Hampstead Garden Suburb

PROPERTY

There’s a huge range of housing in the ‘Suburb’, much of it designed by other noted architects keen to make their mark. From large detached and semi-detached houses to picturesque cottages and apartment buildings, nearly all have been designed with great integrity, with an emphasis on space, privacy and a unique, uniting aesthetic. Designed to harmonise with each other, and often grouped around greens, squares, walks and closes, they feature traditional craftsmanship, high-quality building materials such as red, purple or brown stock brick and red clay tiling, elaborate chimneys and rich planting. Hedged boundaries between properties rather than walls and fences foster a sense of community. While not all homes have Listed status, invariably houseproud residents are encouraged to work closely with the Hampstead Garden Suburb Trust and Barnet Council when making significant alterations

SHOPPING

Hampstead Garden Suburb is well situated for shopping, unmarred by ugly superstores, but within easy striking distance of both practical and designer retail destinations. For local food shopping, there’s a handy Co-Op and independent gem Bekem’s on Market Place which has many original Arts and Crafts shopfronts and also on Market Place, is a WHSmith local post office and a much-loved community library. For an M&S Simply Food and a Waitrose, head to nearby Temple Fortune whilst a Sainsbury’s Superstore is close by in Golders Green.

Fashionistas are spoilt for choice. Well-heeled Hampstead High Street is lined with independent boutiques, bookshops, beauty emporiums such as Space NK, Aesop and art galleries. The upmarket Brent Cross Shopping Centre, just a 10-minute drive away has endless upscale brands under one roof, including Apple, Watches of Switzerland, M&S, John Lewis & Partners, Waterstones, SpaceNK, Fenwick, Reiss and Zara amongst many more.

EATING & DRINKING

You’re spoiled for choice by both longstanding local favourites and the cosmopolitan, upmarket eateries and bars of neighbouring locales. In Hampstead Garden Suburb itself, in and around Northway Gardens, you’ll find coffee shops and artisan family run bakeries such as Sherrards, Toulous for all day dining, Passioni for delicious authentic Italian cuisine and dog friendly luxury cafe Romeo & Juliet’s. In nearby Temple Fortune there are a wide range of cafes and restaurants including Gail’s, Bread and Daniels Bakery. Local popular gastro pubs include The Old Bull & Bush and The Spaniards Inn although for an even wider range of chic eateries and watering holes, head to Hampstead Village.

PARKS

There’s no shortage of wonderful open green spaces throughout the area including Central Square with it’s manicured gardens and two tennis courts, Big Wood and Little Wood which are two areas of woodland within Hampstead Garden Suburb which are local nature reserves along with the 22-acre Lyttelton Playing Fields incorporating tennis courts, multisport football and basketball courts, two cricket squares, Bishopswood Bowling Club and a fabulous children’s playground. The Suburb also benefits from Hampstead Golf Club, an exceptional top quality nine hole golf course with charming club house accessible from Winnington Road. The area has some of the capital’s finest and most famous outdoor expanses on its doorstep with wonderful opportunities for dog walking, cycling and running. The 125-acre Hampstead Heath Extension and the vast open space of Hampstead Heath beyond, offer all the benefits of country living.

TRANSPORT

Despite its sense of semi-rural escapism from the stresses of modern life, Hampstead Garden Suburb has excellent transport links into the City and West End, served by Golders Green and East Finchley Underground Stations (both on the Northern Line). Alternatively, you can hop on an H2 or H3 bus to get around the Suburb itself, plus there’s easy access to the M1, M25 and A1 if you’re driving further afield.

SCHOOLS

Families in Hampstead Garden Suburb have a wide range of educational choices, with both well-regarded private and comprehensive offerings from primary through to sixth form. For those with younger children, Brookland Infant and Nursery School and Chalgrove Primary School, in Finchley, are both rated Outstanding by Ofsted; Garden Suburb Junior School is rated Good. For secondary schools, The Henrietta Barnett School consistently tops the charts for academic success, with high-achieving independent options at Channing School for Girls, University College School for boys (co-ed in Sixth Form), King Alfred School co-ed for a more nurturing, creative and free-thinking approach to education, co-ed Highgate School and South Hampstead High School for Girls are all within a 15-minute drive.