Hampstead Heath, London | Timings | Things to Do

Hampstead Heath, London Overview

An expansive green open and recreational space spanning across 790 acres, Hampstead is one of the most popular heaths amongst Londoners. Not only is it a large beautiful open space, it is also home to a number of wildlife species and is also a national Zoo and a Site of Metropolitan Importance for Nature Conservation. It is located in North London's zone two area.

With an education centre, a running track, and swimming pool all clubbed together, Hampstead Heath is a great place to go with your family and friends. Have a picnic, open a pint of beer, laze around in the Sunday sun while playing board games or taking a dip in the pond. This place has something for everyone to do, and it even hosts live shows and charity runs for engaging people.

Fun fact- Apart from being the inspiration for a number of films and poems, this is the place that was also the spark behind the famous series, Chronicles of Narnia, by C. S. Lewis.

Timings

Opening time of the Hill Garden and Pergola are 8.30 AM, with different closing times, as follows:

Dates	Closes at
01-Jan	3.30 pm
11-Feb	4.30 pm
11-Mar	5.30 pm
31-Mar	7.00 pm
22-Apr	7.30 pm
27-May	8.15 pm
22-July	7.30 pm
26-Aug	6.30 pm
09-Sept	6.00 pm
23-Sept	5.30 pm
07-Oct	5.00 pm
27-Oct	3.30 pm

Opening time of the Golders Hill Park is 7.30 AM, with different closing times which are as follows:

Dates	Closes at
01-Jan	4.30 pm
28-Jan	5.00 pm
11-Feb	5.30 pm
04-Mar	6.00 pm
11-Mar	6.30 pm
31-Mar	8.00 pm
22-Apr	8.30 pm
13-May	9.00 pm
27-May	9.30 pm
10-Jun	10.00 pm
22-Jul	9.30 pm
29-Jul	9.00 pm
12-Aug	8.30 pm
26-Aug	8.00 pm

Geography

The heath runs from Hampstead to Highgate, with meadows and biodiversity together, on an uneven, grassy land, with a number of upgrades made over the years to make it accessible to the people and to make it a common-grounds for people and families to visit for enjoyment and leisure. Its highest point is 440 feet and it also has the largest common area of 358.1 acres of land in Greater London.

History

The Heath with one end at Hampstead and the other at Highgate, Hampstead’s history dates back to 986. While the City of London Corporation has been in charge of looking after it since 1989, it has had a lot of changes and additions made to it since as long ago as its inception. The land was belonged to one of the servants of Ethelred the Unready.

It was later in 1086 that it became known as property of monastery at St. Peter’s, and of King Henry II’s butler, Alexander de Barentyn. The land exchanged many a hands over centuries, with additions of Parliament Hill in 1888 and Kenwood House estate in 1928.

Wildlife & Flora

With home to around 180 species of birds such as Kingfisher, Woodcock, and Bittern, 500 different kinds of fungi, and numerous enchanting species of butterflies, Hampstead Heath has a great wildlife biodiversity to boast of. There have also been 5 bat species identified at this place, with it being home to hedgehogs, grey squirrels, foxes, grass snakes and various other wild animals. There have also been 800 varieties of trees been identified at this place.