Cruising in London: Hampstead Heath’s West Heath
The woodland behind the old Jack Straw’s Castle site is the ground. The open heath around it is everyone else’s park.
London on Crusit comes down to one place that has earned the attention: the West Heath of Hampstead Heath.
Where it is
Hampstead Heath — West Heath begins behind the former Jack Straw’s Castle and runs into dense woodland on the south-west side of the heath. Men have met there since the 19th century. Hampstead Underground is the simple way in; the walk from the station is part of arriving, not a surprise.
When it works
Just before sunset, and on through summer evenings. A bright Saturday afternoon belongs to families and dogs on the open ground. The trees are the scene. If you stay on the widest path waiting for something to happen, you are in the wrong part of an otherwise correct park.
How to behave on a heath
It is not licensed, not ticketed, and not separated from the rest of the park by a gate. Keep to the woodland if that is why you came, let people pass, and leave while you can still see the paths you came in on. The spot page has the practical notes, and the London listing is the map if we add more ground later.
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