Hampstead is positioned between Belsize Park, Swiss Cottage, Gospel Oak, and Dartmouth Park in the North-West London borough of Camden. It is located just four miles from Charing Cross and the area includes the spectacular 320-acre Hampstead Heath.
Property in Hampstead fetched an average price of £1,581,043 during 2021, which makes the area slightly more affordable than Primrose Hill to the south which boasts an average property price of £1,902,317. Hampstead property is markedly more expensive than in High Holborn, which is positioned at the very south of the borough and recorded an average property price of £557,500.
Most properties sold in Hampstead in 2020 were flats, which reached an average price of £981,556. Hampstead's terraced properties fetched an average price of £2,266,068, with semi-detached properties typically sitting at an average price of £3,679,583.
Property prices in Hampstead have increased by 4% since 2020 and by 4% since the peak in 2019, during which the average property sold for £1,518,560.
What is living in Hampstead like?
As the area is best known for being the home of Hampstead Heath, it would be remiss of us not to mention some of the many advantages that come from living so close to one of the most impressive green spaces in the whole of London. As well as boasting plenty of space in which to sit and enjoy the city views, Hampstead Heath also has woodland to explore, lidos to swim in, and children's playgrounds to have fun in. Hampstead's ponds also feature in 'The Pickwick Papers' by Charles Dickens. There are some sporting facilities, as well as excellent running trails for everyone who loves to keep fit.
Hampstead has a long history, and its roots can be traced as far back as 986 AD. The area really started to come into its own in the 17th century and really expanded in the 1860s with the arrival of the North London Railway. The area has a strong sense of community and benefits from a large selection of traditional pubs, including the Holly Bush and the Spaniard's Inn, which is known for being a place of refuge for notorious highwayman Dick Turpin.
The area also has a variety of cafés, eateries and restaurants, specialising in cuisine from around the world. Hampstead High Street offers an excellent selection of shops, including clothing boutiques, art supply stores, and independent chocolatiers.
Living in Hampstead pros and cons
Pro: Offers lots of things to see, do and experience
Hampstead is famed for its artistic, literary, musical, and intellectual connections. As such, there are a variety of cultural attractions to enjoy, including Keats House, the Freud Museum, and the Hampstead Museum in Burgh House. The Everyman Cinema, Pentameters Theatre and Hampstead Theatre are also notable cultural hubs.
The view from Hampstead Heath across the London skyline is both famous and protected by law, making it one of the area's must-see locations. During the summer months, Hampstead plays host to an array of open-air concerts, poetry readings, fun fairs, and more.
Con: Poor cycling infrastructure
Surprisingly, for such a green part of London, its cycle infrastructure is unfortunately lacking. Cyclists are permitted to use certain bus lanes and there is a shared-use pathway that runs through Hampstead Heath, but aside from that there are no other provisions.
This is a shame, particularly as Hampstead is located within the ULEZ zone, which has been designed to reduce air pollution across the city.
Pro: Excellent public transportation network
Hampstead underground station is located on the Northern Line, which offers connections to several other lines at Kings Cross and Camden Town. There are also several other nearby stations, including Finchley Road & Frognal and Hampstead Heath, both of which are also served by the London Overground.
A major bus terminus is positioned close to the Royal Free Hospital and Hampstead Heath, which means that there are numerous bus routes available throughout the area. These include the 168, 603, and several night buses, including the N5 and N113.
Is Hampstead a safe place to live?
In the period between January 2020 and the end of December 2021, there were 2,086 crimes recorded in the Hampstead Town area. 689 were cases of theft, 413 were classified as violent crimes, and there were 308 recorded vehicle offences.
When looking at the area on a month-by-month basis, crime hit its peak in August 2020 when 121 crimes were recorded. Since then, however, crime in the area has generally been decreasing. There was a second peak in May 2021, when 115 crimes were reported but in December 2021, just 55 incidents were recorded.
In November 2021, statistics show that there were 5 crimes per 1,000 residents in Hampstead Town. This is lower than in the borough of Camden, which recorded 12 crimes per 1,000 residents, and the wider city of London, which recorded 8 crimes per 1,000 residents.
Data from the same period shows that there are particular hotspot areas for crime. South End Road, for example, saw several incidents of harassment in November 2021, as did parts of Hampstead Heath. Several violent crimes were also recorded in the same area, however an area around the Hill Garden and Pergola was also another violent crime hotspot in the area.
Which celebrities live in Hampstead?
As there are more than 60 blue plaques on properties across Hampstead, it is clear to see that many notable people have opted to set up home in the area across the decades, including novelist Daphne du Maurier, poets Lord Byron and T. S. Eliot, and the creator of James Bond, Ian Fleming.
In more recent years, Hampstead has been home to musicians Sam Smith, Jess Glynn, Sting, Harry Styles, and Slash, comedian Simon Amstell, actor Jeremy Irons, and renowned puppeteer Jim Henson.
Things to consider when moving to Hampstead
Hampstead is home to some of the most expensive properties in the borough and, indeed, the whole of London. In fact, it is said that more millionaires live in Hampstead than live in any other single area of the UK. In addition to property prices, it is also important to think about the cost of living in such an affluent borough and whether it can offer the lifestyle that you and your family are looking for.
While there are some 37 schools and colleges in Hampstead, many are independent educational institutions, including Heathside Prepatory School on New End, North Bridge House Senior School on Rosslyn Hill, and Devonshire House Prepatory School. In terms of state schooling options, most have been rated as 'Good' by Ofsted, including Hampstead Parochial Church of England Primary School and New End Primary School. The area has one school that has been rated as 'Outstanding' which is the Christ Church Primary School on Christ Church Hill.
The best schools are very competitive and the lack of nearby secondary schools may prove to be an issue for families with older school-age children so this is something to think very carefully about.
Hampstead is and will continue to be one of the most desirable areas in London in which to live and its strong community feel illustrates that putting down roots within such a large city doesn't need to feel like an impossible task.