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History | |
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Schools | |
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Introduction
Hampstead has long been famous as one of the most desirable neighbourhoods in London. It is elegant and gracious, with a distinct identity, like a village within the surrounding city. Above all, it has the ancient Heath, around which Hampstead curls itself, almost 800 acres of rolling grassland, trees, ponds, hedgerows and bog, a great place for a walk, open-air swimming, kite-flying and many other activities.
Hampstead has many a broad leafy streets but few places in London have so many little lanes and sudden unexpected squares and spaces.
While the original village grew around where the High Street and Heath Street meet, today Hampstead is held to include Belsize Park and Swiss Cottage which lie to the south and were developed later.
Refuge, health, entertainment
Hampstead has a long recorded history with its first mention in AD986. From then on, a village outside the main city, it was seen as a refuge, a place to restore health and spirits and an entertainment venue – as it remains today.
Writers, artists, thinkers
Of course, people of all kinds have lived there. But historically Hampstead has been famous for the number of writers, artists and thinkers who made it their home. To take only one example in each of six areas of creative life, these have included John Keats the poet, Sigmund Freud the founder of psychoanalysis, George Orwell the writer, John Constable the painter, Edward Elgar the composer and in modern times Peter Cook the humorist and backer of Private Eye.
A wonderful mix of housing
Having been developed in phases, Hampstead has a wonderful mix of houses, many of them dating from the 18th century.
Belsize Park (derived from the French ‘Belle Assis’ meaning ‘Beautifully situated’) was developed in the mid-Victorian period and offers a wealth of splendid stuccoed Victorian homes.
Amenities
There are excellent schools, theatres, museums, galleries and restaurants.
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 The springs on Hampstead Heath were first discovered in 1698. They rapidly became famous for their medicinal qualities so that a popular spa grew up around them. |
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