Sunday Sessions: Hampstead Heath

I had never been to Hampstead Heath and I have now been 3 times in about 1 month and a half. What I love about going there is it feels like you've escaped London. You get the feeling that you're in a village rather than in a sprawling, dirty, noisy city. There are quite a few stops because the park is massive. I go to the one called Hampstead Heath but there's also a West Hampstead, a South Hampstead and just a plain old Hampstead.

So visit numero uno consisted of going for brunch in a really cute little brunch place called Ginger and White. I branched out and got baked beans (v.good, they tasted smokey) and they had a kinder cookies (see below for the photo of said cookies). We got to sit in a little nook at the back which pleased my nesting sensibilities. There are some great charity shops (Oxfam books) dotted all around, in fact the entire high street is very nice to browse.

I got hungry again (unsurprising) so we found another coffee shop called Biggie Best. I got a scone which was okay, there was no cream and it was wholemeal so make of that what you will. However, it was slightly redeemed by the great selection of travel magazines and an independent homeware store in the back.

The second time I went was actually on Christmas day and I went for a walk all around the park with my family. The park is ginormous and at this time of year it's advisable to take your Wellington boots as it is extremely muddy. It's also great for dog lovers; I've met Bruno who was a curly haired poodle thing, a baby Labrador called Toby and an elegant white husky who's name eludes me. We entered the park a little bit further down, opposite a pub called The Spaniards Inn which is a cosy, very stereotypical English pub with a roaring fire and chestnut panelled interior. The food looked really nice but it was Christmas day so we just got crisps and juice. I'll have to go back because they have sticky toffee pudding, it's calling me.

The third time consisted of another walk (even muddier than before) and then an actual pub lunch. If you turn left out of the station (Hampstead Heath) and then left again you come across a pub called The Garden Gate. I got the fish and chips (the mushy peas and chips were amazing). Unfortunately we had to sit outside because it was a Sunday and everyone (excluding me) were too cold to get a dessert sooo I will be returning with a vengeance for yep, you guessed it, sticky toffee pudding. A bit rogue, but I just remembered there's also a cemetery which I painted for my A-level art project. It's called Highgate which is just to the east of the park. Perhaps it sounds weird to go to a cemetery, but it's actually really beautiful. Its surrounded in greenery and intricate mausoleums and one side is free, so worth a visit.