Wild and undulating, the grassy sprawl of Hampstead Heath makes a wonderfully untamed contrast to the manicured lawns and flowerbeds found elsewhere in the capital – and it will feel even more delightfully rural if the City of London Corporation's ‘aspiration’ to graze sheep on the heath as a flock of organic lawnmowers ever comes to fruition.
The heath stretches across 791 acres of woodland, playing fields, swimming ponds and meadows of tall grass in north London from Hampstead to Highgate, and has provided the inspiration for countless films, books and poems.
The dizzying heights of Parliament Hill provide a popular destination for kite-fliers when the weather turns breezy, while the Hampstead Ponds are an idyllic and hugely popular spot for a refreshing dip on hot summer days.