Hampstead Garden Suburb Area Guide
At its conception in the early 20th century Hampstead Garden Suburb was among the first planned communities. Cushioned amidst the charming north London districts of Hampstead, Golders Green, East Finchley and Highgate and blessed with a pervading serenity and quiet, just as the planners intended, the suburb proves a highly attractive location, particularly for families. Through a dedicated Trust set up by Henrietta Barnett in 1906, 243 acres of land were purchased from Eton College for the purpose of establishing a housing scheme accessible to all social classes and arranged according to strict stipulations controlling the landscaping and construction.
With a mainly affluent residency in modern times, despite its mainly uniform architecture, it is one of the more characterful garden suburbs. The wide tree-lined roads and abundance of greenery belie its location at only around four miles from central London. With an adjoining Hampstead Heath extension, residents have the entirety of this sprawling parkland on their doorstep. The beautiful Golders Green Crematorium and Highgate Cemetery, resting grounds for the likes of Karl Marx and Marc Bolan, are also a short walk away.
The suburb also has its own open air theatre as well as the Hampstead Theatre nearby. Beyond the serenity of the suburb itself, the surrounding area comprises north London’s most sought after locations boasting plenty of cultural and recreational interests. Hampstead’s renowned boutique shopping is at your fingertips, with Brent Cross Shopping Centre a short journey away for those larger shopping trips. Nearby Temple Fortune offers independent and commercial shopping outlets alongside a good selection of eateries including great Italian cuisine and eat-in or takeaway sushi. Hampstead’s Pullman Everyman is one of London’s more spectacular cinemas and The Phoenix in nearby East Finchley one of its oldest.
With a great selection of schools including the “outstanding” rated Henrietta Barnett girls’ grammar school, one of the top performing state schools in the country, and a safe community environment awash with aesthetic charm and abundant foliage, Hampstead Garden Suburb is highly suited to raising a family or retiring to peace and quiet with a city on your doorstep.