The Best Pubs & Parks in Hampstead, London

Introduction

Whomever would have guessed that some of London’s most gorgeous and quaint pubs would lie in the idyllic leafy suburb of Hampstead? With more millionaires within its boundaries than any other area of the United Kingdom, the tranquil haven of Hampstead offers visitors (and its locals) a happy plentitude of olde-style British pubs on the peaceful edge of Hampstead Heath.

I had visited London various times but it wasn’t until my partner in crime and ex-Hampstead resident suggested a day exploring the jaunty pubs in his old stomping ground that I became aware of this delightful neighbourhood. It seems hardly befitting to label the activity a ‘pub crawl’ given the beauty, affluence and sophistication of the region but on paper but that is exactly what we did!

The Village of Hampstead

Aside from its wealth and society’s elite, Hampstead is known for its intellectual, liberal, artistic, musical and literary associations. Celebrities, artists, writers and poets have all called the village of Hampstead home; its cobblestone streets and vast open spaces within Hampstead Heath providing the perfect muse. Some say that living in Hampstead means you’ve reached the pinnacle of London life, whilst others feel excluded from its apparent snobbery. Whatever your take, the NW3 postcode is a highly sought after and peaceful one, just a few miles away from Central London and the energetic Camden Town. Most importantly, the leafy suburb of Hampstead sets the scene for this beautiful tour through its best pubs and parks!

Fun Fact!
Keep a look out for the Blue Plaque Homes. These are residences that were previously occupied by famous writers, poets and artists! If you look carefully, you’ll find commemorative plaques with names such as George Orwell, Jim Henson and John Constable.
Additionally, the keen eye will spot old cattle troughs still on the streets today. Now predominantly used as flower beds, they were once there to bring respite to the many roaming horses and cattle of the 19th century.

What can I expect from this post?

Although this itinerary has been prepared for a weekend, we managed to fit most of it into one of the most enjoyable days I’ve ever experienced. We were fortunate to visit over the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee weekend celebrations so we had a ball revelling in the Union Jack bunting! In this post, I’ve organised visits to the best pubs and parks in Hampstead across two days, in a logical manner according to the map. There’s a considerable amount of walking so as to maximise your enjoyment of the surrounding area as well as to provide a breather between pubs. Enjoy the exquisite homes and architecture of Hampstead, the luscious green Hampstead Heath and its bountiful park walks and of course, the beer!

Itinerary

Day 1

Breakfast at Cafe Chez Nous
Everyman Cinema, Belsize Park
The George
Lunch at Freemasons Arms
Walk through Hampstead Heath
The Magdala
The Stag
Dinner at The Garden Gate
The Roebuck
Sir Richard Steele

Day 2

Breakfast at Silverberry
Walk through Hampstead Heath
The Wells Tavern
The Old White Bear
Lunch at The Flask
The Holly Bush
Kenwood House
Dinner at The Spaniards Inn

Day 1

Breakfast at Cafe Chez Nous

The first morning stop must of course be to fill up on a hearty breakfast. There is no better place to achieve this than at the old world Chez Nous on Belsize Park High Street aka Haverstock Hill.

This gorgeous family run eatery serves up sizeable and affordable meals such as a Full English Breakfast and eggs any way you like them. The interior decor is particularly charming, with plush red booths set beneath decorative candles and fairylights.

Everyman Cinema, Belsize Park

Before we visit the pubs, you simply can’t go past watching the latest blockbuster in an old school cinema. Enter Everyman, just 100 metres up Haverstock Hill from Chez Nous. We saw the latest Tom Cruise flick, Maverick, here and it was a bold start to the day!

The enchanting interior is complete with red velvet style seats and small tables that can be used to hold the drinks brought to you personally by the bar tender. You’ll walk out feeling transported back in time, which is the vibe we will continue to encounter in the olde pubs we visit today!

The George

Right! It’s time to get things moving with a pint of Beavertown Neck Oil (or half pint for the self-pacers), a local brew from North London. The George is a modern rustic style pub with a fabulous selection of craft beers. Enjoy your first on the comfortable Chesterfield benches inside or get cosy in the undercover beer garden.

Lunch at Freemasons Arms

Enjoy the walk past the mansions and leafy boulevards en route to Freemasons Arms (and keep an eye out for the Blue Plaque on Jim Henson’s previous house)! The Freemasons Arms is a sizeable gastropub with various differently-styled rooms serving Modern British and Mediterranean dishes. The skylit conservatory dining room is particularly stunning. Stop here for a bite to eat and spend a moment to peruse the curated gardens.

Walk through Hampstead Heath

In the early afternoon, spend some time in this mesmerising wild park of woodland and meadows, tucked inside north London’s Zone Two. It’s less than 4 miles from London centre and astonishingly, despite its impressive 800 acre size, you might never know it was there. Moments in the Heath you will not forget: its beauty, calm and elegance will remain with you long after you have left.

Such is the beauty of Hampstead Heath, that it inspired C.S. Lewis to write The Chronicles of Narnia, whilst John Constable spent his final years painting it.

The Heath is a popular venue for Londoners to frequent. You’ll find both young and old out to enjoy a picnic, take their children for a walk, or their dog for a swim (not exactly encouraged by the authorities) or to find a moment alone amongst one of the many streams or paths. The escape into nature is overwhelming and all-encompassing here. There are also both ladies and mens swimming ponds, which hold some unknown legendary power over those brave enough to take a dip. Indeed we crossed paths with a sprightly older man wrapped tightly in his towel, his face positively beaming after his daily laps! He encouraged us to follow suit. Individual sessions are approximately £4.

The blissful spots available to visitors of Hampstead Heath seem limitless:

Parliament Hill, overlooking London
Hampstead No 1 Pond
Kenwood House
Viaduct Pond
The Hollow Tree
Hampstead Heath Tumulus
Bathing Ponds

Fun Fact!
The springs and wells in Hampstead Heath were thought to contain healing waters.
In fact, Dr Soame, an 18th Century physician, described the water as being ‘the ‘inexhaustible fountain of health’. Later, in 1802, Dr John Bliss of the Royal College of Surgeons, stated that the water has been ‘found very beneficial in chronic diseases’. Its purported medicinal properties saw hundreds of Londoners flock to its springs.

The Magdala

After some fresh air and reviving nature, it’s time to get back to business! We venture along to The Magdala, a delightful free house pub whereby the lack of ties to any large breweries equates to many small-batch beers being on offer!

Fun Fact!
The Magdala is the famous pub where David Blakely had been drinking in 1955 before he was shot in the street outside by his lover, Ruth Ellis. She became the last woman to be hanged in Britain later that year.

The Stag

With over 60 different beers from across the globe, The Stag is definitely in the running for title of the largest range in Hampstead. This popular pub is a complete surprise packet and you’ll often find a famous actor or two unsuspectingly seated in their huge beer garden downing a pint. This high ceilinged gastropub dates back to 1874. It’s true magic lies in the sizeable outdoor beer garden which you wouldn’t even know was there from the street. Find yourself a private cabana, sit back and enjoy some quality people watching.

Pro Tip!
Head to the Stag on a Sunday and be treated to a comprehensive roast menu!
We’re talking your choice of Gloucester Old Spot pork belly, Scottish Black Angus beef rump, Whole free-range Norfolk chicken or Pearl barley, hazelnut & root vegetable roast. All of these are served with roast potatoes, seasonal vegetables, Yorkshire pudding & veggie gravy!

Dinner at The Garden Gate

For lovers of a quirky drink range including Belgian fruit beers, this is your place! It’s all within the beautiful wood-style aesthetic of British pubs of old. The outdoor beer garden is touted as one of the best in Hampstead and is the perfect place to polish off a delicious dinner. The menu is mouthwateringly extensive and guests can expect both traditional British fare as well as International and vegetarian options. Stay for a while and enjoy one of London’s best kept al fresco secrets!

The Roebuck

Nearby, the Roebuck offers guests a comfortable quintessentially British pub to relax and unwind as the day is coming to an end. This stylish 19th century pub has arched windows, an open fireplace and leather armchairs. For those cold winters, it also has a heated garden. We even managed to have a photo with The Queen over Jubilee weekend!

Sir Richard Steele

If you’re looking for that last nightcap but fancy a bit of a walk after a long day out, then enjoy a delightful walk down Haverstock Hill towards the Sir Richard Steele pub. Full of collectibles and historical memorabilia, this Victorian pub has original stained glass and quirky decor, old books, antiques and fresco ceilings.

Steele was an 18th century writer and politician and lived on the site of the pub in a quaint old cottage, immortalised in a famous print.

Day 2

Breakfast at Silverberry

Rise and shine folks! Day 2 is starting… now! Today we continue our tour of the best pubs and parks of Hampstead so it’s vital we start the day with a piping hot coffee and some edible treats. And why not from one of London’s cutest cafes: Silverberry. Again, you’ll be surprised what lies only a few metres off of the main streets in England’s capital city, nestled in and amongst other businesses and residential buildings.

Silverberry is a chic urban outfit with extensive indoor seating and a beautiful outdoor (undercover) area. Sit down at one of the shared tables and enjoy the all-day breakfast and brunch menu. Homemade berry porridge, bacon brioche or Turkish eggs, anyone?

Walk through Hampstead Heath

It’s time to feel the air in your lungs and take another stroll through the beautiful Hampstead Heath. I promise you it will awaken your spirit … and also work up a thirst for the next venue! You simply can’t visit this gorgeous green space too many times and it’s the perfect place to meander after breakfast.

The Wells Tavern

Another Free House is on our itinerary! This means a huge choice of beers, with no restrictions by the owner. The Wells Tavern is homed in a beautiful Georgian house with an upstairs dining room and spacious downstairs bar with stunning sunlight filtering in (on a good day). Set in a picturesque corner of Hampstead, you’ll find a fireplace, board games, dog bowls and plush sofas!

Historical Fact!
The Wells Tavern (previously named the Green Man tavern) dates back to the 18th century. In 1701, John Duffield erected buildings in the area hoping to exploit the mineral springs, which as mentioned above, were thought to be ultra-powerful and contain healing properties!

The Old White Bear

Another classic free house that dates back to 1704, the Old White Bear is fascinatingly decorated with hundreds of pictures of bears! After being closed for 7 years and undergoing a makeover to reopen in 2021, this historic building has transformed from a local boozer to a chic gastropub. It’s not the cheapest on the block but it sure is beautiful and also boasts a commanding wine list.

Lunch at The Flask

The Flask is somewhat of an institution in London, let alone Hampstead, and regularly pulls a steady stream of happy customers down this quaint lane that lies near the Heath. The street in fact, is called Flask Walk.

Additionally, the pub is perfectly positioned next to the Hampstead tube station on Hampstead High Street (the extension of Haverstock Hill). This treasure of a Victorian pub has a beautiful sun-trap conservatory which is perfect to bask in over lunch. Its stunning decor is rich in history and the antique pictures and well-restored wooden bar will have you nostalgic in no time. We couldn’t go past the Ploughmans share platter and a pint!

The Holly Bush

The Holly Bush had been number one on my list of Hampstead pubs to visit since I began following them on Instagram over a year before arriving in the UK! Its legendary status lived up to all of my expectations and I can hands down verify it as one of the best pubs in Hampstead. Down a small lane, around a couple of corners and past more stately buildings you’ll ever see in your life, lies this quaint centuries-old pub in the heart of historic Hampstead. Its painted sign out front heralds a beacon of hope at the end of Holly Mount Road.

The Holly Bush is the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of city life and the small dining rooms within it ooze pure charm. Visitors will be treated to classic pub grub and Fuller’s real ale, all served up in front of a roaring fire amongst leather banquettes and dark wood furnishings.

Kenwood House

It’s best to hop on a bus up to Kenwood House, which only takes 15 minutes (or 30 minutes for avid walkers). You can get the 210 Bus from Jack Straws Castle Whitestone Pond (Stop M) to Heath Street Hampstead Station (Stop D).

Along the way, you’ll pass Jack Straw’s House (which has been empty since 2020) but marks the spot where rebel leader Jack Straw who led the Peasants’ Revolt in 1381 is said to have taken refuge until he was caught and executed.

Kenwood House is a former stately home on the northern boundary of Hampstead Heath. It was originally constructed in the 17th century and served as a residence for the Earls of Mansfield during the 18th and 19th centuries. The grounds are simply stunning and if you love spending time in manicured gardens, then allow 1-2 hours here.

Inside its Georgian style walls, is a world-class art collection, including Rembrandt’s ‘Portrait with Two Circles’. There’s also a lovely cafe to enjoy a late afternoon coffee.

Dinner at The Spaniards Inn

It’s a mere 10 minute stroll (or 1 minute bus journey) from Kenwood House to The Spaniards Inn. We finish here because it’s stunning. You could be forgiven for thinking that you’re miles from the city in country England, as is the dense forest and greenery at every turn.

The Spaniards Inn is a rustic and charming 16th century pub with low ceilings and dark wood, not to mention a sprawling and inviting beer garden. Dating as far back as 1535, this is one of London’s oldest pubs! It’s the perfect stop for dinner and a specialty beer, ale or cider. With multiple intriguing historical links, you’ll be googling its facts and figures well before the food arrives.

Fun Facts!
1. The poet John Keats penned his famous Ode to a Nightingale in The Spaniards Inn!
2. There is believed to be a secret tunnel beneath The Spaniards Inn which legendary rogue Dick Turpin used in his raids!
3. The pub was immortalized in Charles Dickens’ ‘The Pickwick Papers’
4. It features in Bram Stoker’s ‘Dracula‘

Visitors today can peruse through the pub’s cabinets, which showcase the inn’s heritage with Dickensian literature and Turpin memorabilia. Take a seat here and enjoy the fascinating history oozing out of its walls … and take care not to offend the ghost of Dick Turpin …