Walk 1.5 hrs (6.5km) 
Total Ascent 120 m 
Highest Point 134 m Welcome to this Signature Guide
Hampstead Heath is one of London’s most popular open spaces, a registered charity managed and funded by the City of London, and located just six kilometres from Trafalgar Square. An island of 790 acres of beautiful countryside, the magic of Hampstead Heath lies not only in its rich wildlife and extensive sports and recreational opportunities, but also in its proximity and accessibility to millions of people.
Ready to walk?
Be sure to download your PDF guide for the walk and make sure you have the OS maps app downloaded.
Before you start
Here’s 3 important things you need to know before you head off:
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Save this Guide
Save the PDF guide on your device that you’re going to use on the walk. (This contains all the handy information, from how to get there, points of interest and pubs, taxis etc).
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Download OS Map App
This is how you will navigate your way around the route. The link for the route is in this guide and will take you to the OS Maps app.
Click here for Apple
Click here for Android
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Battery
Make sure you have plenty of battery. We hope you have a great walk.
The Curator Rosie
Meet the Curator
Rosie is former head of Marketing and Communications at Vespucci Adventures. She’s a big Jane Austen fan and especially loves hikes with literary connections. She’s London based and loves discovering great nature on her doorstep.
“It’s difficult not to feel the romantic power of The Heath. A huge park for the people, resisting becoming paved over like the surrounding city! George Orwell lived in Hampstead for a time, and the area is mentioned in his diaries and essays. Orwell’s observations of the social and cultural life in Hampstead provide a greater perspective on the neighborhood.
John Keats composed his famous “Ode to a Nightingale” in the garden of his house on Well Walk, Hampstead. The poem reflects on the transience of life and the beauty of art, capturing the essence of the natural world that surrounded him in Hampstead. Whether you’re a romantic or not, this circular hike will leave you with tired legs and a full heart all the same.”
Adventure Summary
Hampstead Heath, North London
If you can‘t make it out of the city on your weekend but still need that dose of fresh air and energising, there are a number of places within London you can go: Hampstead Heath is one. This park has been a favourite of Londoners for centuries thanks to the famous open-air swimming at Hampstead Ponds.
A visit to Hampstead or Highgate Ponds is on every Londoner’s list. On hot summer days the atmosphere at the Ponds is like a festival. The view of London is best on a crisp winter day when there is little air pollution. The Heath is beautiful at any time of the year but personally I prefer it in the winter, when it’s quieter; after snowfall, it is stunning.
The views from Parliament Hill are second-to-none almost any day of the year; this is a great place for a picnic with a view. I particularly like this walk after work – with so many wonderful places to eat morning, noon or night, Hampstead is ideal for dinner; and the sunsets from the Heath are insane. This adventure makes the journey on the Northern Line worth it, we promise!
Hike Highlights
Bathing Ponds
Originally dammed-off clay pits from the 18th century, these Ponds have entertained Londoners over 200 years.
Kenwood House
Lord Iveagh (of the Guinness family), left the house to the nation upon his death in 1927.
The Spaniards Inn
We love this little, unassuming pub tucked away in Hampstead Heath. It’s totally unpretentious and very cosy.
London Underground – Start at Hampstead Underground. The station is served by the Northern line. We recommend using Citymapper to plan your route to the station.
Sometimes, we can get so caught up in reaching our destination that we forget to take in our surroundings. When in fact, some of the best moments on a walk are the ones spent not walking. It is not until you stop and look a little closer, that you truly see the magic of where you are.
Our hikes are not about how fast you walk, but about how much you take in. We share these beautiful trails with an abundance of wildlife and there’s always something to marvel at – so long as you take the time to look around.
Built in 1585 as a tollgate on the Finchley boundary, The Spaniards has more than a few tales to tell. This characterful inn was named after the Spanish Ambassador to James I of England and, rumour has it, highwayman Dick Turpin was born there, whilst his father was landlord in the early 1700s.
Immortalised by Dickens in The Pickwick Papers, and allegedly the place in which Keats penned ‘Ode to a Nightingale’, The Spaniards has a romantic, nostalgic air and a feeling that time has stood still here. Boasting an open fire and many a cosy corner, its charming walled beer garden offers ample comfy seating, sheltered tables and barbecue facilities for the summer months, as well as patio heating for those cooler days.
Points of interest
Places to enjoy along the route
What’s Next?
Done the hike? Let us and fellow members know how you got on and leave any tips and advice!
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