Hampstead Heath, Hampstead, London

big , clean and place for picnics on hot summer day

Such beautiful sprawling spaces, Hampstead Heath is beautiful all year round! You can take a stroll to the animal enclosures to get close to nature, or walk up to Pergola Gardens which are a must visit.

Fabulous for a saucy encounter on a Sunday afternoon. Naturism at the very heart of nature. Love it!

This place is where I spent my school years, and when I moved back to London I immedietly looked for places around it.

The houses are where the rich & famous live, and is celebrity hotspot. Coupled with good restaurants around it, the heath itself is a fantastic hub without even entering the park.

And then you come in, find the fantastic view of london, sled down kite hill over winter, and bathe in the ponds over summer.

One of my favourite places in the world.

Of all the parks and open spaces in London Hampstead Heath seems to be the loudest.

Perhaps this is the noise coming from the kids in the Lido, the general air of carefree partying in the background, or perhaps it's the bus stop near where we decided to sit down for a picnic, but tis isn't a polite park for quiet middle class families. Unless they're fun.

There's plenty of variety here - from the child filled lido, to shady spots, to a cricket pitch and a bandstand - there is something for everybody - perhaps why it attracts so many different kinds of people.

And that could be a problem for those middle class families. I don't find the sight of a half cut stoner dude chasing after a bag off weed that is caught on the wind while yelling an anguished 'NOOOOOOO!' intimating (I find it frickin' hilarious) - they might however. And that's the kind of thing you might find here.

It's friendly and accepting of all sorts here - great for most, a bit scary for others.

awsome!

Where else in London can you spy Julian Barratt picnicking with his missus, comedienne Julia Davis, and their twin little 'uns, occasionally also accompanied by Shoreditch vampire Noel Fielding?

Well, maybe there's a few places you can witness that sweet and unexpected sight, but I'm betting nowhere else that will have views across London, lakes for swimming in, kite-flying, trails for walking or running, and picnic spots aplenty.

Come here to watch the fireworks on Bonfire Night, or sun yourself with some strawberries and a flask of something fizzy. But don't make my schoolgirl error of wearing a halterneck playsuit. The residents of Hampstead may be bohemian, but they don't take too kindly to nude weeing in bushes.

You have been warned.

Brilliant place to go for a walk. it's huge and varied with lots of woodland and interesting areas and planting. Big enough to get lost in!

The best London escape to country side, by staying on London actually!. Hampstead Heath is my best park in London. You feel out of town when you are walking there. It is very wide with different part as plain in parliement hills or forest that allowed to do a different spot every time you go. It is the ideal place to do pik nik because it is never to busy as its huge... so you can feel confortable and enjoy with as much friend as you want.
The top of point is obviously the lacs... You can find in hampstead 3 different lakes: 1 for girls where it's chatting everywhere, very funny, 1 for boys easily full of gay enjoying the Sun and 1 mixed that you have to pay a couple of pound and where there is more queue... Anyway those lacks are fresh and perfect to let you swim in nature pool!!!
To finish, the best is to go on the top of parliament hill for the sunset... it's full of people all coming to enjoy the view and the coming of the night.

It is definitely a place where you feel in holiday!!! Highly recommended

Amazing place to visit for a summer's day picnic. It's huge!

Hamstead Heath is my number one choice for getting away from it all in London, ok, at least North London. Its big enough to make you feel you are in the countryside, but small enough to walk across and get to a decent cafe - in Hamstead or Parliament Hill, or any other part it adjoins too. Kids will love it, and then theres the lake with classcial concerts on weekends in summer, and the interesting House, and the beautiful gardens and to top it all the restaurant, after you've walked all over, is a great place to rest and eat well.

Absolutely my favourite park/green space to escape to in London. Isn't it amazing that this vast green space is so close to the city? Great trails for running, abundant spots for picnics, ponds to swim in (the Ladies' pond is so old school and magical. Although, truth be told, it's not so magical for me in the winter. Brrr... More in the spring and summer), and then there's Kenwood House and the summer concerts....Ah yes, Hampstead Heath is simply perfect.

My favourite London green space. Love how wild and varied it is. Great for swimming in the ponds (if you don’t mind eating a few duck feathers), kite-flying on parliament hill, picnicking near Golders Green. Beautiful.

I go here quite a lot, usually on Saturdays with a running club because i’s the closes thing you can get to that wild, wholesome, tree-dodging, “running through the woods” feeling without going all the way up to Epping Forest.

It’s one of those parks that is so pretty that people almost intuitively know that littering it would be a sin; although the lack of coherent signage over such a large surfance area means you’re largely reliant on strangers to point you in the directions of some of the key attractions, like the Hampstead ladies pond for instance (my favourite, since it got a new tennis table) or Kenwood house, which is great for a fry-up should you desire one, oh! and then there are the concerts. Proms anyone? The streets are strangely narrow around here so you can only get parking by Kenwood. Don’t try it elsewhere; it’s double yellow hell around here!

If you want to have a wonder in a more “wild” feeling park, Hampstead Heath is perfect. Situated on the handy Northern line, this place is great for walking, running and picnics! There are natural “swimming pools” for the very brave and plenty of walking/running paths.

Walk up to Kenningwood House for a cup of tea and a nice view (location used in “Notting Hill” film).

Best view: Parliament Hill

Avoid at night - except if your into “dogging”

best park in london. wonderfully wild and so easy to get lost!

The largest park in North London and the best one too, in terms of space, variety and facilities.
Hampstead Heath is North London’s answer to Richmond Park. It is a large expanse of woodlands that can be approached from several points. I prefer the Kenwood House side of the park as it is closer to where I live, but I often make my way to Hampstead village end too. Wherever you choose to enter, the park will delight you. After a long walk through unspoilt nature and woodland areas, you are guaranteed to come back home recharged, refreshed and feeling good. Dogs love this place too, and many people bring their four-legged friends for some fresh air and excercise.
There are landscaped area closer to the edges of the park with ponds, lawns, deckchairs in the summer etc, but I prefer to venture further into the woods. I love finding a quiet shady spot under an old oak and have a picnic during the summer. You’ll find many people have the same idea.
The bathing lakes also tempt people during the hot weather. In the best Victorian tradition, ladies and gentlemen bathe separately.
There is also a small lake where fishing is allowed. I always laugh at rows of fishing rods lined up, with the owners fast asleep nearby. I’ve yet to see anyone actually catch something. :)
Sometimes I prefer to bring a bike and ride around exploring different parts of the heath.
Whatever your fancy, this park won’t disappoint.

Quite simply this is the only place within touching distance of central London that can give you the feeling of being outside the city and in touch with nature. They services are blissfully un-corporate and it really has a by-gone feel to it.
I go at least once a week. The heath ectension has a bit too much of a suburban feel to it for my liking though. It’s the middle bits where it gets really wild - that are the most attractive to my mind. There’s a danger of getting lost though… If you want anything good to eat around there head for the Wells Tavern nr Hampstead.

HUGE AND BEAUTIFUL. we love Hampstead Heath, especially the swimming ponds in summer. fantastic. Also great are the concerts at Kenwood House. The Heath is a great day out and worth making a journey to visit.

Quite easily my favourite place in London. It never fails to impress and every time you visit, you can get lost down some new track or pathway that you have never seen before. It genuinely is a beautiful place on a grand scale, and you can do everything here (no, not like that!). Soak up the views from Parliament Hill, feed the ducks in one of the many lakes, go swimming (rather you than me!), forage for mushrooms etc. It’s easy to see how so many poets and writers over the centuries have found it inspirational.

Once you have walked yourself out, take a trip to Hampstead Village, and visit the shops and restaurants, and maybe even take the walk to the Spaniards Inn.

Amazing place.