West Hampstead Square Neighbourhood Guide

WELCOME Welcome to West Hampstead. You’re now part of London’s friendliest neighbourhood — and its best connected. As you settle in to your stunning new apartment, you’re going to love exploring the area too.

There are bars and restaurants for every day of the week, but when you’re in the mood to whip up a storm in your beautiful kitchen, West Hampstead farmers’ market will have all the ingredients, while the local independent bookshop can supply the recipe books.

We've got some top local tips for you in this brochure on where to go out, how to get around, and what shops and services are on your doorstep. We've also got plenty of quirky West Hampstead facts and a guide to "How to be a local" so you can fit in as soon as you move in. Enjoy living in West Hampstead — it's the village gem of north-west London.

Having held a competition for locals to name the apartment blocks, it was easy to choose a winner — reflecting the area’s strong literary heritage, each block of apartments is named after an author with a local connection.

Thomas Hardy — Before penning classics such as Tess of the d’Urbervilles and Far From the Madding Crowd, Hardy trained as an architect and in the early 1860s he lived in Clarence Place, which is now the Kingsgate estate between West Hampstead and Kilburn.

George Orwell — The author of novels including 1984 and Animal Farm, and towering works of non-fiction, lived in Mortimer Crescent from 1942 to 1944, when a V1 bomb fell on his building.

It was in this flat that Orwell wrote most of Animal Farm.

William Thomas Beckford — The Beckford estate was centred on West End House, and encompassed the very land that West Hampstead Square is built on. Beckford, once one of the richest commoners in England, wrote the Gothic novel Vathek.

Doris Lessing — “Oh Christ”, said Lessing in 2007 when a journalist doorstepped her outside her West Hampstead home and told her she’d won the Nobel Prize for Literature. Lessing was a fixture in West Hampstead for some 60 years before her death in 2013.

A A Milne — The creator of Winnie the Pooh was born in 1882 in Henley House, destroyed by the same bomb that left George Orwell homeless 60 years later. There’s a plaque to commemorate Milne at Remstead House which now stands on the site Mortimer estate.

2

Number of Nobel prize winning authors who’ve lived in West Hampstead

RESTAURANTS You’re spoilt for choice for evenings out in West Hampstead; here are some local favourites: The Wet Fish Café — For brunch, lunch or a romantic dinner, this much loved café/restaurant serves modern European food with some zesty twists. It hosts regular live music from acts who never play venues this intimate, and the walls are an ever-changing gallery of modern art.

Insider tip: it’s hard to stop at one WFC Martini.

Toomai — Kick off with a cocktail at this south-east Asian streetfood canteen. Then brace yourself for a kick from the food (especially the pepper chilli lamb). Toomai buzzes from early to late, so go and satisfy your noodle craving. Insider tip: sit at on of the high tables for a more friendly atmosphere.

Sarracino — A pizzeria always full of Italians — what better recommendation is there? The wood-fired oven at this local institution churns out traditional thin crust pizzas at an alarming rate. Your only decision is which toppings to choose (and which bottle of wine). Insider tip: Don’t fancy pizza? The fish dishes are worth a try.

One Bourbon — A smoked slice of BBQ heaven in this lively bar and restaurant. If you like smoked meat, you’ll love One Bourbon. You will get mucky though!

Insider tip: wings, wings, wings.

Guglee — There are several good Indian restaurants around, but Guglee is a little bit different. Its modern take on classic dishes will leave your tastebuds tingling.

Insider tip: Sev Puri Chat is a “down in one” operation.

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Number of Deliveroo restaurants who’ll deliver to West Hampstead

BARS A West Hampstead pub crawl has to start at the idio­ syncratic Czech Bar just down the road. Don’t expect a wannabe Shoreditch hipster bar, this is old-school, but if you like pilsener, why go anywhere else? The Railway is the big sports pub in the area, perfect for the matchday atmosphere. The Gallery is a perennial local favourite — a whisky collection barely bettered south of the Scottish border, and transitions from mellow to lively just when you want. The Alice House attracts the fashionable set with its streetside decking and powerful cocktails, while neighbours One Bourbon (great beer selection) and The Black Lion (best pub quiz) vie for the settling-in for the evening crowd. Insider tip: The Black Lion’s beer garden is fantastic on a summer evening.

GROCERIES You’re not going to eat out every night, right? Right?

You’ve got those lovely evening views to enjoy from the comfort of your dining table (or in front of the TV... shh, we won’t tell). Good news! West Hampstead has a tremendous array of food and wine shops from the big supermarkets near Finchley Road (jumbo Sainsbury’s and a large Waitrose) to the usual metro-format stores on West End Lane and Cook if you fancy that homemade vibe in convenience form. There is also the Provenance butcher (right beneath you) and an astonishing chocolate shop named Cocoa Bijoux. And did we mention the farmers’ market? It’s every Saturday by the Thameslink station with the best chickens you will ever roast, and much much else besides. It’s where West Hampstead comes together.

101

The number of whiskies available at the local favourite bar — The Gallery

HOW TO BE A LOCAL Over time, every community has its ways of telling the locals from the “outsiders”… so if you want to fit in quickly — here are a few tips!

• Play it cool when Bill Nighy holds the door open for you at the bookshop.

• Enjoy the scenery when you inevitably end up on the fast train from central London to St Albans by mistake.

Everyone’s done it.

• Remember that what happens in Lately — the nightclub just down the road — stays in Lately.

• Look despairing when you tell people you live in West Hampstead and they talk about “the Heath”.

• Confidently assert that London’s best fish & chips is found in Nautilus on Fortune Green.

• Joke about the C11 bus, even though you’ve never set foot on it.

LIFESTYLE The West Hampstead Square gym will be opening very soon. In the meantime there’s a Virgin Active in the O2 centre, less than 10 minutes walk away, or The Gym Group on Fortune Green (20 minute walk). For more sociable exercise, there’s a local “just for fun” running club that meets every Saturday morning. Follow @ruNW6 on Twitter for details or just turn up on West End Green at 9am.

Public tennis courts are available in Kilburn Grange Park or you can join the prestigious Cumberland Tennis Club/Hampstead Cricket Club on Lymington Road.

Swiss Cottage Leisure Centre is the nearest large swimming pool.

92

Number of West Hampstead residents identi­fying as Jedi in the 2011 census

KIDS’ LEISURE Little ones will love Hullaballoo at the Sherriff Centre (St James’ Church) — epic soft play in a church!

There’s Gymboree over at the O2 centre, and all manner of kids activities at the various community centres (especially during the holidays). In September, a new primary school building opens on Liddell Road — part of the OFSTED outstanding Kingsgate School.

A LITTLE FURTHER Step out of West Hampstead Square and you’re on West End Lane — the local high street — an adventruous spirit is rewarded in these parts. Head to Mill Lane with its independent shops that include a great wine shop, a vegetarian restaurant, a world-class tattoo parlour and street art gallery. Or venture to Kilburn where the Tricycle screens arthouse films and the latest big hits.

This theatre is one of the most highly regarded outside the West End. Dinner beforehand at Afghan restaurant Ariana II is a must (Ariana I is in Manhattan!).

Hampstead Heath is only two stops away on the Overground, but Kilburn Grange Park and Fortune Green both offer smaller and nearer alternative green spaces for some summer lounging.

The O2 centre on Finchley Road has a multiplex cinema (there’s an IMAX down the road at Swiss Cottage though), numerous popular restaurants such as Wagamama and Byron, and a branch of Habitat should you need to stock up on homeware.

8

How many pounds a dish of Mantu — an Afghan specialty — will cost from Ariana II

BET YOU DIDN’T KNOW • West Hampstead is where Decca told The Beatles that guitar bands were on their way out. In 1962.

• Every year, stars of stage and screen turn up for the Hampstead Cricket Club charity match. If you’re lucky, Emma Thompson will serve you cake.

• U2 played its first ever gig outside Ireland above The Railway pub.

• With its three stations, there are more than 100 destinations you can reach from West Hampstead without changing trains.

• The Black Lion dates back to 1751.

• Every summer, Fortune Green hosts two free outdoor film screenings. Locals bring a picnic and settle in for the night.

• West Hampstead had its very own Olympick Games at the end of the 18th century • A house on Sherriff Road has a tree growing through the middle of it — it used to belong to Stephen Fry.

HOT TOPICS West Hampstead’s got its fair share of issues that get locals talking. Get up to speed.

• Proposed parliamentary constituency boundary changes could mean you move from “Hampstead & Kilburn” to “Hampstead & Golders Green”. This might swing the seat from Labour to Conservative.

• West Hampstead has a high-profile vicar who openly defies the Church of England’s stance on homosexuality. He was the first vicar to marry his male partner and proudly flies the rainbow flag over St James’ Church.

• The tube station is in urgent need of expansion though views differ on the best solution.

USEFUL INFO Post office Your nearest post office is in St James Church and it is on the corner of West End Lane and Sherriff Road and operates during normal post office hours.

Banks & ATMs There’s only one bank branch in West Hampstead — a Barclays on the corner of West End Lane and Fawley Road. Kilburn High Road has branches of all major banks.

Barclays — 208 West End Ln, London NW6 1UY

Local media There are two local papers — the Camden New Journal and the Ham & High. There is also an excellent local online newspaper, West Hampstead Life, which has a weekly e-mail newsletter too — details on the site.

Social media Twitter — @WHampstead and @WHampsteadLife Facebook — ‘West Hampstead Life’ and ‘West Hampstead Mums’ group

Sainsbury's, Tesco and the Thameslink station have ATMs.

TRANSPORT LINKS Wherever you're going, West Hampstead is the perfect place to start your journey — and there's nowhere better to come home to.

Tube Bond Street shops are 8 minutes away and it’s just 24 minutes to Canary Wharf. Change at Canning Town to reach London City Airport in less than 40 minutes.

Or head north to get to Wembley Stadium in just 11 minutes.

Overground Hampstead Heath is just 4 minutes by train, trendy Hoxton is less than 30 minutes away, or go west to shopping nirvana at Westfield London in 17 minutes.

Fancy a trip to leafy Richmond?

Settle in for a half-hour ride.

Thameslink The commuter trains will drop you at City Thameslink in 16 mins, and it’s just 6 minutes to the Eurostar terminal at St Pancras. You can also reach Luton and Gatwick Airports.

Don’t forget the buses The 139 runs 24/7 and will take you into the heart of London via Abbey Road, Baker Street, and Piccadilly Circus; or hop on the 328 for an eclectic tours of London, ending up in Chelsea via Notting Hill.

Wherever you're going, West Hampstead is the perfect place to start your journey — and there's nowhere better to come home to.

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41 West Hampstead Fire Station 42 Library Rd 43rson e Iv44 Cycle Surgery 45 Barclays Bank (ATM)

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West Hampstead Square Gym The Gym Group Virgin Active Public tennis courts Cumberland Lawn Tennis Club Hampstead Cricket Club Swiss Cottage Leisure Centre Hullabaloo Gymboree West End Lane Books Habitat Vue Cinema

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The Wet Fish Café Toomai Sarracino One Bourbon Tavern Guglee Nautilus Ariana II Wagamama Byron

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