Now that our crazy travel schedules have slowed down a bit, the family and I are making more of an effort to get out and explore London.

This last Saturday we packed up the crew (why does even the smallest afternoon trip feel like a while big thing when you have a baby?) and headed to the adorable village of Hampstead in Northern London. I was a little hesitant to visit Hampstead as this was the other neighborhood we were interested in living, and one that Mr. Dave had checked out on his one-day trip to London to find our new pad. I was worried I was going to really love it, and get major FOMO. And as it turns out, I did.

Here’s a quick snapshot of how we spent our day in Hampstead. Below I'll dig a little deeper with details on each spot, and also include some other places/things to do:

Brunch at the Alice House in west Hampstead
Strolled through Flask Walk
Visited Fenton House and gardens / Admirals House
Walked through the Heath
Ate and drank at the Holly Bush and Spaniards Inn

Hampstead is wonderful because it combines city living with tons of restaurants and shops, but still has that really English “village” vibe that one pictures when they think of England. There are also parts of the area that reminded me of Paris, with tons of outdoor cafes.

We started our morning with brunch at the Alice House in west Hampstead. The Alice House gets great reviews that rang true for our experience as well. From there we walked UP to the main center of town. I put up in all caps because I did not realize how hilly Hampstead is. It was like being back in Hong Kong all over again!

From there we wandered through town and popped into a few shops, including Keith Fawkes Antique shop on Flask Walk. Flask Walk is a quaint little alleyway in Hampstead that is popular among tourists.

We decided to take this little Hampstead excursion on one of the hottest days London has ever experienced (about 96 degrees Fahrenheit/35 Celsius). So after shopping we were ready for some cold beverages.

We found ourselves down yet another charming alleyway at the Holly Bush. The Holly Bush came highly recommended as a favorite watering hole for locals. I can’t attest to the food, but the drinks were great.

The interior was your typical English pub style. I’ve found that a lot of English pubs around London don’t have much of an open floor plan, like a typical bar you find in the states. Instead, there are multiple, segregated rooms that are a bit more closed off from the main bar area. I like this, as I think it makes the gathering more intimate, and less noisy. English pubs feel very cozy for this reason, and I dig that.

After the Holly Bush we continued uphill (phew!) to Hampsteads oldest mansion, the Fenton House. The Fenton House and Garden is a 17th century home filled with what one would imagine in a historic home: old stuff. We toured the inside of the home and surrounding gardens.

The biggest takeaway for me was the view from the balcony. On the right, you can get a very clear picture of downtown London in the distance. To the left, you’ll find the Admirals House.

Fun Fact: The Admiral Boom character from Mary Poppins was inspired by a real man who lived in this house after serving time in the navy. The roof was customized so that he could actually fire cannons on special holidays and naval anniversaries (much to the dismay of his neighbors).

A short walk from the Fenton House is the famed, Hampstead Heath, one of Londons largest parks. On a return trip to Hampstead, I plan on spending more time at the Heath, and checking out Parliament Hill, which is supposed to be one of the best views of the entire city.

Nearby, we ended our day at the Spaniards Inn for more food and drinks. This Inn is riddled with history, so i was pretty excited to check it out. Built in 1585, the Spaniards was named after the Spanish Ambassador to James I of England. English writer, Charles Dickens, wrote about the Inn in his first novel, the Pickwick Papers, and (as rumor has it) famous romance poet, John Keats wrote ‘Ode to a Nightingale’, while sitting in the gardens here.

We dined outside within the quaint walled beer garden. After lunch, we ventured back into town and Ubered home, as we had a little lady on our hands who was pretty pooped.

Spending some time in Hampstead and need more to do? Here’s what else is on:

Eat at the famous La Creperie de Hampstead (but be prepared to que)
Visit Kenwood House (another historic home located at the Heath + have a beverage at the Brewhouse)
Visit the home of John Keats (mentioned above)

How to spend an afternoon in Hampstead