perfectly positioned for post-shopping pints. Grab a seat by the picture window to watch the colourful world of Hampstead go by over frothing tankards of ale.

The Hill Garden and Pergola is the jewel in the crown of Hampstead’s secret green spaces. The centrepiece of this tranquil spot, the grand Edwardian pergola is effectively a raised walkway that sits above the dramatic gardens, complete with pillars, archways and red-brick walls. Visit during the summer months for the full kaleidoscopic effect, when the pergola is shrouded in vines, wisteria and all manner of other exotic blooms, and where the 600 selfies you take are guaranteed to make your socials pop.

Looking for more things to do in Hampstead and around London? The London Pass® can save you up to 47% on standard entry prices for more than 100 London tours, activities and attractions, including the likes of Keats House, St Paul’s Cathedral and The View from The Shard. Click here to find out more and choose your pass.