Hampstead Village & Heath Walking Tour
Hampstead Underground station, London
Guided by David or Peter G. or Richard III
Adult: £20 · Students & Seniors: £15 · Children: £5
Walk Times
| Day | Walk Type | Start Time | End Time | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday | Weekly | 10.30 am | 1 pm | Winter Summer | Reserve Online |
| Wednesday | Weekly | 2 pm | 4 pm | Winter Summer | Reserve Online |
Led by guides who know this area of London inside out (they’re locals), they don’t come much better than our Hampstead walk. Mr London Walks himself, David (who admittedly is rather biased) names this as his favourite London walking tour (just don’t tell the others!)
IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THE GUIDING
Don’t just take it from us…
What’s to love about Hampstead?
The North London district of Hampstead stands on the Northern Heights looking down on the City of London. The Northern Heights – David’s walk goes there – is the roof of London. It offers spectacular panoramic views across Greater London. As does Parliament Hill. On a clear day you can see all the way to Kent. That’s the big-picture view. Tighten the focus and you’ve got spectacular views of the City of London skyline.
The crown jewel of the Northern Heights is of course Kenwood with its lovely grounds and conservatory and arguably the finest private library in the land and of course its magnificent art gallery. Let alone its splendid cafe. And – embarrassment of riches – it’s free to visit.
But Hampstead’s chief glory is Hampstead Heath. Meadows and fields and ponds and trees – a huge stretch of countryside smack in the middle of a great world city. It’s unique. No other city in the world has anything like it. Those glorious green expanses aren’t just the focal point of Hampstead, they’re the key ingredient. They transform Hampstead from a lovely north London neighbourhood to something extraordinary.
Hampstead is like a country village (hence it being known as Hampstead Village) and yet it’s in the heart of London. Walk down Hampstead High Street and you’ll find the usual suspects, but it’s meandering through the winding walkways that will enable you to discover Hampstead, as you’ll find out on our circular Hampstead walk.
A few facts about London NW3
A mere 15 minutes on the tube from Hampstead tube station and you’re in buzzing Central London.
Hampstead is often referred to as Georgian, but its history goes way further back than that. We’re not talking 17th century either. There’s a recording of 986AD, but there is evidence of Mesolithic hunter-gatherers too.
About our Hampstead Walk
Our London Walks Hampstead Village guides have such a wealth of knowledge about this area (and more). It means that you learn an awful lot in a small space of time. On a self-guided walk, you’d have to get stuck into Hampstead many times over a period of years to discover as much, and it wouldn’t be as much fun.
This arty suburb has attracted creatives for centuries. We’ll point out some houses of the famous (alive and dead) including John Constable, Boy George, H.G Wells, Wilkie Collins, Kenneth Clark, Kingsley Amis, Mr Bean, Ricky Gervais, Gerald DuMaurier and his daughter Daphne DuMaurier, Kenneth Clark, John Le Carre, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, Judi Dench… the list just goes on and on.
John Keats started to write poetry here in The Vale of Health. John Constable painted skylines and his view of St Paul’s Cathedral from here.
You’ll see Fenton House, the oldest grand house in Hampstead, it’s a National Trust property. Then there’s Admiral’s House, built by a retired Navy Lieutenant (not an admiral at all). John Constable lived nearby and featured it in a painting too. P L Travers gained inspiration here that influenced the Mary Poppins story.
As you’d expect, we’ll walk around parts of the heath – West Heath and the main section with wonderful viewing platforms (like the one at Parliament Hill).
You’ll discover Well Walk (off East Heath Road) and Flask Walk, a lively, buzzing little pedestrian-only shopping lane with everything from antiques to sushi to a great pub (The Flask) and a Turkish barbers.
Our circular walk ends at Church Row.
A few other places to visit in Hampstead:
These places need time to explore properly in their own right. We highly recommend you do so.
Kenwood House – an English Heritage property that hosts incredible events and has a rich history to explore
Burgh House – a historic, Queen Anne listed home that incorporates Hampstead Museum
Highgate Ponds – are you brave enough for a dip on the east heath? It’s an exhilarating experience
The Holly Bush pub – a wonderful, traditional 18th century Georgian inn that has everything you want from a pub experience. Find it off Holly Bush Hill.
Hill Garden and pergola – a beautiful west heath Georgian arbour and terrace.
Practical tips for our Hampstead Walk
The Old Hampstead Village & Heath walk takes place at 10:30 am every Sunday morning, year-round. The Sunday morning walk is guided by David*
The Old Hampstead Village & Heath walk also takes place at 2 pm every Wednesday afternoon (except in January and February). The 2 pm Wednesday afternoon Hampstead walk is guided by Richard III or Peter.
The meeting point is just outside the exit of Hampstead underground station. That’s at the bottom of Heath Street and top of Hampstead High Street.
The walk ends in Church Row, Hampstead’s grandest street, just a stone’s throw from Hampstead Tube station.
Hear from our guides:
Hampstead podcasts
Hampstead: an introduction from David.
Another David podcast about Hampstead.
By Orchard Pond – David’s been out on Hampstead Heath listening to nature
Jan’s podcast on Hampstead Heath and Kenwood.
This is why you go on walking tours (well, it’s one reason, a helluva good reason)
Things to Do in Hampstead, A Local’s Guide
Hampstead videos
LONDON WALKS VIDEOS
David’s video number 1
And here’s our 2nd Hampstead film
LONDON WALKS PRIVATE WALKS
If you can’t make one of the regularly scheduled, just-turn-up, Hampstead Village & Heath it can always be booked as a private tour. If you go private you can have the Hampstead Village & Heath walk – or any other London Walk – on a day and at a time that suits your convenience. We’ll tailor it to your requirements. Ring Fiona or Niamh or Peter or Mary on 020 7624 3978 or email us at [email protected] and we’ll set it up and make it happen for you. A private London Walk – they’re good value for an individual or couple and sensational value for a group – makes an ideal group or educational or birthday party or office (team-building) or club outing.
Daniyal Shoaib –
I had the pleasure of taking this walk with David on Sunday, August 11, 2024. It was a lovely sunny day which perfectly matched the disposition of our guide and the attendees. David’s knowledge of Hampstead is extraordinary and his enthusiasm is infectious. Granted, it’s hard not to be charmed by the history, architecture and character of the place but this is all amazingly brought to life in the 2+ hours spent walking with and listening to David. Nothing is rushed as the point is to soak it all in and marvel at the fact that what we’re seeing and experiencing is only a short way from the bustle of central London. Of course it is a walk so do bring along comfortable shoes, a hat and/or sunscreen and any other appropriate gear for the season and day’s weather in which you’ll be walking. As an added bonus, David followed up with an email including attachments of a write-up on the walk as well as photos of hidden vistas not accessible to the public…you’ll have to take the walk to learn more! For anyone who may read this review, please do yourself, family and friends a favour and book the Hampstead walk with David…you will not regret it, rather it will be something you remember with great fondness for many years to come.
Yuval –
David McDowall, with his fascinating storytelling talent and vast historical and literary knowledge, poetically narrates four miraculous events that saved Hampstead village from disastrous urban development that would have destroyed its unique beauty, historical homes, and character. Fast forward 100 years, an excellent walking tour guide, inspired by his readings of David’s writings about Hampstead Village and Heath, and by watching historical YouTube archival videos, added another miracle to his storytelling about Hampstead Village.
“For many years around the year 2000, there was an American named David McDowall who fell in love with English literature and Hampstead Village and the Heath, and moved to this area. He captivated thousands with his magical guided walking tours. His tours were so exceptional that he could have charged high prices as a private guide, but his love for the place led him to offer them for a very small amount so that many people could enjoy them. Fortunately, a few of these people organized and prevented an initiative in 2059 that sought to demolish old homes and replace them with new constructions. They used David’s writings and archival videos about Hampstead Village and Heath to miraculously convince the then London mayor, who was so impressed, to veto the initiative. Local residents added a plaque, now hanging in Kenwood House, to document and honor David for his contribution to the conservation and saving the village.”
Yuval, August 2024
Caterina –
I have always enjoyed to take part of London Walks. This time I visited Hampstead with a brilliant guide, named David with whom I discovered a lot about Hampstead and its beautiful views, history and neighborhood stories. It was brilliant and a great fun. Thank you so much David
Christine –
We had a lovely magical morning spent wandering around beautiful Hampstead. David was a brilliant guide, full of insights and funny stories.
yaron Melamed –
Wow, what a walk it was!
David is an outstanding guide with unique sense of humour, and rare story telling ability, with vast knowledge and great passion about Hampstead.
David’s attitude is so thorough and professional he even sent us a pre-tour mail, pointing out more beautiful places to visit in Hampstead, before or after his tour. Of course, he also sent us a concluding email, after the tour, containing photos and more references
I would highly recommend David’s Walk of Hampstead!
Laurence et Grégory –
Cette balade dans le quartier de Hampstead Heath et extraordinaire, entre nature et village blottis dans les hauteurs de Londres. David est un guide qui connait parfaitement le quartier, il nous montre avec humour tous les facettes de ce très joli coin. Cette balade est une parenthèse enchanté un beau dimanche matin ensoleillé loin du tumulte de la ville. Allez-y sans hésiter pour profiter de 2h30 d’évasion, hors du temps et des tracas quotidiens.
Merci David pour cette belle aventure.
Helena –
I have been wanting to do this walk for a while and I wasn’t disappointed. It was so interesting and informative. David is so passionate about Hampstead and London and his enthusiasm is infectious. We saw some lovely places that I will re-visit and I am looking forward to going on other walks, including Highgate in a couple of weeks’ time. Would highly recommend.
Mary Lawless –
I can thoroughly recommend this walk led by Richard. He imparts so much information and with a great sense of humour. We learnt about many of literary and artistic residents of Hampstead, past and present as well as the history of this beautiful ‘village’.
Paul F –
David’s Hampstead Village & Heath walking tour was monumental by any measure, covering vast swaths of geological, social, political, architectural, and cultural history, made vivid by his gift for storytelling and his passion for this part of London. The persistent and ultimately successful efforts to save the Heath was a recurring and compelling theme. The walk was fascinating, informative, entertaining, and delightful. Highly recommended
Mitchell H Radow –
David’s tour of Hampstead is brilliant, informative, uplifting, magical and poetic. I have been to Hampstead several times but after my first tour with David I realised how much I had missed. David took us to numerous hidden gems of Hamspstead, knew the history of every step we took, knew every famous person who lived there, knew all the architectural marvels and bombarded us with one amazing personal story after another. Best of all was David’s passion, unique sense of humour, story telling and intense love for the beauty of Hampstead and its people. All this comes alive with increasing intensity as with each and every step David makes us a part of this heaven on Earth.