Guidebook for Greater London
Parks & Nature
Hampstead Heath
North London's vast and wild green space.
Waterlow Park
Highgate HillOne of the capital's hidden gems.
Arts & Culture
Local arts venue with an experimental edge.
14 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Jacksons Lane Arts Centre
269A Archway RdLocal arts venue with an experimental edge.
Drinks & Nightlife
The warren of rooms still echoes a Dickens novel, especially by night. The story goes that the pub is haunted by the ghost of a Spanish barmaid, adding a touch of tourist-orientated ambience. The bar itself may be tiny in size, but there's a nice space out front with covered tables for a gathering overlooking the green. This is a beer drinker’s pub – you'll find a reasonable roster of Fuller's ales and a couple of guests on rotation, at least.
70 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
The Flask, Highgate
77 Highgate W HillThe warren of rooms still echoes a Dickens novel, especially by night. The story goes that the pub is haunted by the ghost of a Spanish barmaid, adding a touch of tourist-orientated ambience. The bar itself may be tiny in size, but there's a nice space out front with covered tables for a gathering overlooking the green. This is a beer drinker’s pub – you'll find a reasonable roster of Fuller's ales and a couple of guests on rotation, at least.
This longstanding Highgate spot still draws the north London crowds, thanks mostly to a packed line-up of live music, comedy, quizzes and themed DJ nights. The whole place was recently given a new lick of paint and there's decent food too, courtesy of Caboose – a slick street-food operation doing the dude-food thing. Keep an eye out for interesting-looking art exhibitions, too.
41 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
The Boogaloo
312 Archway RdThis longstanding Highgate spot still draws the north London crowds, thanks mostly to a packed line-up of live music, comedy, quizzes and themed DJ nights. The whole place was recently given a new lick of paint and there's decent food too, courtesy of Caboose – a slick street-food operation doing the dude-food thing. Keep an eye out for interesting-looking art exhibitions, too.
Food Scene
The menu, designed by head chef Chris Payne, is a bit of a fiesta, with a strong focus on all things Spanish, including tapas dishes such as Padrón peppers, Ibérico ham and an array of paellas. If you’re after traditional pub grub, don’t fear, beer battered cod also features alongside steak or chicken pie to share. Oak panels and comfortable décor give The Gatehouse an air of somewhere you’d want to collapse for a while, with an extensive wine list and a decent array of beers and lagers on tap as well as an outdoor sun trap, nestle in for pint or two.
15 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
The Gatehouse
1 North RdThe menu, designed by head chef Chris Payne, is a bit of a fiesta, with a strong focus on all things Spanish, including tapas dishes such as Padrón peppers, Ibérico ham and an array of paellas. If you’re after traditional pub grub, don’t fear, beer battered cod also features alongside steak or chicken pie to share. Oak panels and comfortable décor give The Gatehouse an air of somewhere you’d want to collapse for a while, with an extensive wine list and a decent array of beers and lagers on tap as well as an outdoor sun trap, nestle in for pint or two.
Ostuni – named after a Puglian town – sits at the top of Highgate and screams southern Italy. The cooking is passionate and homely, and you might be a bit shocked to find you’re still in not-very-Mediterranean England when you leave.
7 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Closed - Ostuni Highgate -
1 Hampstead LaneOstuni – named after a Puglian town – sits at the top of Highgate and screams southern Italy. The cooking is passionate and homely, and you might be a bit shocked to find you’re still in not-very-Mediterranean England when you leave.
This historic Highgate hostelry is ambitious when it comes to alfresco drinking and dining – and able to be flexible, with an intimate, secluded courtyard at the back and a larger area facing the road at the front. They run open-air grills for ordinary punters on special occasions – for the Royal Wedding, for instance, there were burgers, pork buns, merguez sausage baguettes and chips done in the outside fryer, all washed down with one of four changing ales. Every so often, a quirky mobile catering van (such as Big Apple Hotdogs) will park up at the site – follow their tweets (@redlionandsun) for advance notice.
10 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Red Lion and Sun
This historic Highgate hostelry is ambitious when it comes to alfresco drinking and dining – and able to be flexible, with an intimate, secluded courtyard at the back and a larger area facing the road at the front. They run open-air grills for ordinary punters on special occasions – for the Royal Wedding, for instance, there were burgers, pork buns, merguez sausage baguettes and chips done in the outside fryer, all washed down with one of four changing ales. Every so often, a quirky mobile catering van (such as Big Apple Hotdogs) will park up at the site – follow their tweets (@redlionandsun) for advance notice.
A local tearoom with London-wide appeal, High Tea of Highgate sets itself apart from other local spots by virtue of its nostalgic charm. Crockery and cute kitchen knick-knacks are for sale and waitresses bustle around with pots of tea and healthy portions of British bakes. There’s no set afternoon tea menu, but you can piece together your own (apart from the sandwiches) with scones, chocolate buttercream sponge, lemon drizzle or lavender cake among those on the menu.
15 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
High Tea Of Highgate
50 Highgate High StreetA local tearoom with London-wide appeal, High Tea of Highgate sets itself apart from other local spots by virtue of its nostalgic charm. Crockery and cute kitchen knick-knacks are for sale and waitresses bustle around with pots of tea and healthy portions of British bakes. There’s no set afternoon tea menu, but you can piece together your own (apart from the sandwiches) with scones, chocolate buttercream sponge, lemon drizzle or lavender cake among those on the menu.
Essentials
An independent florist and greengrocer run by Mr and Mrs Green, which is conveniently located on a corner between Highgate High Street and Waterlow Park.
Greens of Highgate
11 Highgate High StAn independent florist and greengrocer run by Mr and Mrs Green, which is conveniently located on a corner between Highgate High Street and Waterlow Park.