I moved to Belsize Park with my husband and son, then a baby, three years ago. We’d been living in Notting Hill, which I absolutely loved, but I was craving more greenery and space.
Belsize Park is a dream location. It’s within walking distance of Hampstead and Primose Hill and there’s a really lovely buzzing energy around.
Best eating and drinking
Cinder on Belsize Lane is exactly what you want from a neighbourhood restaurant — not fussy or overpriced, just really good quality. You always eat and drink well. There’s also Greenberry Hill, which is a lovely cafe around the corner from me on Haverstock Hill.
Lemonia in Primrose Hill does really wonderful, honest Greek food. I always spot someone famous there. It’s near The Little One Coffee Shop, a hole in the wall with great coffee, fresh baked muffins and Argentinian cheese bread.
Everyone needs a local pub. Mine is The Holly Bush, which is a beautiful Grade II listed building with lots of cosy corners. I love to eat at the bar, but the restaurant is perfect for a date night.
Where I work out
I go for a run at least once a week on Hampstead Heath. It’s hilly, but I quite like that.
For a culture fix
I go to the cinema religiously, so having the Everyman on Haverstock Hill is wonderful. It used to be every Sunday, but sometimes I’ll skip a week or two.
We’re also not far from ErnÅ Goldfinger’s old home on Willow Road, which is now run by the National Trust.
Then there’s the Freud Museum on Maresfield Gardens and the Camden Art Centre towards Finchley, which holds beautiful fine art exhibitions.
To commune with nature
Hampstead Heath is a seven-minute walk from us, or there’s Primrose Hill with its farmers market on Saturdays. We walk to Regent’s Park every weekend now. I’m spending so much more time in nature, which has been really good for my mental health.
Grocery shopping
Karma is a lovely tiny Jewish bakery on South End Road which does killer challah. I’m from Hungary and I hadn’t had challah like that since I moved away 23 years ago. It’s a special gem.
Artichoke on England’s Lane sells the most amazing fruit and vegetables. For meat or cheese, I’ll go to the Hampstead Butcher.
There’s a great wine shop that’s opened on our end of Hampstead High Street called Amathus Drinks. They’re so knowledgeable. You’ll ask for a rosé and they’ll open a few bottles and get you tasting.
Melrose and Morgan is another lovely deli with outposts in Primrose Hill and Hampstead.
Getting around…
We’re lucky enough to own a car, and because my husband and I work together we’ll often drive to our studio in Clerkenwell. On the way back one of us does the school pick-up and the other will hop on the Tube to Belsize Park.
If I’m going to Chelsea Harbour Design Centre or our Kew project, I’ll take the Overground. Otherwise it’s walking between the villages.
Dream street
I have a few friends who live on Belsize Park Gardens, which is a long street of beautiful Victorian houses. A garden flat there would be the absolute dream.
Something you only see in Belsize Park
The Isokon building, where Walter Gropius, Marcel Breuer, and László Moholy-Nagy used to live in the Thirties, is an amazing showcase of Bauhaus architecture on Lawn Road.
What’s the catch?
It’s very residential, so there’s a limited number of places to eat out. I’ve started to see a change recently, but there’s still so much excitement for a cafe opening.
In three words
Charming. Relaxing. Green.
Schools
Fitzjohn’s primary school is rated good by Ofsted, as is Rosary Catholic Primary School and Holy Trinity CofE Primary School.
There is a cluster of private schools in Belsize Park proper, with Haverstock School near Chalk Farm the nearest state secondary.
What it costs
Buying in Belsize Park
Average flat price: £1,077,020
Average house price: £2,219,170
Renting in Belsize Park
Average flat, pcm: £2,900
Average house, pcm: £6,030
