Hampstead Heath, Parliament Hill and Kenwood
London's wildest open space: the famous skyline view from Parliament Hill, the bathing ponds and Kenwood House.
- Distance
- 5.5 km
- Ascent
- 110 m
- Time
- 1.5–2 h
- Grade
- Easy
- Route
- Circular
- High point
- 114 m
Drag along the profile to see where you are on the map.
Offline navigation is coming in the TRXO app. Hear when it launches.
Route mapped on from OpenStreetMap paths, with heights from EU-DEM terrain data; not yet checked on the ground by TRXO. Added to TRXO on . For planning only: always navigate with an up-to-date map such as OS Explorer or Harvey. How we make our routes.
About this walk
Hampstead Heath, Parliament Hill and Kenwood is an easy 5.5 km circular walk with 110 m of ascent, taking 1.5 to 2 hours. It starts at Hampstead Heath station (grid reference TQ 272 856). The start can be reached by public transport.
Hampstead Heath feels far bigger than it is, with rough meadows, ancient hedgerows and woodland a few minutes from the station. This loop climbs Parliament Hill first for one of the best-known views in London, with St Paul's and the City laid out to the south.
From there it heads past the Highgate ponds to Kenwood House, a neoclassical villa with free entry to the house and grounds, before returning through the woods and past the mixed bathing pond. Paths are mostly firm but can be muddy after rain.
Route
-
1
Parliament Hill
Cross into the Heath opposite the station and climb the grassy slope to the viewpoint on Parliament Hill, where a panel names the landmarks on the skyline.
-
2
The ponds
Head north past the Highgate ponds, then through meadows and woodland to the gardens of Kenwood House.
-
3
Back through the woods
Leave Kenwood by the western paths and return south past the mixed bathing pond to the station.
Summit
Questions about this walk
- How long does Hampstead Heath, Parliament Hill and Kenwood take?
- Most walkers take 1.5–2 hours for the 5.5 km route, which has 110 m of ascent. That allows for short stops; give yourself longer in winter, in poor weather or with a group.
- Where does the walk start, and where can I park?
- It starts at Hampstead Heath station (grid reference TQ 272 856). Very limited street parking nearby; come by train.
- Can I get there by public transport?
- London Overground to Hampstead Heath; Northern line to Belsize Park or Hampstead. Check TfL Journey Planner for engineering works.
- How hard is it?
- It's graded easy. Surfaced and earth paths over grassy hills; some muddy stretches in winter.
- Can I take my dog?
- Yes, dogs are welcome on this walk. Keep them on a lead near livestock.
Walked this? Tell the next walker
No reviews, condition reports, walkers' photos or trip reports for this walk yet. Yours would be the first.
