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Hampstead is an area of London, England.

[edit] Understand

While the suburb of Hampstead is one of the more expensive areas in London, Hampstead Heath is free. Commonland run by the City of London Corporation, the Heath consists of woods, ponds and grassland. Hampstead village, with its myriad restaurants, bars and cafes, is an agreeable place to spend a lazy afternoon.

[edit] Get in

Hampstead underground station is on the Edgware branch of the Northern line and several London bus routes. Hampstead Heath station, in South End Green, is on the North London line.

[edit] Get around

[edit][add listing] See

• Keats House, Keats Grove, Hampstead, London NW3 2RR, [1]. The great poet John Keats lived here from 1818 to 1820. It has been restored as a museum with period decor and furnishings and Keatsiana. It reopened in July 2009 after restoration.

[edit][add listing] Do

• A gentle climb to the top of Kite Hill or Parliament Hill gives a good view of the London skyline.
• The bathing ponds are a wonderful way to cool off on hot summer days. There are men's and women's ponds and the areas around them are often full of people sunbathing, picnicking and generally chilling out.

[edit][add listing] Buy

• Hampstead Community Centre On Saturdays turns into a kind of mini-market, selling a variety of things including a second hand book stall with a fantastic selection.

• There is a variety of other shops including Gap, Karen Millen, Nine West, Kurt Geiger, Molton Brown.

[edit][add listing] Eat

There are a number of decent restaurants in Hampstead.

• Jin Kichi, 73 Heath Street, [2]. For sushi, this intimate place is warmly recommended. (Square Meal review). It even gets a great rating in the Zagat (2006) guide.

• Giraffe, 46 Rosslyn Hill, [3]. Although part of a larger chain, this (slightly pricey) café/restaurant provides great organic dishes. It is also child friendly, which might be a downside for a visit the morning after the night before (London Eating Review).

• Carluccio's, 32 Rosslyn Hill, [4]. Serves cheap and decent Italian grub.

• Toast, right by the station, [5]. Its food has real contemporary feel. Its main delight though is its chocolate dessert. It's to dream for, and on a busy afternoon shopping you can nip and get it freshly baked.

• La Creperie de Hampstead A crepe stall in front of King William IV. A wide variety of tasty crepes. Queues can get long at the weekend.

• Goldfish, 82 Hampstead High St. +44 020 7794 6666. Asian fusion eatery boasts a menu that is distinctly ‘modern Chinese,’ with main courses such as wasabi prawns, mocha spare ribs and pan-fry roasted duck with special curry sauce and apple salsa.

• Walnut, 280 West End Lane. +44 020 7794 7772. Tu-Su 6:30PM-10:30PM. [6]. Cozy, neighborhood restaurant serves up inspired ‘modern European’ fare.

• The Rosslyn Delicatessen A fantastic deli, with a large selection of American foods.

[edit][add listing] Drink

Among Hampstead's many pubs are a few traditional jewels, including:

The Flask, 14 Flask Walk, Hampstead, London, NW3 1HE, [7], its name dating from the old times when Hampstead was a resort where people went to "take the waters".

The Holly Bush, 22 Holly Mount, Hampstead, London, NW3 6SG, traditional favorite up on a hillside above Hampstead.

[edit][add listing] Sleep

[edit] Get out