We Love Hampstead

Hampstead Heath

Where: Hampstead, NW3

Hampstead Heath is the highest open space in the capital. The heath’s 800 acres of greenery sprawls across the borough of Camden and Barnet, and is not only ideal for a summer walk, picnic or jog, but also attracts a fair few wildlife enthusiasts. The various ponds, trees and hedgerows provide the perfect habitat for kingfishers, reed warblers and all three species of British woodpeckers, and according to reports, grass snakes have even been spotted on the heath.
If the many ponds, swimming pools and wildlife on the heath are not enough to keep you entertained, head over to former stately home, Kenwood House. The elegant building was re-modelled by Robert Adam in the 18 century and today is home to a vast collection of paintings, including masterpieces by Rembrandt, Vermeer, Turner and Gainsborough. During the summer Kenwood House opens its gardens to summer concerts.

Alexandra Palace Park

Where: Alexandra Palace, Wood Green N22

Across town in Haringey is Alexandra Palace Park. Alexandra Palace boasts more than just the huge ‘Ally Pally’ exhibition and conference venue, because around the grounds of the historic building sits Alexandra Palace Park, in London's Musgrove Hill, a short distance from Wood Green Underground Station, and accessible from Hornsey, Highgate, Muswell Hill and Crouch End.
The top of the park offers visitors a fantastic view over London, and is the ideal setting for a summer’s afternoon picnic. Within the 200 acres of green land also sits a boating lake (with plenty of wildlife) for visitors to take advantage of in the summer, and a children's play area to keep the kids entertained for a few hours.

Finsbury Park

Where: Haringey, N4

Finsbury Park (115 acres) is accessible from Finsbury Park tube and Manor House station. You’ll find plenty going on at Finsbury Park over the next few months, and when it comes to outdoor sports the park really comes into its own. From tennis to bowling, and from basketball to American football, there’s no shortage of sporting facilities. Next to sport in the park’s list of priorities is music, and it has quite a history of hosting some famous music events, from The Sex Pistiols to Morrisey, and New Order to Rage Against The Machine.

Coldfall Woods

Where: Muswell Hill, N10

North London isn’t just about parks full of sporting equipment and music stages, it also has woodlands for locals to wander around and enjoy as well. One of the best kept woods in north London is Muswell Hill’s Coldfall Woods, which covers around 14 hectares and is surrounded by the East Finchley public allotments, the St. Pancras and Islington Cemetery, and the residential roads Barrenger Road and Creighton Avenue. The wood management project that is on going at Coldfall ensures that the right level of light makes it into the wood and that the streams remain unpolluted for locals that pay a visit.

If you like to get active when out and about Coldfall Woods could the place for you, as there are plenty of activities to keep visitors entertained all through the summer months. From guided walks to expert-led wildlife trips, you can keep up to date with the different events at the wood by logging on to the Friends of Coldfall Wood website at www.coldfallwoods.co.uk, where you can read about different projects being undertaken as well as view a ‘what’s on’ list.

Primrose Hill Park

Where: Primrose Hill, NW3

Go to the top of Primrose Hill for one of the best views of Central London. The park also has a children's playground and adult only exercise area. The best place to go in London when it snows' as the hill provides a wonderful sledging experience - but PLEASE be careful.

Regent's Park

Where: Camden, NW1

Regent's Park is one of London's Royal Parks and is also the home of Regent's College & London Zoo. This 410 acre park is mainly open parkland but also has gardens, a lake, waterfowl, boating area, sports pitches and three children's playgrounds all with an attendant. In the summer the open air theatre have various performances from Shakespeare to comedy.