Hampstead Heath

We hit Hampstead Heath after checking out the art in Kenwood House.

I used to work by Heath and can never quite decide in which season it is most glorious.

Or which corner I love the most.

It’s got everything from the cultivated landscape by Kenwood House, to woodland, grassland, streams and ponds plus the great view of the city from Parliament Hill.

After skirting around the back of Kenwood House lake we headed in a vaguely south easterly direction as we were going to come home via Gospel Oak station.

It’s a couple of miles down the Heath so you can make a day of it but it’s best for over 5s.

Who can really enjoy the freedom of running wild, playing tag in the long grass and forty forty in the woods, picking blackberries, collecting conkers and acorns.

And if you’re lucky, seeing as we did a kestrel or sparrowhawk – not sure which? – who sat for ages on a tree close by before circling eerily around us. Oooh scary!

If you’ve not been to Hampstead Heath with your kids, it really is a wonderful place to escape London and get down with nature without actually leaving the city!

Adding in if you want a quick spot of culture at Kenwood House or close by Burgh House

Power of combining with Kenwood House – could also try Burgh House Keats House or Fenton House or Erno Goldfinger’s modernist house at Willow Road.

Getting There :

We wanted to start at Kenwood House so got the 210 bus from Archway Station to right outside Kenwood House. We got the overground back from Gospel Oak station.

You can also get the overground to Hampstead Heath which is right by the south east corner of the Heath. Alternatively, you can get the tube to Hampstead which is about 10 minutes walk away but brings you into the Lime Walk which is a lovely part of the Heath.

Grub :

We took picnics but there’s cafes at Kenwood House and near Parliament Hill playground.

I do hope you enjoy the Heath.

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