HAMPSTEAD HEATH North London

Hampstead Heath in the North of the city is another stunning and huge parkland with fabulous woods and wild areas to explore.  A really well kept area of natural beauty.  I do regular shoots in the park and know some great spots off the main tracks to avoid dog walkers and get some great light.  It has the benefit of being hilly which the other London parks are not, and this gives us a lot of interesting backdrops and angles to play with.  

Pros

A fantastic area to explore with young children as there are gorgeous little pathways with small wooden fences  leading off from the main paths making it feel like you’re exploring the inner depths of a secret forest.  Really beautiful old trees and great views over the city from the top.  Pretty good Coffee too!

Cons

It’s not so easy to get to on public transport but parking is fine and usually available.  This is an area to explore with sturdy shoes!  No small trees to climb but lots to entertain the smaller person.  It can be quite busy but I can usually find some great spots to give us some privacy.

Best times to go

All year round for Hampstead Heath..it’s really great and has a mixture trees so there is good coverage all year.  Autumn is amazing up here, stunning colours.  Winter is in fact gorgeous on Hampstead Heath as the brown bear trees all meld into a wonderful soft lush colour in the background of the images, it’s also less busy with the general public which I prefer.

Logistics

We could meet at the West Lodge Gate car park or at a number of spots around the park, from where there are some great walkways.  There are loos and a cafe up the top end here too which makes life a little easier for kids.  You can easily spend the whole day in the park so make sure you have time to explore after the shoot.