Hampstead park in North London

12 Things to do in North London

Are you a resident, student, or even a tourist looking for interesting things to do in North London? In case you are new to the area or even a local who’s looking for new adventures or simply just to pass time, then your search has come to an end. North London is known for its relaxed way of life and is, therefore, the perfect place to embark on new adventures.

The place is full of amazing sights and locations that you couldn’t possibly exhaust. You can't possibly fall short of things to do in North London. Here are some of the things you might find interesting.

What to do in North London?

  1. Take a walk on primrose hill
  2. Tour Highgate
  3. Explore Hampstead’s beautiful suburbs
  4. The Royal Airforce Museum
  5. Sample some Asian street food in Colindale market
  6. Go see Gods own junkyard
  7. Visit the London Zoo
  8. Have some fun at the Lord’s cricket grounds
  9. Read at the British Library
  10. walk through Highgate cemetery
  11. Fireworks at Ally Pally
  12. Head on to Regent's Park
Primrose Hill park

1. Take a walk on Primrose Hill

If you are in Camden town or its vicinity, then Primrose Hill is one of the best North London areas for you to visit. It only takes approximately 10-15 minutes to get there and it is worth your while. The place is only a five-minute walk from the Chalk Farm tube station.

The charming houses on Primrose Hill will surely be enough to blow your mind. This area also offers a stunning panorama view of London so you are sure to get some good pictures. You might find the place quite familiar especially if you are a Paddington fan since this is where the film was filmed.

2. Tour Highgate

It is unbelievable how underestimated Highgate is. Touring here might make you reconsider your most favourite place to be in North London. Most people, even some of the locals, have no idea what or where you are talking about when you mention Highgate. Since most people are familiar with Hampstead, they tend to overlook Highgate.

Waterlow Park should be your first stop when you get here. The hilly park offers a charismatic view over East London and Canary Wharf. If you are not easily spooked, then you should visit the famous Highgate cemetery, where Karl Marx, the great German philosopher lies. Here, you have an assured beautiful view over London.

Hampstead Heat park

3. Explore Hampstead’s beautiful suburbs

Unquestionably one of London’s most beautiful neighbourhoods, the leafy suburb located in zone 2 of the Edgware branch is a place you should go check out. It is not that difficult to see why Hampstead is considered to be one of the most costly neighbourhoods to live in London. It is breathtaking.

Here, you can wander around the lavish corridors while enjoying the cute stores and beautiful houses in the neighbourhood. While in the area, you should also go tour the Hampstead Heath. From here, you can enjoy a magnificent view of London. This is also the perfect place to go relax and clear your mind or even just take a quiet stroll.

Red Arrows air force

4. Check out the Royal Airforce museum

Known to be one of North London’s most famous museums, the Royal Airforce Museum is a really impressive place. The Royal Airforce museum is located close to Hendon, which previously had a small airport and an aerodrome before being converted into a museum.

This place is especially good to visit if you are a person who is interested in the history of aviation or airplanes in general. One of the good things about this place is the fact that you do not require an entry fee and get to see the numerous activities going on inside absolutely free.

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5. Sample some Asian street food in Colindale street market

If you are a foodie who loves to try different cuisines from all over the world then this is just the place for you, especially if you are looking to try or are a fan of Asian food. This Asian street food market is located in Colindale and provides you with the perfect chance to eat all you want.

There are more than 50 food stalls that serve food from all over Asia, be it the Philippines or even India. This is a place where you are sure to leave with great memories of not only the food but the amazing locals. This place is a favorite to so many people and it would be amazing to get this tasty new experience.

Gods Own Junkyard

6. Visit Gods own junkyard

God's own junkyard is generally a mixture between an art space, a museum, and a cafe. It is a one-of-a-kind place that is sure to leave you with some awesome memories. Since the place is mostly packed, it might be hard to find a seat inside. However, there are many cool joints nearby (even one or two gin bars) so you are sure to find the right place that will best suit you.

Tiger at London Zoo Outer Circle

7. Visit the London Zoo

Whether you are a local or a tourist in North London, you will love the London Zoo. Started in 1828, the zoo is now one of London’s most popular zoos. One of the exciting things to do in North London, a visit to the zoo will undoubtedly make your day. It is considered to be the world’s oldest scientific zoo. It occupies approximately 36 hectares and is home to over 700 different species of animals.

Once in the park, you will come across several animal enclosures with the most popular ones being the Snowdon Aviary, Meet The Monkeys, Animal Adventure, and The Reptile house. During the summer, the zoo hosts several events with fun for everyone, both children and adults. Most people would confidently argue that the London Zoo is North London’s best attraction for children. Be sure to make time and have yourself an experience that is both fun and educational.

lLords Cricket Ground

8. Have some fun at the Lord's Cricket Ground

With a capacity of 31,100, Lord’s is rightfully the most popular cricket stadium in the world. The stadium is owned by the Marylebone cricket club and its first match was hosted in 1818. It keeps getting better with time. Recently, changes were done to some of the stands increasing their capacity by a whooping 2,100.

This stadium in North London hosted the 2019 cricket world cup finals where England faced tough New Zealand. If you are a sports fan, especially cricket, then you will be elated to visit this stadium, especially if you are lucky enough to catch a live game going on.

books, library

9. Have a nice read at the British Library

In the British Library lies centuries of history of Britain and the world all over. The library was opened in 1997 and is the UK’s national library and also the largest library in the world. The library contains books that date back to the early Hebrew scriptures.

The library also contains a section where over 200 rare manuscripts and books are put on permanent display. This section is known as the Sir John Ritbalt library. Visitors from outside have commonly been heard describing the library as one of North London’s true undiscovered treasures.

10. Take a walk through Highgate cemetery

This here is the epitome of a gothic cemetery. Within the cemetery are 53,000 graves which house over 170,000 deceased. Most people may consider it rather macabre to spend a sunny afternoon in an abandoned cemetery but this is not the case. It is a rather peaceful and beautiful place to be.

What makes this place special is the sheer amount of history housed in the tombs. The Highgate cemetery was one of London’s seven great Victorian cemeteries but it fell into ruins after many years. If you are a fan of history or even one who enjoys wonderful architecture, then you won’t mind this place. You won’t even feel like you are walking through an abandoned graveyard.

Multiple fireworks

11. Watch the beautiful fireworks at Ally Pally

Alexandra palace, nicknamed Ally Pally by the locals, was built in the 1870s to serve as an education and entertainment venue and it is still carrying out its intended function to this very day. One of the things that make this place amazing is the magnificent fireworks display done every November to mark bonfire night.

The place is filled with wonderful eateries and loads of entertainment fit for everyone regardless of age. The Alexandra palace has within it a skate park, ice rink, boating lake, golf course, and a forest adventure ground among other fun things. Alternatively, if you are a more subtle person, you can pick out a quiet spot and enjoy the breathtaking views of the city skyline in Alexandra Park.

Squirrel in Regent's Park

12. Head on to Regent’s Park

If you are into scenic escapes, then one of the fun things to do in North London is visit the beautiful Regent’s Park. Once in the park, you might even forget that you are in London for some time. If you prefer a chill day rather than exploring, then this is the place to come.

Regent’s Park also has a ton of great fun things to do. There’s an open-air theatre, boat lake within the park, Queen Mary’s rose gardens, and not forgetting the gorgeous trails. After your relaxing day, you might want to head on over to Mestizo Mexican and try out their amazing Mole Verde and even explore their exciting tequila menu. Would you like to learn

Best thing to do

It’s quite evident that there are tons of fun things to do in North London. Whether you just moved into the area or you are already a resident there, there’s plenty of activities you can indulge in, be it with your friends or alone.

Clara Annesley

Clara Annesley is an interior design and construction content writer. She holds a BSc (Hons) in Architectural Design Technology from the University of West London. Clara specialises in residential construction for topics like health & safety, architectural design and writing cost guides for renovation and remodelling projects.