New York Habitat Blog

No warm weather trip to London would be complete without a visit to Hampstead Heath, an amazing 790 acres of ancient parkland and idyllic public space within the capital—only a fifteen-minute Tube ride from the city center. Though often overlooked by tourists, the heath is one of London’s hidden rustic highlights, as well as a favorite of the locals. In fact, you can feel like a local yourself by staying in a New York Habitat vacation rental in Hampstead this spring.

London Accommodation: 2-bedroom Apartment in Hampstead (LN-362) photo

In addition to vast, sprawling grasslands and hills, Hampstead Heath has a chain of ponds along its perimeter—three of which are open-air pools accessible to visitors who don’t mind a cool, refreshing dip. The heath also boasts one of the highest points in London, so bring a camera along with your bathing suit to capture the breathtaking views from Parliament Hill (or nearby Highgate Hill).

Of course, you are still in the city so you’ll want to do a bit of proper sightseeing.  For that, there’s the stately Kenwood House, an eighteenth-century country estate that boasts works by Dutch masters, including Vermeer and (rare) Rembrandt. You are also close to the Keats House, where the esteemed poet wrote “Ode to a Nightingale” under a tree in the backyard while pining away for his next-door neighbor (who, understandably unable to resist his verse, soon became his fiancée).

To pay your respects to some other past residents, head to peaceful and picturesque Highgate Cemetery, where Karl Marx, George Eliot and the Dickens family are all buried, or take a short, convenient bus ride to Golders Green Crematorium to see the pastoral resting place of Sigmund Freud, H.G. Wells and Bram Stoker. (The staff welcomes visitors and has a handy map ready upon entry.)

London apartment: 3-bedroom vacation rental in Hampstead LN-306 photo

One not-to-be-missed stop near Hampstead Heath (close to Finchley Road station) is the Freud Museum, built in the family home where they took up residence after escaping Austria. The museum houses Freud’s huge collection of Greek, Egyptian and Eastern antiques—many of which you may care to analyze for yourself—as well as the showstopper: Freud’s famed couch for his patients of psychoanalysis.

Another London institution you won’t want to miss in Hampstead is Chaiwalla, a café that puts an Indian twist on traditional afternoon tea. Their clay cups of masala chai tea and South Asian snacks will fortify you on your stroll through Hampstead Heath and put you out less than eight pounds per person.

The best way to experience all that Hampstead has to offer is by staying in a conveniently located New York Habitat vacation rental, such as the following accommodations that seem to bring the spring indoors:

• A charming and spotless 3-bedroom vacation rental in Hampstead, Camden-Brent (LN-306) on the third floor of a building with porter and lift. Each bedroom has twin beds that can zip together into doubles, and there are three full baths plus a WC—perfect for families. This Finchley Road accommodation is outfitted with a full kitchen, parquet floors and laundry/dryer; it also has easy access to City and West End buses and is a short walk from the O2 Shopping Center, a Sainbury’s Superstore, Waitrose grocery, library, and health club with swimming pool, as well as countless nearby restaurants and eateries in the neighborhood.

• An absolutely lovely split-level 2-bedroom vacation accommodation in Hampstead, Camden-Brent (LN-362) on the ground floor of a modern Victorian building. This rental has a balcony and terrace, as well as a conservatory with seating for four and access to a 3-acre community garden for sunny spring days. It also comes with a laundry/dryer, a queen-sized bed in the master bedroom, a double sofa bed (and extra pullout bed) in the second bedroom, and two baths, so there’s plenty of space for everyone.

To fall in love with London this spring, stay in a vacation rental in Hampstead—and see the city like a local.

Leave a comment below to let us know if you’ve ever experienced the outdoor oasis of Hampstead Heath.

Regent’s Park is perhaps the best known and most beautiful of all of London’s outdoor spaces, and it would be a shame to visit the city in springtime without a stop there. While the park provides travelers with a much-needed midday rest, it is by no means a break in the sightseeing action. There are a plethora of things to see and do in Regent’s Park, as well as plenty of nearby attractions—and New York Habitat vacation rentals!

London apartment: 2-bedroom vacation rental in Marylebone, Westminister (LN-422) Photo

After some shopping on tourist-heavy Oxford Street, visitors to London can start a pleasant and un-crowded walk to Regent’s Park north via Portland Place, an architecturally rich street on which the Royal Institute of British Architects is found. (Two alternatives would be Marylebone High Street, for boutique stores and chic cafés, as well as a direct path to the planetarium and Madam Tussaud’s, or Baker Street, for all things Sherlock Holmes, authentic and cheap English eateries, and the well-hidden Ray Cochrane Beauty School, which offers deeply discounted massages and cosmetic treatments…a London rarity.)

Once you enter Regent’s Park from the south, head north to Queen Mary’s Gardens for a variety of roses, the acclaimed Open Air Theatre, which begins its repertoire of plays in late spring, or the sun-drenched Garden Café. Going east from there will take you to the beautifully manicured Broad Walk, and west will lead you to the picturesque Clarence Bridge and the Boating Lake, full of water fowl willing to pose for pictures.

You still haven’t seen anything yet! Head to the north end of the park for acres of football (soccer) pitches and cricket pens, the Honest Sausage café for hearty and healthy snacks, The Hub for exercise classes, children’s outdoor activities and a terrace café with pretty park views, the sprawling London Zoo (where fans of Harry Potter can see the spot where he discovered his powers in the reptile house), and St. John’s Lodge, one of the few private homes in the park that allows visitors backyard access.

Add to all of that the stately John Nash architecture that surrounds the park, the free guided tours and wildlife walks that often take place, the charming Regent’s Canal boat rides and Primrose Hill views of the city to the north, and you may want to consider spending more than a day in Regent’s Park. In fact, we suggest staying as close to the park as possible in one of these New York Habitat vacation accommodations:

London Accommodation: 2-bedroom in Regents Park (LN-602) photo

•A pretty 2-bedroom apartment in Westminster-Marylebone (LN-422) just off Baker Street and Regent’s Park. This second-floor accommodation is near the University of Westminster in a purpose-built apartment block that comes with an elevator and underground parking. This spacious, sunny rental has two bathrooms, two bedrooms with queen-sized beds, a home theatre system, a laundry/dryer and ocean-themed paintings that give it a resort feel. Past clients have raved: “We loved coming home after a tiring day of sightseeing to our ‘own’ wonderful flat. I would highly recommend this apartment.”

•A charmingly decorated 2-bedroom accommodation in Camden-Brent-Regent’s Park (LN-602) on the sixth floor of a period mansion block with elevator. This spotless flat comes complete with balcony, parquet flooring, laundry/dryer, king-sized and double beds, and a dining room suitable for six. To further delight the cinephile staying here, there are framed film posters in each room.

•A bright studio vacation rental in Westminster-Bloomsbury (LN-386) on the second floor of a large apartment building with full-time doorman. This rental has a large window to let the springtime sun in, as well as a queen-sized bed, kitchenette and bathroom with tub and shower. Perfect for one or two people!

Make the most of your springtime visit to London with a trip to Regent’s Park—and a stay in a New York Habitat vacation rental. 

Leave a comment below to let us know which events or areas of Regent’s Park you have enjoyed.

For those in love with London, there are countless arguments over all that the city has to offer, from where to see the best art collection to which pub serves the perfect pint. In summer, though, it’s all about which park is top pick to spend those precious sun-drenched days in. Deciding is no easy task when you consider that thirty percent of London is covered in parkland—but the attractions that Regent’s Park in Marylebone has to offer give it a distinct advantage over the others. New York Habitat can set you up in a rental accommodation close to Regent’s Park, one of London’s most beloved public spaces—but you’ll have to remember to pack your own picnic basket! 

Regents Park hub in London's Regents Park

One of the things that makes Regent’s Park our top choice is its open-air theatre, the perfect alternative to high-priced West End shows. For a fraction of the cost, you can buy yourself a standing-room-only, blanket-sized space on the theatre’s sloping lawn and watch a Shakespearean performance, a mid-summer’s night musical (this season’s selection is Gigi), a concert or a comedy revue. Sure, the theatre sells some high-end concession snacks, but you can always stash a few candy bars in your purse or pockets—and enjoy a show under the stars for a couple of quid. 

Another must-see attraction is the park itself, designed by master John Nash. With its picturesque bridge, stream, rowing lake, royal rose gardens and endless paths through pristine greenery, Regent’s Park is an all-day, low-cost destination for tourists and families. On summer Sundays, check out the bandstand for free musical events and festivals, stroll over to the park’s famed zoo or stop and watch a friendly game of football being played somewhere within the hundred acres of sporting fields.

Perhaps the biggest reason we at New York Habitat love Regent’s Park the best is its location. Nash’s architecture that surrounds the park is an attraction in itself. Walk around the perimeter to see private homes that put Buckingham Palace to shame—since you can’t get inside, it saves you a ton in admission fees!

The pretty Marylebone region also encompasses Baker Street (the fictitious home of Sherlock Holmes); Madame Toussaud’s and the planetarium (which, if the kids have their hearts set on seeing, is best entered after 5 p.m. for a discounted rate and will also give you plenty of time to breeze through the entire building); Abbey Road; the Lord’s Cricket Grounds; and the myriad cafés, shops and eateries north of Oxford Street. A New York Habitat rental accommodation will put all of this within your reach (and your budget)—and we can’t imagine a much better place to wake up each day.

• A cheery 2-bedroom furnished rental in Marylebone, Westminster (LN-432) on the third floor of a period block building on Upper Montague St., just a few minutes’ walk from Regent’s Park and the Baker Street station. 

• On Abbey Road, a lovely 2-bedroom furnished apartment in St. John’s Wood, Westminster (LN-423) on the third and top floors of a walk-up building, a nice walk from Regent’s Park.

• Decorated with blonde wood and pops of color, a 2-bedroom furnished rental in Swiss Cottage, Camden—Brent (LN-441) just off Abbey Road on the first floor of a period house with front and rear terraces. This accommodation is a three-minute walk from the Swiss Cottage station and just two short stops from Regent’s Park. 

A stay near Regent’s Park will show you why Londoners escape to open, green spaces in the summertime—especially when they don’t have to leave the city to do it!

If you’ve enjoyed the charms of Marylebone and Regent’s Park, please share your comments with us below.