Hampstead Heath is 320 hectares of ancient woodland, meadows, and ponds on the high ground north of the city — one of the few places in London where you can feel genuinely removed from urban life. Parliament Hill at the southern end gives one of the most complete views of the central London skyline.
The mixed bathing ponds and the separate men's and women's ponds have been in continuous use since the 18th century and are, for many Londoners, a defining pleasure of the city — cold, clear, and free to use. In summer the heath fills with picnickers, kite-flyers, and wild swimmers; in winter it takes on a bleaker, more atmospheric character.
Kenwood House, at the northern edge, is a Robert Adam mansion with a free permanent collection including Rembrandt's self-portrait and Vermeer's The Guitar Player.
Nearest tube: Hampstead (Northern Line), then 10-minute walk.