Hampstead Heath

Hampstead Heath is a large, old public space in London, covering 320 hectares or 790 acres. It sits on a sandy ridge, one of the highest points in the city, stretching from Hampstead to Highgate. The area is hilly and open, with ponds, woodlands, a swimming pool called a lido, playgrounds, and a training track. It also connects to Kenwood House and its beautiful estate.

The southeastern part of Hampstead Heath is called Parliament Hill, famous for its amazing view over London, which is protected by law. Along the eastern side of the heath, there is a series of ponds, including three places where people can swim outdoors. These ponds were originally built to store clean water from the River Fleet.

Hampstead Heath is important for nature and is managed by the City of London Corporation. Most of it is inside the London Borough of Camden, while the nearby Hampstead Heath Extension and Golders Hill Park are in the London Borough of Barnet. During the summer, people also enjoy concerts held near the lakes there.

History

Early history

Old tools and pits found on Hampstead Heath show that people lived there as long ago as 7000 BC.

Documents first mention Hampstead Heath in the year 986. Over time, different families and groups owned the land.

19th century legal and political battles

In the 1800s, a man named Sir Thomas tried many times to build houses on the heath, but people strongly opposed it. They wanted to keep the heath natural and open for everyone to enjoy. Finally, in 1870, the public bought the heath to protect it.

Later extensions

More land was added to the heath over the years, including Golders Hill Park and parts of Kenwood House and its grounds.

Railway controversy

In 1900, a plan to build an underground railway under part of the heath caused debate. Some people worried it would harm the trees and land, but the railway was built anyway and opened in 1907.

Recent developments

Since 1989, the City of London Corporation has taken care of the heath. In 2023, sheep returned to the heath to help keep the grass healthy and support wildlife.

Geography

Hampstead Heath is built on a sandy ridge that stretches from east to west, resting on a layer of London clay. The highest point reaches 134 metres (440 feet) above sea level. Rain easily soaked into the sand and was trapped by the clay, forming swampy areas, springs, and man-made excavations. The heath includes the largest area of protected open land in Greater London, covering 144.93 hectares (358.1 acres).

Getting to the heath by public transport is easy. You can use the London Overground at Hampstead Heath and Gospel Oak stations, or the London Underground at Hampstead, Belsize Park, Golders Green, Highgate, Archway, and Kentish Town. Buses also run along roads near the heath.

Areas of the heath

The heath covers 320 hectares (790 acres) and includes many different areas.

Whitestone, Highgate and Hampstead Ponds

Hampstead Heath has over 25 ponds, mostly in two areas: the Highgate Ponds and the Hampstead Ponds.

Whitestone Pond

Whitestone Pond is a triangular-shaped pond in the south part of the heath, near Queen Mary's House (once a care home and before that a maternity hospital), across busy Heath Street. It was originally called the Horse Pond but was renamed after a stone marker. It is fed artificially and is surrounded by roads, which limits its use. It is the most famous pond on the heath.

Highgate Ponds

The Highgate Ponds are eight old reservoirs on the east side of the heath. They were dug in the 17th and 18th centuries and include two swimming pools (one for men and one for women), a model boating pond, and two ponds for wildlife. Some ponds allow fishing.

These ponds were created when Hampstead Brook was dammed in 1777 by the Hampstead Water Company to provide water for London.

"Boudicca's Mound," near the men's swimming pond, is a hill where local legend says Queen Boudicca was buried. However, old drawings show no mound except a windmill from the 1600s.

Hampstead Ponds

The Hampstead Ponds are three ponds in the south-west corner of the heath. Hampstead Pond No. 3 allows everyone to swim.

Caen Wood Towers

Main article: Athlone House (formerly Caen Wood Towers), Highgate

To the north-east of the heath is the old Caen Wood Towers building (now called Athlone House). This building was constructed in 1872 and later used during wartime. It is now partly ruined and being redeveloped.

Parliament Hill Fields

Main article: Parliament Hill, London

Parliament Hill Fields is on the south and east of the heath. It became part of the heath in 1888 and includes sports facilities like an athletics track and tennis courts. Parliament Hill is a popular spot for its views of London, including Canary Wharf and St Paul's Cathedral. The area also has an open-air swimming pool.

Kenwood

Main article: Kenwood House

The area to the north of the heath is Kenwood Estate and House, which covers 50 hectares (120 acres). It became part of the heath when it was given to the public in 1928. The house dates back to the early 1600s.

Hampstead Heath Woods

Part of the Kenwood estate is a special area for wildlife.

The Vale of Health

The Vale of Health is a small settlement completely surrounded by the heath. It was named in 1801.

Extension

The Extension is an open space to the north-west of the main heath. It was created from farmland.

The Hill Garden and Pergola

Main article: Inverforth House

The Hill Garden and Pergola are gardens west of Inverforth House. They were created in 1906 and are now cared for and open to the public.

Golders Hill Park

Main article: Golders Hill Park

Golders Hill Park is next to the West Heath. It was built on the site of a large house destroyed during World War II. The park has grass areas, a flower garden, a duck pond, and a small zoo with donkeys and other animals. The park is fenced and closed at night.

Site of Special Scientific Interest

Ken Wood and North Wood are special places for nature, called a Site of Special Scientific Interest. They are known as Hampstead Heath Woods and were chosen for this special status by Natural England.

Constabulary

The area is kept safe by the Hampstead Heath Constabulary, which is part of the City of London Corporation. These officers help follow rules, protect the place, and make sure everyone can enjoy the area peacefully. They have patrolled the Heath since 1992.

Activities

Hampstead Heath offers many fun activities for people to enjoy. You can walk, run, swim, or fly kites here. Popular events include the weekly parkrun and the annual Race for Life to support Cancer Research UK. The heath has an athletics track, a pétanque pitch, a volleyball court, and eight children’s play areas, including an adventure playground.

People can swim year-round in two natural ponds: one for men that opened in the 1890s and one for women that opened in 1925. There is also a mixed pond that is open from May to September, and it is the oldest, having been used since the 1860s.

In popular culture

Many famous writers and artists have enjoyed visiting Hampstead Heath. While living in London, Karl Marx and his family often went there for outings.

The heath appears in several well-known stories. It is the setting for the opening scene in Wilkie Collins' novel The Woman in White. Bram Stoker's Dracula includes scenes on the heath. It also features in G. K. Chesterton's story "The Blue Cross" from The Innocence of Father Brown, and is mentioned in Ralph Vaughan Williams' Symphony no. 2 'A London Symphony'.

The photos for The Kinks' album The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society were taken on the Heath. The movie Notting Hill (1999) used the area around Kenwood House for filming. Singer Taylor Swift also mentions the heath in her song "So Long, London" from her album The Tortured Poets Department.