My Primrose Hill London Guide gives you an overview of this picturesque part of London NW1. This village locale is close to Camden, Chalk Farm, St John’s Wood, Belsize Park and Hampstead. It’s famous for the view of London from Primrose Hill, right next to Regents Park and London Zoo, with Regents Canal passing through. This leafy, charming enclave houses celebrities and many pretty people carrying little dogs in designer handbags. If you want to escape the buzz of Camden, this is a great place to browse independent fashion boutiques and interior shops. Or you can stop off at one of the many restaurants, pubs or coffee houses. I hope you find my Primrose Hill London Guide useful and it entices you to visit this beautiful corner of London. (I wrote this article in 2016 but have returned to update it with new information and pictures. Enjoy!).
Primrose Hill London Guide Attractions
Primrose Hill is a brilliant place to enjoy views across London. It’s a bit of a steep climb because that hill is some 63 metres above sea level. It is a protected London viewpoint; the trees are purposely trimmed so the branches do not obscure the view. From the top, you can see many famous London landmarks, including the BT Tower. You will usually see many people sitting at the summit, taking selfies and photographs. Look out for the York stone surround, which has a quote from William Blake – “I have conversed with the spiritual sun. I saw him on Primrose Hill.” You will find the hill on the north side of Regent’s Park.
Regent’s Park is next to the hill; cross over Prince Albert Road, and you are there. John Nash designed this fantastic park, which is spread across 395 acres. Highlights include Queen Mary’s Gardens, William Andrew Nesfield’s Avenue Gardens, fountains, statues, sports fields, an open-air theatre and the London Zoo. You’ll find plenty of cafes if you fancy a bite to eat.
If you wander the streets in the vicinity, you will likely cross bridges over Regent’s Canal. Make sure you peek over the brick sides, where you’ll spot some lovely canal boats. Regent’s Canal is part of the London Grand Union Canal, which dates back to 1812 and was completed in 1820. It is about eight and a half miles long and takes you from Little Venice to the Limehouse Basin. You pass by some interesting places, which include Lisson Grove, Regent’s Park, London Zoo, Primrose Hill, Camden, Granary Square at King’s Cross, Haggerston and Victoria Park.
While in the area, look at Cecil Sharp House, a folk art centre home to the English Folk Dance and Song Society. Here, you can learn to play the fiddle, dance in clogs or try Morris Dancing. Set in a Grade II listed building named after the folk music and dance collector Cecil Sharp, you will also find the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library.
Take time to wander the streets, where you will see plenty of pastel-painted Stucco Victorian houses.
Look out for the blue plaques placed on the front of buildings to celebrate that a person of significance once lived at the property. You will find a few in the area, which includes Artist William Roberts (14 St Mark’s Crescent), Historian AJP Taylor (13 St Mark’s Crescent), Poet Arthur Clough (11 St Mark’s Crescent), Poet Sylvia Plath (3 Chalcot Square), poet William Butler Yeats (23 Fitzroy Road), Photographer Roger Fenton (2 Albert Terrace). There are more that you can research at The English Heritage website. This gives you a sense of how Primrose Hill attracted the academic and literary crowd long before music, film, and TV celebrities moved there.
Primrose Hill London Guide To The Best Shops
Most homes, interior and lifestyle shops are on Regent’s Park Road. These include Graham & Green Shop, with fabulous furniture, home accessories and decorative objects. Gallery 196 is situated on the ground floor of a Victorian house and stocks cushions from India and rugs from Morocco, along with floaty clothing and embroidered bags. Richard Dare is a fantastic cookware store stocking everything a budding chef could wish for. The bathroom specialist CP Hart also has a store along this strip where you can view luxury baths, basins and showers.
On Regent’s Park Road, the fashion stores include Mary’s Living and Giving, the designer charity shop. For women’s clothing, head to Pamela Shiffer or Anna. For footwear, go to Spice Shoes. Along Gloucester Avenue, you’ll find the jewellery store, Sweet Pea, selling bespoke and handmade fine jewellery for brides and special occasions.
On Regent’s Park Road, the Cowshed Spa offers facials, pedicures, manicures and body therapies. Space NK also has a store where you can buy premium beauty products. Private Hair and Beauty and the Gary Ingham salons are on this street. On Princess Road, you’ll find NuYu London for aesthetic treatments like wrinkle reduction and hair cutting and colouring services.
Primrose Hill London Guide To The Best Restaurants and Pubs
Greenberry Café, Arvo and Ripe are all excellent breakfast and brunch spots.
For Greek food, try Lemonia. If you want sushi, head to Oka. For modern European, try Odette’s or Michael Nadra, and for Italian, try La Collina.
If you want a pint, a glass of wine or some decent grub, you’ll find plenty of pubs dotted around, many of which have gardens or seating outside the front. Try The Queen’s Pub on Regent’s Park Road, The Pembroke, The Engineer and The Lansdowne on Gloucester Avenue or The Princess of Wales on Chalcot Road.
Pick up some deli delights and eat them on the hill, in which case, try Anthony Delicatessen, Melrose and Morgan Deli and café, or It’s Bagels.
For takeaway treats, pop into the Primrose Bakery on Gloucester Avenue for cute cupcakes or pastries from The Little Bread Pedlar on Erskine Road.
Stop for coffee at The Little One or Chloe’s Espresso on Regent’s Park Road.
Watch My Primrose Hill Video
Helpful Information About Primrose Hill
The easiest way to reach Primrose Hill is by exiting at Chalk Farm station, Adelaide Road and over the bridge (Bridge Approach). Or you can walk from Camden and head towards Chalk Farm past the Roundhouse, up Regent’s Park Road, and over the bridge. Once over the bridge, you can go straight ahead to see the shops and eateries along Regent’s Park Road, and at the end, you will find the hill. Or you can turn left down Gloucester Avenue, where you can cross over Regent’s Canal and then head back via Regent’s Park Road to the hill. Enjoy your visit to Primrose Hill, and I hope my area guide is helpful.
Author: Homegirl London. Photographs: Homegirl London.
