This is the fourth post on the Green Spaces of London. This time focusing on the Highgate area.
When you think of parks in London, this area boasts a good couple, and we have already shared our love of Hampstead this time (for clarity). We are staying near Highgate Station and West.
Waterlow Park
12 Hectres/29.5 Acres
This is a deceptive park, from Highgate Hill it doesn’t look that big. But once inside you realise the size; it borders Highgate Cemetery to the south and west and is a great secret.
So the scores (each category is a maximum of 5 stars to give a total of 100)
Animal Friendly – Yes, when we were there, there was a fair amount of wildlife (Pond life, Ducks, Geese, Squirrels and the like). Also a lot of dogs.
Wildlife Areas – Plenty of space and greenery
Ponds/Water Features – Yes, Middle Pond is a large area of water with walkways around it; there are plenty of ducks and geese here and Upper Pond has a viewing platform for bird watching and is quite peaceful.
Formal Gardens – Yes, a really lovely Formal Garden by the house at the top of the park.
Specimen Trees/Plants – Yes, it proudly has a Wide-Canopied Strawberry Tree in its midst as well as a Copper Beech, Ginkgo and an Indian Bean Tree. That’s enough, we’d say!
Covered Seating Areas/Pavilions – There are a few little covered seating areas around as well as a large covered bench near the cricket pitch.
Paths – A network of concrete paths throughout the entire park leads to wherever you want to go.
Seating and Picnic Areas – Many lawns and spaces ideal for picnicking. There are extensive benches throughout the park, along the paths; a fair amount are dedicated, even one to the Singer George Michael.
Playgrounds – Down at the bottom in the south corner is an Under 6’s playground. It’s a large space, but it’s not that impressive (to an adult), but it may change soon with a proposed upgrade. But for now it’s only…
Kids’ Areas – Only the playground really,
Sports Courts/Pitches – There are Tennis Courts and a space for cricket, but it’s likely you’d lose the ball in the bushes more than you’d get to play.
Forest/Tree Walkways – There are several woody paths, especially around the top end and Nature Area
Coffee Shops/Restaurant – Lauderdale House is technically run as a separate park these days, but it’s still accessible from the park and has a nice Coffee Shop with a large open outdoor seating area. It’s a bit expensive (what do you expect from Highgate and Park Cafés!). But it’s OK.
Toilets – A purpose-built block, nice and clean and well appointed.
Manor Houses/Buildings – Lauderdale House, as mentioned above, is now run separately from the park; the building was saved from demolition by Interior Designer William Morris in the 1850s, and it is a lovely Tudor House.
Open Peace and Quiet – It’s surprisingly quiet, probably because it’s above all the noise of London.
Bins – Ample
Rules and Signs – A good balance, plenty to keep you informed without the Japanese level of rules to just annoy you!
Quirks – Mmh, don’t know if you are allowed quirks in Hampstead/highgate!
General Vibe/Aesthetic – This is a surprising little gem, often used as a path to Highgate Cemetery rather than the park itself, but it has near enough all you’d want; the only downside is it’s steeply sloped, but maybe that’s its quirk!
Total
Rating: 7 out of 10.
74% out of 100
Highgate Cemetery –
15 hectares/37 acres
Nearest tube is Archway. It costs £10 to get in the east and more for the west side.
Animal Friendly – NO! There is wildlife, but no pets are allowed- well, living ones anyway!
Wildlife Areas – There is a lot of wildlife within, small birds nesting and it’s quiet (as you’d expect), but there isn’t much else.
Ponds/Water Features – No!
Formal Gardens – No, it is well kept and tidy; the graves are mostly kept tidy by staff and volunteers, and some are so often visited that nothing will overgrow!
Specimen Trees/Plants – No, it has a fair amount of Ivy and the occasional Ash and a Yew but not much more
Covered Seating Areas/Pavilions – No
Paths – Yes, it’s all about the paths; tarmac paths lead you where you are allowed to go, wandering is not encouraged!
Seating and Picnic Areas – The east side has a few benches along the paths; the west side does not do comfort!
Playgrounds – Well, you can climb on Karl Marx’s head and slide off and then run away from the overzealous staff, but other than that, no!.
Kids Areas – Well, there are a lot of gravestones that Goths and Satanists love, but no, no kids areas!
Sports Courts/Pitches – Not even a table tennis table!
Forest/Tree Walkways – Well, technically, yes, but are you allowed to walk around in the bushes? No!
Coffee Shops/Restaurant – Colonnade Coffee is just outside the entrance to the east entrance, but honestly avoid it, or you could end up in the next burial in the cemetery!
Toilets – By the entrance.
Manor Houses/Buildings – No, Ashurst House burnt down a long time ago; the Colonnade, the entrance to the west side, is impressive though.
Open Peace and Quiet – It’s DEAD QUIET!
Bins – Enough.
Rules and Signs – Are we in Japan! Seriously, a Tokyo resident would feel pressured in this place.
Quirks – Does a massive head of the Father of Communism count? Or Douglas Adams ‘ grave, even Jeremy Beadle!
General Vibe/Aesthetic – This is a rather austere and lacking cemetery, though there are a lot of dead famous people; you are better off going to Nunhead or Bow Cemetery for more atmosphere and Vibe.
Total
Rating: 3.5 out of 10.
35% out of 100
Highgate Woods/Queens Wood
Technically still part of the Heath but separated by the A1, it is its own place and space, and Queens Wood could be considered its own space too, but if you go to one, you’ll most likely go to the other too, so…
Animal Friendly – Yes. When we were there, there was a fair amount of wildlife (Pond life, Ducks, Geese, Squirrels and the like)—also a lot of dogs.
Wildlife Areas – A lot of trees and ivy birds, ducks and geese, squirrels and the occasional other thing!
Ponds/Water Features – Queens Wood Pond, a lily pad-covered, natural pond, for wildlife and nature, but no Water Features as such!
Formal Gardens – No, this is untouched woodlands for the most part. There is Muswell Hill Fountain, a small area around a stone water tap. But no flowers or box hedges!
Specimen Trees/Plants – No! Just a Loooooooot of trees!
Covered Seating Areas/Pavilions – Yes.
Paths – Lots of paths and open woodland to explore and a lack of tarmac!
Seating and Picnic Areas – A lot of benches outside the playground.
Playgrounds – Large space to the west side for a lot of kids.
Kids Areas – A huge woods for kids of all ages to get lost in – we still do! And Queens Wood has a zipline and rope bridges!
Sports Courts/Pitches – A Huge open space for Cricket pitches and football pitches, an Outdoor Gym, a Calisthenics Gym.
Forest/Tree Walkways – Errr, Yeah!
Coffee Shops/Restaurant – A decent coffee shop/Café next to the Cricket pitch. With good coffee too and The Queen’s Wood Café is a trendy place to go; recently it was featured on TikTok and the queues were massive, thankfully the trend has worn off now, but it’s still a nice enough cottage café.
Toilets – All over the place, you just have to find them!
Manor Houses/Buildings – A large estate, does that count?! No!
Open Peace and Quiet – NO!
Bins – There are, but they are sometimes a bit spread out! Usually by the toilets!
Rules and Signs – No! Well, don’t burn it down and try not to break anything!
Quirks – It’s a quirk!
General Vibe/Aesthetic – This is it, the vibe, the aesthetic, it’s what you want it to be, fast, chill, quiet, chaos, it’s your choice!.
Total
Rating: 8 out of 10.
79% out of 100
There’s another set of parks for you. We will be back soon with another set of parks, but next week something completely different.
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