Ireland day 1158. Friday 29 November 2024- Hampstead

Today’s summary	Took the Tube up to Baker Street and met up with a friend to go on a walk around Regents Park, Primrose Hill, Hampstead and Highgate. Lunch at the Angel Pub and then ended up at Finchley Road tube. A quiet evening with a video call to Val back in Malahide, after she’d finished at Wonderlights
Today’s weather	Clear cool bright and sunny all day. Light South Easterly wind. Appx 9c

Today’s overview location (The green mark shows the location of our route)		Close-up location (The orange line shows where we walked) (Click button below to download GPX of today’s walk as recorded, or see interactive map at bottom with elevations corrected): Hampstead and Highgate

Commentary

We had an excellent evening out at “Fowl” restaurant last night. I’d recommend it if you’re in London anytime. But it came with the inevitable consequence of a rather thick head this morning. Anyway I eventually dragged myself into wakefulness and readied myself for the day ahead.

I’d arranged to meet another friend for a walk today, so I headed up on the Tube to Baker Street for our 10:30 rendezvous. We were away a bit ahead of our schedule, which of course meant we had plenty of time for an early coffee in the tennis court café in Regent’s Park. Eventually we’d finished our refreshments and set off on the walk-proper.

Our route took in Primrose Hill, Parliament Hill, Hampstead and Highgate. We eventually finished our excursion at Finchley Road tube. Along the way, we came across lots of interesting architectural curiosities, and visited streets, squares and gardens that I’d never seen, despite having visited this part of London many times before. It was absolutely fascinating – a real voyage of discovery, and surprisingly hilly too.

The weather was perfect, too, which undoubtedly contributed to the enjoyment of the whole of occasion. The views, in particular, were spectacular. Eventually, we reached 1:30pm and decided it was time to find something to eat. By this stage in the proceedings, we were right at the top of the hill in Highgate, where the Angel pub is conveniently situated. We found a table and I treated myself to a pint and a full English breakfast. Probably just about the unhealthiest meal imaginable but hey I don’t do it every day and it is said that a little of what you like does you good. Though in this case it was rather a lot.

From the pub, we strolled over to Finchley Road Tube station where we went our separate ways. Then after the walk, I enjoyed a quiet evening watching TV, listening to music and on a video call to Val – once she got back from Wonderlights. Yes – the real world still goes on, even as I swan around in London

Today’s photos (click to enlarge)


This curious white building sits on Haverstock Hill, in Belsize Park. It’s owned by a “data store” company though I have a feeling that in another life, it was the entrance to an underground nuclear bunker	Isokon flats, Hampstead – completed in 1934 it’s said to be a classic example of art deco styling

Dartmouth Park – very colourful	Rather grotesque entrance to Holly Village, just across the road from Highgate Cemetery. I found the buildings and much of the surrounding area, rather creepy

A little earlier in the walk – Chalcot Square in Primrose Hill. Apparently, Paddington Bear lived here in the films	Gracie Fields’ house in Hampstead

Sherlock setting us off on our way from Baker Street