Overview 📚

Parliament Hill is the open grassy summit at the southern end of Hampstead Heath. Rising to 98 metres above sea level, it delivers one of the capital’s great free spectacles: a wide, uninterrupted panorama of the London skyline stretching from the City of London and Canary Wharf to St Paul’s Cathedral, The Shard, and the distant hills of South London.

Unlike many of London’s elevated viewpoints, there is no ticket, no queue, and no glass barrier. You simply walk up the slope, sit on the grass or a bench, and take in the view. It is a democratic pleasure that has drawn Londoners and visitors for centuries — and remains gloriously free.

The hill forms part of the much larger Hampstead Heath (around 800 acres of meadows, woodland, ponds and formal landscapes managed by the City of London Corporation). A visit to Parliament Hill is often the start or highlight of a longer exploration of the Heath.

The View 🔭

On a clear day the panorama is exceptional. From the summit you can pick out:

1. St Paul’s Cathedral
2. The Shard
3. 30 St Mary Axe (The Gherkin 🥒), The Leadenhall Building (Cheesegrater 🧀) and The Fenchurch Building (Walkie-Talkie 🎙️)
4. Canary Wharf towers
5. BT Tower
6. The London Eye
7. Palace of Westminster (on clearer days)

The view is legally protected. Development that would block or significantly impair the sightlines is restricted, ensuring future generations will enjoy essentially the same panorama. Visibility is best after rain (when the air is washed clean) and in autumn or winter when haze is lower. Hot, hazy summer days offer the weakest long-distance views.

History & Name

The name “Parliament Hill” has several competing explanations. The most popular legend links it to the Gunpowder Plot of 1605: the story goes that Guy Fawkes and his co-conspirators planned to watch the destruction of the Houses of Parliament from this vantage point. Historians treat this as colourful folklore rather than proven fact.

A more plausible origin dates to the English Civil War in the 17th century, when the hill is thought to have served as a strategic lookout for Parliamentarian forces. It was also known at times as Traitor’s Hill. The name Parliament Hill became firmly established and was retained when the land was brought into public ownership.

In 1875 Hampstead Heath itself was secured for the public. Thirteen years later, in 1888, Parliament Hill was purchased for £300,000 and formally added to the Heath, guaranteeing its preservation as open space.

Livestock continued to graze here into the mid-20th century; today the hill is managed by the City of London Corporation.

The hill has given its name to a nearby street, a girls’ school, an athletics track, and the well-known Parliament Hill Lido.

Getting There 🗺️

By Overground 🚂

1. Hampstead Heath Overground Station — approximately 10-minute walk to the summit.
2. Gospel Oak Overground Station — similar distance; convenient for the southern entrances and the Lido.

By Tube 🚇

1. Belsize Park Underground Station (Northern line) — short walk through the Heath.
2. Kentish Town Underground Station (Northern line) — roughly 15–20 minute walk.

By Bus 🚌

Routes 24, 46 and C11 stop near the southern entrances of the Heath. From there it is a short walk up to the viewpoint.

On Foot 👣

From the southern entrances at Gospel Oak or South End Green the climb to the summit typically takes 15–20 minutes. From Hampstead Village allow 20–25 minutes across the Heath. The final approach is a genuine (if short) ascent on grass paths; wear suitable footwear, especially after rain when surfaces can be slippery.

For up-to-date journey planning use TfL Journey Planner.

Nearby Attractions

Parliament Hill sits at the heart of the southern Heath and pairs naturally with several other highlights:

Hampstead Swimming Ponds

A short walk from the hill are the famous bathing ponds: the Men’s Pond, the Ladies’ Pond (Kenwood Ladies’ Pond), and the Mixed Bathing Pond. These are natural, unheated freshwater ponds with a long history of open-air swimming. Opening times and charges vary by season; check current details before visiting.

Parliament Hill Lido

At the foot of the hill on Gordon House Road is the Grade II-listed Parliament Hill Lido, a 60-metre open-air unheated pool that opened in 1938 and operates 365 days a year. It offers a more structured swimming experience than the ponds, with lanes, changing rooms, showers and (in winter) a sauna. Entry is charged.

Parliament Hill Fields

The lower fields include a café, toilets, children’s playground, adventure playground, bandstand, athletics track and sports pitches. This is the practical base for many visitors — a good place to start or finish.

Further Afield on the Heath

A longer circuit can take in the model boating pond, Viaduct Pond, Kenwood House and its grounds (free entry to the house and gardens), Golders Hill Park, and the wooded paths of the middle and northern Heath.

Official trail maps are available from the City of London.

Practical Tips

1. Footwear: Grass paths can be muddy or slippery after rain or frost. Sturdy shoes are recommended. 🥾
2. Layers: The summit is more exposed and often cooler or windier than the lower paths. 🧣
3. Picnics: Bring a blanket or sit on the grass. There are a few benches at the top. 🥪
4. Kite flying: The open, elevated summit is one of London’s best kite-flying spots. 🪁
5. Dogs: Welcome on the Heath; keep them under control near the summit and around other visitors. 🐕
6. Photography: A classic London skyline shot. Golden hour (sunrise/sunset) is ideal. 📷
7. Accessibility: The summit is reached by grass slopes and paths; it is not fully step-free. The lower Parliament Hill Fields area is more accessible. 👨‍🦼‍➡️

Facilities

1. Café: Parliament Hill Café at the foot of the hill (recently refurbished; serves food and drinks). ☕
2. Toilets: Available near the café and playground area. 🚽
3. Playgrounds: Traditional and adventure playgrounds for children. 🛝
4. Lido: Open-air pool with its own facilities (separate entry). 🏊
5. Car parking: Limited; public transport is strongly recommended. 🚗

Parliament Hill & Primrose Hill

Both hills offer celebrated free views of London and sit in north London’s green belt of parks. Primrose Hill (63 m) is smaller, more compact, and sits beside Regent’s Park and the stylish Primrose Hill Village.

Parliament Hill (98 m) is higher, forms part of the much larger and wilder Hampstead Heath, and pairs naturally with swimming ponds, the Lido, and longer countryside-style walks.

Many visitors enjoy both: Primrose Hill for its intimate village atmosphere and skyline view, Parliament Hill for the greater sense of open space, elevation, and connection to the wider Heath.

In Summary

Parliament Hill remains one of London’s purest public pleasures: free, open day and night, legally protected, and offering a sweeping view that no ticketed viewing platform can quite match. Climb the slope, find a patch of grass, and look south across the capital — it is a simple, enduring, and deeply London experience.

Official information:

City of London – Parliament Hill viewpoint

Hampstead Heath official pages

— Enjoy the view —