Hampstead Village & Heath Walking Tour
Hampstead Underground station, London
Guided by David or Peter G. or Richard III
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 |
N.B. this walk will not take place on the following dates:
25-12-2024
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.
Cindy Heslin –
I thoroughly enjoyed the Hampstead Village & Heath walking tour with Peter on 6 Aug. 2023. Peter is a knowledgeable and witty guide who revealed to us the natural beauty, history, quirkiness, and interconnected nature of the past inhabitants, buildings and land of Hampstead. The village of today is a delightful place to explore. During my week in London, I have done four London Walks tours and plan at least 2 more. All have been delightful, fun and educational with great guides. So worth it!
Karyn Walker –
Sunday roaming in Hampstead
Yesterday we spent an utterly delightful Sunday morning roaming through Hampstead guided by Peter, who had been drafted in to cover for David, who was feeling a little poorly. Commiserations to David and many thanks to Peter for a wonderful time. The witty, charming and knowledgable Peter left us feeling as if we knew some of the famous inhabitants, both living and departed, and highlighted Hampstead’s history, charming lanes and homes of note. One of the best walks we have done with London Walks and a great way to spend a Sunday. We followed it up with Sunday lunch in a local pub of course!
Riccardo Cumerlato –
This tour was so much fun. Time flew by. And I live in Hampstead! (well, West Hampstead, the cooler poorer neighbour).
David knows how to tell a story plus the story of Hampstead is very good.
Highly recommended
Christopher Camp –
I spent a fascinating afternoon in Hampstead. Listening to Dave was both interesting and humbling, as it made me realise how little I had known and how much more there is still left to find out about Hampstead. Dave is no mere resident of Hampstead – he’s a fanatic! His enthusiasm for the town really rubs off on you. Highly recommended!
Lara –
Sensational tour! We have lived in Hampstead for 10 years and decided to take the tour with our 10 year old son. We didn’t think we would learn much but, boy, were we wrong! David brought out so much more than we had ever known or noticed. He is a guide with an infectious passion for social history and also has a great booming voice that makes you feel like a Shakespearean actor is guiding you through the village with moving, dramatic tales. Can’t recommend this tour enough – for tourists and locals, the old and the young!
Todd Clyde –
Wonderful tour and knowledgeable guide! I wholeheartedly recommend this tour!
Anne-Marie Durand-Jargois –
I had never been to Hampstead and Hampstead Heath. The experience certainly lived up to my expectations. Richard is a very knowledgeable guide who has plenty of stories to share and helps you to find your way between the many layers of history and very contrasted landscapes. A guided walk is essential if you only have two hours to spare and hardly any knowledge.
Phil & Lynn – Suffolk –
As part of a long weekend treat for my wife’s birthday comprising tickets to Wimbledon Tennis Semi-Finals day, a meal in the SkyGarden at 35 storeys and overlooking the whole of London by the Thames, a West End Show, and visiting friends in Docklands, I’d felt that something a bit more serene and tranquil was needed to end our weekend. I found the London Walks site back in February and booked up for the Hampstead Heath guided Tour. Our guide, David, kept me up to date with meeting points and possible options on how to get to Hampstead Station when it became apparent that the Northern Line from Camden Town to Hampstead would be closed during our weekend in London due to essential engineering works. At his suggestion, we got to Hampstead early and went to St Johns church (very near to the station) to sit and listen to the pre-Sunday service choir practicing. Mooching around the adjoining cemetery revealed the grave of the artist Constable, amongst (as we would later find out on the tour itself) a number of other notables. It was a further delight to meet our guide, David, himself at the church a little while before the tour was to start so we were able to engage and learn and understand more about each other. Therefore, by the time the tour itself started, it felt like we were being shown around Hampstead by a newly found friend! The next two and a half hours were filled with interesting and quirky delights by an extremely knowledgeable and erudite man, passionate about telling the group about his home village and the secrets it held. His offers of advice, recommendations of places to go, eateries, etc for after the walk all proved ideal for our needs and so we concluded our walk keen to see what other tours we could take in the future. Highly recommended and well worth it. Thanks, David!!
Wendy C – Twyford –
Wow! Thanks to David for an amazing tour! The walk incorporates the gorgeous Hampstead village and the Heath so you get the “best of both worlds”. David’s passion and enthusiasm is infectious and his knowledge of the area and its history is incredible. Every street or round a corner has an interesting story or historical fact and it made me fall in love with Hampstead even more! The gorgeous and varied architecture, beautiful gardens, friendly locals, the calmness and beauty of the Heath (you feel a million miles from the centre of London!) make this a magical tour. David’s consideration for the group and happily answering questions from the group made it feel like being on a walk with a group of friends. My only regret was having to leave. You don’t want to miss this tour! PS. I have done numerous walks with London Walks and they never disappoint.
B Brooks –
Just finished our fantastic Hampstead Village & Heath walking tour with David and loved it. The tour is rich with history and intriguing little bits, and his love of the place shines through. Highly recommend!!!!