Hampstead in London: A Guide to the Best Things to Do - jou jou travels (2024)

This guide will help you find the best things to do in Hampstead in London. I’ve outlined the prettiest streets in London’s most beautiful neighborhood!

When I first moved to London and went to explore Hampstead, I was in awe by the charming village that made you feel like you were miles away from the bustling city of London. But in fact, it’s part of central London – Northwest London is known to be very beautiful and affluent. With a huge park, Hampstead Heath is a highlight to any visit! A year later, I was thrilled to find a flat in the area and it makes me so happy to have the chance to live in my favorite London neighborhood! Living in Hampstead is amazing as I am a step away from all the charming streets and lovely cafes down Hampstead High Street. It is also incredible how there is a huge park known as Hampstead Heath that is so central to London!

So in this guide, I will take you through the prettiest walks in Hampstead from a locals perspective! Be sure to go to the bottom of this post for a detailed Google Map guide that marks over 30 spots to visit! It will also help you plan your walk as you can open it directly in the Google Maps app.

Check out my Instagram Video for a visual guide to Hampstead!

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Best Things to Do: Hampstead in London

Hampstead is situated in North London and is one of England’s most beautiful neighborhoods. This little guide will help you find the best things to do from a local! It’s also the perfect neighborhood to explore as a solo traveler in London!

Hampstead High Street in Hampstead Village

Start your walk by exiting off Hampstead Station on the Northern Line (careful, not Hampstead Heath Station) and turn left to find the main street – Hampstead High Street. Here you will find many cafes, and many cute boutiques for shopping including my favorites, Maje & Ba&sh. Hampstead Village is full of energy and beauty.

Heath Street is also nearby and you will see these colorful buildings. Off of Heath Street, you can visit Hampstead Antique & Craft Emporium full of antique shops and crafts. You will also find a cafe with the nicest owner ever – Tania’s – be sure to tell Ghassan I said hi!

When I moved to London I had to buy this book from Pretty City London as it helped me find some of the most picturesque streets and hidden places in London. It is my favorite London book for sure.

Also, a great coffee shop and bakery is Gails. Usually, I am against chains but this is only a small local one across London. The Gails in Hampstead was the original one!

For the best crepes in London, head to the food truck: La Creperie De Hampstead. Be prepared for a wait that wraps around the block – it’s well worth it though!

Perrin’s Court

This charming street makes you feel like you’re in the countryside with its ornate buildings. A fancy place to eat with fantastic Italian food would be Villa Bianca. Across from the restaurant, you will find a cute purple building that is super instagrammable. Further down, you will find one of my favorite cafes, Ginger & White. Stop by for a coffee or a nice sandwich.

Flask Walk

This might be one of my favorite streets! It’s always bustling with people and has a nice quaint feel to it. You will find so many of my great places here too! Noteworthy spots include Boulangerie for coffee and baked goods (I love the quiche and the salted fudgey brownie), Oddono’s for gelato, The Flask for a drink or dinner.

The Holly Bush

This is the most photographed pub in London! Hampstead is known for some really great pubs. There are so many lovely ones – don’t forget to check out my map for more (linked at the bottom of this post!) as well as my dedicated post on the best pubs in Hampstead. Surrounding the pub, you should continue your walk for some of the prettiest streets ever!

The Burgh House

The Burgh House is a historic house (from 1704) on New End Square and you can also visit Hampstead Museum there.

They have a delicious cafe where you can enjoy brunch or afternoon tea called the Buttery Cafe. There is a very nice garden area which is super relaxing.

There is also a really nice pub nearby with an amazing duck called The Wells Tavern. It is not your typical pub food!

Some other photos nearby:

Hampstead Heath

Continue your walk to Hampstead Heath, a huge park in the area, passing by Squires Mount, a really pretty street with beautiful homes. The highlight of Hampstead Heath is the view of the city you can get from Parliament Hill.

The Hill Garden and Pergola

There is also a hidden gem within Hampstead Heath that not everyone knows about. The Hill Garden and Pergola is a beautiful garden of a now demolished manor house.

Elm’s Row

When you head back to Hampstead Station after ending your journey, stop by Elm’s Row which is past the station and up the hill. This gorgeous street is framed by a beautiful weeping willow tree. Nearby you will find a nice cafe called Les Filles where you can get some delicious pancakes.

Celebrities in Hampstead

Hampstead has long been a magnet for celebrities, artists, writers, and intellectuals.

You can even tour the celebrity homes in Hampstead with this tour.

Here are some of the famous people associated with Hampstead:

• Historical Figures: Sigmund Freud, John Constable, John Keats, Dame Edith Sitwell
• Writers and Artists: George Orwell, Agatha Christie, DH Lawrence, Henry Moore
• Actors and Entertainers: Judi Dench, Ricky Gervais, Liam Gallagher, Boy George
• Musicians: Benedict Cumberbatch, Sting, Elton John
• Political Figures: Clement Attlee, Margaret Thatcher
• Contemporary Figures: Jonathan Ross, Jamie Oliver, Harry Styles

Hampstead by season

Hampstead is so beautiful in all seasons. You can find Wisteria covering the buildings in April, in Spring you can find gorgeous flowers adorning the buildings and trees full of pink blossom, in autumn you will find stunning red leaves everywhere, and in Winter you will see cute Christmas decorations and lights set up on the main streets mentioned above!

You can easily tell why I am in love with this neighborhood I can now call home!

PS- Some of my other favorite neighborhoods in London include Belsize Park, Primrose Hill and Notting Hill!

Map your walk!

There’s so much more the Hampstead area has to offer and I’ve included more in my detailed Google Map below. This will give you everything you need to plan the prettiest walk in Hampstead!

Key:

❤️The hearts represent a pretty street or attraction
🍽️Places to eat
☕ Coffee or tea stop
🍺Pub – Hampstead is home to many great pubs!
🛍️Markets or shops

I hope you enjoyed this Hampstead area guide!

For further reading, you might like these other London posts!
🇬🇧 Non-touristy things to do in London – from a local!
💛 How to Spend the Perfect Day in Primrose Hill
🌳 How to Spend the Perfect Day in Belsize Park🏠 Things to do in Notting Hill🍺 The best Pubs in Hampstead
📆 A Locals Guide to 4 Days in London
🍁 Autumn in London Photo Spots
💟 Where to find Wisteria in London
🎄Best Christmas Decorations in London☕
📸The 5 Most Instagrammable Cafes in London
🛣️Most Beautiful and Famous Streets in London
💜 Visiting the Mayfield Lavender Field near London
✈️ A Solo Travelers Guide to London