Highgate to Hampstead

A long-awaited visit from friends unfortunately coincided with a heavy cold, but nobly I led us on an active trip from Highgate to Hampstead, even conquering a closure of the requisite part of the Northern Line. So a lot of bus journeys.

We started at Archway. Across the road is an impressive Victorian hospital.

 

Heading to Highgate cemetery is the wonderfully gothic Holly Village, built as homes for estate workers, but rather creepier than the cemetery.

 Highgate cemetery proved a hit with adults and kids alike. A map allows one to go grave spotting, although some of the most atmospheric parts have no famous residents, just overgrown Victorian slabs.

 

 

 

 

 

We also had the local fauna and flora to admire

 



 

 

 

 

The most famous grave, that of Karl Marx

But some of the most interesting graves are the most modern ones.



 

I especially liked Jeremy Beadle's headstone



 

 



Onward from the cemetery, literally round the corner, is Waterlow Park, a pretty park on a sloping site with little lakes and at the top, Lauderdale House.



 The House is a perfect setting for a bite of lunch, the restaurant overlooking a nice terrace with a large green lawn.

 

 Highgate Hill has splendid old terraced houses lining it.

 

 But after a bit of a walk through Hampstead Heath we came to the main target of the day - a visit to the newly restored Kenwood House. It does look absolutely superb now, one of the best sights in London. Gorgeous setting.

If the exterior is lovely, well so is the interior. The formally very red and gold library has now been toned down to more pastel shades.

 

 

We also very much enjoyed the tea rooms - perfect on a nice day. Well maybe apart from the price. And watch the cakes - they can try too hard to be a bit different.

 

 Oh, and there is a spare Henry Moore in the grounds too.

 

 

 

 From there we walked through the Heath. And found more wildlife. Not sure exactly what this bird of prey was. A hobby maybe?

 

 

 

 

 

The trees are great for climbing as the kids soon found.

 

 And we were most impressed by the local fungi.

We finished our long walk in Hampstead. This is Keats' House. After a restorative cup of tea at a friend's house, we returned to Palmers Green for dinner. A very active day. I think I tired out the kids, and their parents too. And certainly myself. I was zonked after dinner, and some wine.