Hampstead

This onetime village and former health spa on a hill in north London has always appealed to the professional classes. During the Great Plague of 1665 London's lawyers and judges were forced to hold court and live on Hampstead Heath to escape the disease-ridden metropolis. In the 19th Century writers, including Pope, Dickens and Keats, lived and frequented the pubs here. The heath itself is a dominating presence, with its 800 acres providing one of the biggest areas of greenery in north London. Whitestone Pond at the top of the area is now a rubbish-strewn pool, but the other vestiges of the 19th Century spa on the Heath itself are still used for swimming by some enthusiasts. To the south west is Swiss Cottage, an area named after a tavern built in the Swiss style in 1826 and later became a Tube stop in 1868, before its renovation to its current state after World War Two.

There are many fine Georgian and Victorian terraces, detached and semi-detached houses here. Hampstead is threaded with winding streets of spacious homes. Probably the most exclusive area is in the Vale of Health, a little street encroaching on the Heath. Its name is ironic because the place was once a malarial marsh!

Hampstead is a café society, much frequented by those seeking a quiet drink in a more-than-usually traditional English pub. The main shopping streets are filled with the young and trendy socialising over a cappuccino, or driving expensive cars along Hampstead High Street. There are many interesting museums, including the homes of Sigmund Freud and Keats. A restaurant of note is Base with a wonderful offering of modern European cuisine. The Flask pub in Flask Walk allows you to step back in time. A taste of Japanese cooking is on offer from Jin Kichi and Villa Bianca has a select Italian menu well complemented by its wine list.

Notable Independent Secondary schools include University College School in Frognal (alumni include poet Thom Gunn, athlete Roger Bannister and musician Julian Lloyd Webber). A good State school is Parliament Hill. There are a number of quality primary schools in the area.

Transport

From Hampstead the Northern Line comes straight into central London giving direct access to the City. From West Hampstead the Jubilee Line gives access to Westminster, Waterloo, London Bridge, and Canary Wharf. West Hampstead also offers access to the overland North London link to Richmond and east London.