Hampstead Heath

Hampstead Heath ( up to 134 m ASL) is a park in north London with an area of ​​3.2 km ². The park's name comes from the rare habitat of Heide ( heathland ). He has 25 larger ponds and areas with ancient woodlands, marshes, hedges and grass areas. Parts of the park were awarded by English Nature as a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

The park is owned by the London administrative authority Corporation of London, except for the area around the Kenwood House (0.5 km ²) maintains the park, which was taken over by English Heritage. The largest part of the park (2.8 km ²) is located in the borough of Camden. The remaining part ( 0.4 km ² ), also called Hampstead Heath extension, located in the town of Barnet. Located in the Park Parliament Hill (98 meters above sea level ) offers a good view of the city. This part of the park was added to 1888 Hampstead Heath and contains, among other things, a sports field and tennis courts.

Nearby train stations are Gospel Oak and Hampstead Heath on the North London Line in the south and the metro stations Hampstead and Golders Green on the Northern Line to the west.

On the southern edge of the park opened in 1938 the Parliament Hill Lido, an open-air swimming pool.

Furthermore, there are close to Highgate three ponds where swimming is allowed, two separated by gender, the third mixed. Other ponds are used for fishing and for model boats or wildlife are reserved. Parts of the park are known as a meeting place for gay men.