This post is all about our favorite area to stay in London with family: Hampstead Heath
Hampstead Heath has quickly risen to the top of our list as the best area to stay in London with family. We are currently planning our third trip to London with our kids this summer, and there are so many things to weigh when picking a place to stay.
For our visits, we love to be able to quickly access the city but also have a safe and calm place to retreat with the kids. Hampstead Heath is conveniently located with quick access to all parts of London via the Underground (Northern Line) and Overground. We also frequently utilized the bus system to get around the various cute areas surrounding the Heath.
If you are not familiar with Hampstead Heath, a quick Google search will show you that the neighborhood is centered around a large park (Heath) which has many walking trails, open fields, playgrounds, a pool and sweeping views of London. Our Airbnb was conveniently located at the entrance of the heath, and our kids happily visited every day of our visit.
In addition to the amazing greenspace, Hampstead Heath has many nice villages that surround the park and offer great pubs, restaurants, shopping, etc. Many families choose to live in this area which made it feel very welcoming and safe.
Exactly where we stayed in Hampstead Heath
Our Airbnb was located right next to the Gospel Oak Overground station and the southern entrance of the Hampstead Heath near Parliament Hill Fields. This positioned us well to walk to towards the village of Hampstead Heath (west), but also Kentish Town (south) and Swains Lane (north). All of these little pockets were really fun to explore and had their own charm.
Our favorite family-friendly restaurants near Hampstead Heath
The Spaniards Inn -The Spaniards Inn was one of the reasons we were drawn to visit Hampstead Heath during our first visit with a baby. This pub is located on the north end of the Heath and has both a large outdoor seating area and cozy classic indoor dining. We love that it feels like an authentic neighborhood pub and has so much charm. Highly recommend for lunch after a long walk in the Heath.
The Holly Bush – Another very cute pub tucked into a quintessential Hampstead neighborhood. Great for a Fuller’s pint and some snacks for the kids after a day of exploring.
Wells Tavern – A highly awarded gastropub in Hampstead. Known for their Sunday roast/lunch – be sure to call ahead and get a table around Noon, they are often sold out before 1PM.
Silverberry – We walked in one morning looking for breakfast and decided to come back most mornings. A great menu for the whole family with a clean and fresh vibe.
Superette (Swain’s Lane) – Swain’s Lane is too cute. Be sure to walk the little village and head into Superette for pastries or a breakfast sandwich and pick up a few goodies from the general store to bring home. Highly recommend.
Other areas to consider staying in London with family
I also wanted to offer some alternatives in case you want to consider some other areas for your visit to London with family. The other places we have stayed or would consider staying are:
Notting Hill: This is where we stayed our first visit to London with a baby. We loved this area, especially Westbourne Grove for shopping and cute restaurants.
Hammersmith: This area isn’t talked about much but we love how Hammersmith is situated right by the river and has many cute pubs and a neighborhood feel. Hammersmith has easy access to central London via the underground.
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[…] to Airbnb in Hampstead Heath. Read my blog post all about why we loved staying in Hampstead Heath here. Dropped our luggage and walked straight to M&S to pick up groceries and snacks. Both of our […]