Help with a day in Hampstead

Hampstead is a lovely place to spend a Sunday! In terms of houses, my top pick is Fenton House, and the garden should have some things to see by end of March. When we went last year they even had someone there playing some of the antique harpsichords.
Keats House is good but I don't think the house itself is as interesting- it's more its connection to Keats. Burgh House is also nice but it's more a museum of the area and less about the house. If you're interested in more modern homes, there's also 2 Willow Road, the home of architect Erno Goldfinger (who designed Trellick Tower and other brutalist tower blocks). It's kept as it was when he lived there. In terms of lunch I love the Holly Bush, tho it gets crowded so as you say you need to book ahead. In general I find any of the pubs run by Fullers (like Holly Bush) have good food. Because it's Sunday they will have a Sunday roast on- which in case you are unfamiliar is a choice of different roast meats (or nut roast) with roasted vegetables, a Yorkshire pudding, and gravy.

Kenwood House is free, so even if you only have a short time there it's still worth it. Burgh House is free but the others (Fenton, Keats, 2 Willow Road) charge an entrance fee.

Cat VH,

Thanks so much for the info and restaurant recommendation. I was able to book a table at Holly Bush for 2pm. I think I can manage a visit to Fenton House before and maybe Keats after since they're open later.

As tempting as Kenwood House is, Google maps show the walk from town to be about 35 minutes each way. Is that realistic? Is it a pleasant walk. I might have to save Kenwood for another trip.

"Google maps show the walk from town to be about 35 minutes each way. Is that realistic? "

I've done it a couple of times- it took about half an hour, and the walk itself was fine - fairly busy road but bounded on both sides by the heath.

Both times I had lunch at The Spaniards Inn, which was lovely.

Just so you know, there’s a bus from Hampstead High Street (stops near the station) that goes past Spaniards to Kenwood - no. 603. There’s also a lovely cafe at Kenwood for lunch or snacks, you’d need to book that too on Mothers Day

I'm not seeing the no. 603 bus on the Sunday schedule. Looks like a change of bus is required from Hampstead High Street to Kenwood House.

I'll do some more investigating.
Thanks

I agree with the above comments on Kenwood House. Stunning collection.

A bit outside the "neighborhood", but I have combined Hampstead Heath explorations and Keats House with Freud's House, an 18 minute walk per Google Map from Keats' House. The couch!!!! https://www.freud.org.uk

I enjoyed Keats House; I was very familiar with his poetry and life before I visited. There were several fine exhibits focusing on the poetry, but, agreeing with the above statements, some might find the house itself underwhelming. Depends on the traveler and their interests.

I'm not seeing the no. 603 bus on the Sunday schedule. Looks like a change of bus is required from Hampstead High Street to Kenwood House.

No, you won't. That is a 4 times a day Monday to Friday only service- you will need to change somewhere onto the 210 or 310 which are the 7 day a week buses to Kenwood House. The H3 doesn't run on Sundays either.

TfL Journey planner says the 268 to Inverforth House and change. Or the Northern Line to Golders Green then either of the above bus lines.

Fenton House is magnificent particularly if you like historic pre-piano instruments which are often being played by very personable and helpful volunteers. Also if you like classic porcelain and china. Great small garden.

Since Covid which hit the National Trust very hard they have only been able to open Fenton House twice a week, on Fridays and Sundays, and by reservation only.

From the website -

You'll need to book your house (and garden) ticket before you visit. This includes members. Tickets are released two weeks in advance on Thursdays. Garden only tickets are available on the day at the gate - last entry at 3.30pm. Fenton House is open from March to October.

If you can work within those restrictions it is a wonderful place. Be sure to go out on the roof.

I also highly recommend The Kenwood House, which—among other things—has one of only 35 known paintings by the Dutch artist Johannes Vermeer. Not far from there is The Spaniards Inn, which does a wonderful lunch in a historic upscale "pub" by the Spaniards stone gate.