English (UK)
English (US)
Français
Deutsch
Español
Italiano
Nederlands
简体中文
Hampstead & Primrose Hill
Hampstead Heath and Kenwood
Hampstead village, the high heath, Kenwood House and the view from Parliament Hill.
- Distance 5.4 km · 3.4 miles
- Walking time 1 h 15 min Allow 45 min for stops
- Stops4 Hampstead to Gospel Oak
- Terrain Some hills
- Step-freeCheck routeNot verified for this walk
Take this walk offline
The route
Leave Hampstead village past Fenton House, cross the high ground at Whitestone Pond, walk the heath to Kenwood House and finish at the Parliament Hill viewpoint before dropping down to Gospel Oak.
The interactive map needs JavaScript. The stops are listed below.
Stops
- Start: Hampstead
- End: Gospel Oak
Distance and times come from a pedestrian route between the stops. Allow extra time for stops, and check for temporary closures.
Route and map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Walking routes by the FOSSGIS OSRM service, saved 2026-10-18. Spotted a mistake? Fix the map.
Saved. Plan your days in My trip
Google Maps chooses its own footpaths between the stops, so its line may differ slightly from the map above. The GPX file has our route and every stop as waypoints, for use in a walking or hiking app.
4 stops, in order
Each caption is a short fact; check opening times and tickets on the official site before you go.
-
Stop 1 · Museum
Fenton House
17th-century merchant's house with a walled garden, cared for by the National Trust.
430 m to the next stop
-
Stop 2 · Pond
Whitestone Pond
Pond on high ground at the edge of Hampstead Heath.
1.8 km to the next stop
-
Stop 3 · Historic house
Kenwood House
Neoclassical house on the northern edge of the Heath.
1.9 km to the next stop
-
Stop 4 · Viewpoint
Parliament Hill viewpoint
Hilltop viewpoint with a view across central London.
940 m to Gospel Oak station
Read the guide
A short note for each stop, written to be read or recorded as an audio walk. Audio is not available for this walk yet.
Introduction
Read the guide
This walk crosses Hampstead Heath on foot. It starts at Hampstead station and passes Fenton House, a merchant's house with a walled garden. Then you reach the high ground at Whitestone Pond and walk on to Kenwood House. It finishes at the Parliament Hill viewpoint, with a view over London, before you drop down to Gospel Oak station. Paths can be muddy after rain.
Stop 1: Fenton House
Read the guide
A date of 1693 is carved on a chimney breast at Fenton House, which fits the age of its core. It is named after Philip Fenton, a merchant from Riga, who bought the house in 1793 and ordered much of its nineteenth century remodelling. Katherine, Lady Binning, was its last private owner, and she left it to the National Trust when she died in 1952. Inside is a collection of early keyboard instruments. The walled garden has an orchard with around thirty varieties of apple. Next stop: Whitestone Pond.
Sources for this stop
Stop 2: Whitestone Pond
Read the guide
The City of London says that Whitestone Pond marks the summit of Hampstead Heath, the highest natural point in London. The flagstaff stands on the site of a fire beacon that gave warning of the Spanish Armada in 1588. For centuries the beacon was lit to mark jubilees and other national events. The pond began as a small dew pond called the Horse Pond. It was later renamed after a waypoint stone. Next stop: Kenwood House.
Stop 3: Kenwood House
Read the guide
Robert Adam remodelled Kenwood between 1764 and 1779 for Lord Mansfield. In 1925 Edward Cecil Guinness, the first Earl of Iveagh, bought the house. When he died in 1927 he left his art collection to the nation. It includes a Rembrandt self-portrait, which English Heritage calls Portrait of the Artist. English Heritage looks after the house today. In the grounds are sculptures by Barbara Hepworth and Henry Moore. Next stop: Parliament Hill viewpoint.
Stop 4: Parliament Hill viewpoint
Read the guide
Parliament Hill is ninety-eight metres high, and it gives one of the best views across the London skyline. On a clear day you can pick out Canary Wharf and the City. The view over London is protected by law. The hill was once called Traitors Hill. It is said to have taken its present name when troops loyal to Parliament held it in the English Civil War. A legend says the Gunpowder Plot conspirators planned to watch Parliament from here. The walk ends at Gospel Oak.
Written for Britlens from the sources listed under each stop. Check opening times and access on the official sites before you go.
Getting there and back
Both ends of the walk are at stations. Check live times and any planned works before you travel.
- Heath paths can be muddy after rain, so wear sturdy shoes. Kenwood House and Fenton House keep their own opening hours: check before you go.
- Step-free access has not been checked for this walk. Check the route and station access before you go.
- Opening times, prices and closures change: check before you visit.
More walks
Royal London: St James's to Whitehall
The City and Roman London
Shoreditch Street Art and Brick Lane
Kew to Richmond along the Thames
Photos are credited on the photo credits page. Route and map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.