Kilburn and West Hampstead
- Introduction /
- Sights and attractions
Introduction
There are plenty of good reasons to visit this area, especially if you want to see life as the locals live it.
The two districts have much in common. Both were small rural villages until, in the mid-1800s, their populations began to swell. Today, they’re experiencing a similar boom, attracting growing numbers of young professionals as well as massive outside investment.
Kilburn
If youthfulness is a common feature, so is diversity. This is one of the most vibrant parts of London, with people from different countries and backgrounds (including most famously, Kilburn’s large Irish community) living side by side, stamping their mark on both cultural and commercial life.
In Kilburn, the focus is Kilburn High Road. Don’t come here looking for the big high street names - instead, browse the small, independent shops or visit some of the green spaces nearby, like Kilburn Grange Park or the Greville Place Nature Reserve. Or try the Kingsgate Workshops and Gallery, where work by local artists and craftspeople is made and where exhibitions by invited artists are on show.
Kilburn pubs, some still with an Irish influence, are a great way to sample London night life away from the tourist trail. There are a selection of bars and clubs, many with an interesting contrast between old and new. There are bars, clubs and the world famous Tricycle Theatre, with its new cinema.
West Hampstead
West Hampstead combines shopping and eating with a village-like feel. The recently renovated Hampstead Cemetery includes the graves of actress Marie Lloyd and artist Kate Greenaway and is well worth a visit, as are the numerous parks and nature reserves in the area.
At night, try fashionable West End Lane, with its cafes and bars with many featuring live entertainment.
Transport
While you might not find yourself staying in Kilburn or West Hampstead, they’re easy to get to. Although the area straddles two major routes into the capital, driving can be a slow, frustrating business.
Thankfully, public transport links are excellent, with the area connected to central London and the rest of Camden by London Underground as well as overland rail and bus routes.
