The Highs and Waterlow of Highgate

Getting to Highgate Village

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Highgate is pretty easy to get to from central London. Located east of Hampstead village and just north of Kentish Town and Tufnell Park, visitors can take the Northern Line tube (High Barnet branch) to either Archway or Highgate and be within a 10-15 minute walk of Highgate Village. One of the biggest draws is Highgate Cemetery and despite the station names, Archway is actually the closest tube station. Waterlow Park adjoins the cemetery and there are maps at the park entrances. If you prefer to alight at Highgate however, you will want to head up Southwood Lane or Jackson Lanes (which joins Southwood Lane) and then continue down Highgate High Street to Waterlow Park. By bus, ...Read More

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Places to Visit

A Walk Around Highgate

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Like its close neighbour Hampstead, Highgate was once a village quite separate from London. Although the tube network and urban sprawl have now linked it with the city below, there are many historic features that have been protected to help retain Highgate’s villagey feel. It is one of the few places in London to have woodland as well as open park areas. Queens Wood and Highgate Wood are both located close to the tube station and used to be part of the larger Forest of Middlesex and at one time came under the Bishop of London’s hunting estate. The Bishop was also responsible for installing a tollgate at the top of the hill to collect fees from travellers passing through his land and into L...Read More

Like its close neighbour Hampstead, Highgate was once a village quite separate from London. Although the tube network and urban sprawl have now linked it with the city below, there are many historic features that have been protected to help retain Highgate’s villagey feel. It is one of the few places in London to have woodland as well as open park areas. Queens Wood and Highgate Wood are both located close to the tube station and used to be part of the larger Forest of Middlesex and at one time came under the Bishop of London’s hunting estate.

The Bishop was also responsible for installing a tollgate at the top of the hill to collect fees from travellers passing through his land and into London. The spot is now occupied by The Gatehouse Pub, which also has a small upstairs theatre.

From Highgate Wood, it is a short walk to the beginning of the Parkland Walk trail. This disused railway line is now a shaded hiking track that leads past Crouch End to Finsbury Park. There is also a short stretch from Cranley Gardens to Muswell Hill that is worth seeking out for the views across London. At its highest point, Highgate is 114m / 375 ft above sea level and good viewpoints can be found not only between Highgate and Muswell Hill but also on Highgate High Street and at the top of Waterlow Park and Hampstead Heath.

Highgate High Street forms the small centre of the village and this is where most of the shops and restaurants are concentrated. There are a handful of charity shops, independent gift and clothing boutiques and some galleries. However, chain restaurants seem to have the monopoly. Strada, Pizza Express, Café Rouge, Dim T, Zizzi and Cote seem to have a firm hold and there are very few (if any) independent restaurants in the village.

The other thing that Highgate lacks is a decent coffee shop. Caffe Nero and Costa Coffee are seeing off any competition although there is an inspiring tea shop at High Tea of Highgate where they serve Union Coffee. That said, it’s the loose leaf teas and yummy homemade cakes that are the real draw.

Just off the high street is the under-used Pond Square. The pond was filled in long ago so the name is quite misleading and as it is now mostly surrounded by private homes, it is probably less of a community attraction than it could be. That said, a committee of local residents organise the annual ‘Fair in the Square’ which takes place in June and features market stalls, children’s activities, musical acts and a dog show! Read Less

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Highgate Cemetery

Attraction | "Life and Death on Highgate Hill"

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One of Highgate’s biggest attractions is its beautiful Victorian cemetery where some 53,000 graves are spread over 37 acres of leafy land. It opened in 1839 during the reign of Queen Victoria and is split into ‘East’ and ‘West’ sides. It is still a working cemetery and is home to some distinguished people.The East Cemetery is the more accessible of the two. There is a small, cash-only, entry fee (£3 per adult as of mid-2011) and visitors can roam around at will. A map is available to purchase to help visitors locate the graves of likes of Douglas Adams and George Eliot although the lack of detail on the map is quite incredible and doesn’t necessarily make it easier to find who you’re looki...Read More

One of Highgate’s biggest attractions is its beautiful Victorian cemetery where some 53,000 graves are spread over 37 acres of leafy land. It opened in 1839 during the reign of Queen Victoria and is split into ‘East’ and ‘West’ sides. It is still a working cemetery and is home to some distinguished people.

The East Cemetery is the more accessible of the two. There is a small, cash-only, entry fee (£3 per adult as of mid-2011) and visitors can roam around at will. A map is available to purchase to help visitors locate the graves of likes of Douglas Adams and George Eliot although the lack of detail on the map is quite incredible and doesn’t necessarily make it easier to find who you’re looking for. Fortunately little help is needed to find the cemetery’s most famous resident, Karl Marx, as his tombstone overshadows just about every other in the area.

The main paths through the cemetery are well kept but others are not much more than a muddy trodden track. The real beauty of the cemetery is that nature has, for the most part, been able to take its course and grave stones jostle for space amongst the trees and ivy. It is now a Grade 1 listed park and it is easy to see why, especially when the fragility of some tombs is all too evident. It is also a good place to spot wildlife as birds, squirrels and hedgehogs scuttle about under the watchful eyes of petrified angels.

Other notable people buried at Highgate include Beryl Bainbridge, Michael Faraday, Sir Ralph Richardson, the parents of Charles Dickens and Russian journalist Alexander Litvinenko, who was allegedly poisoned in London in 2006.

The East Cemetery is open from 10am on weekdays (11am at weekend) and closes at 4pm. Entry to the West Cemetery is by guided tour only and advance booking is strongly recommended on weekdays as tour times are limited. At the weekend tours are more frequent and run hourly between 11am – 3pm and are an hour in length. I have yet to tour the West Cemetery and will post an update when the time comes. Read Less

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on May 17, 2025

Highgate Cemetery
Swain's Lane
London, England N6
+44 20 8340 1834

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Kenwood House

Attraction | "Art, Music and Room to Roam"

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NB. Kenwood House will be closed to the public from Winter 2011 – Summer 2013 for repairs and restoration.Overlooking a small patch on the north side of Hampstead Heath is the well-worn and well-loved Kenwood House. Operated by English Heritage, entry to Kenwood House is free to the public and the house and grounds offer a full day out for adults and children. Compared to many stately homes, Kenwood is modest in size but houses its own art collection and boasts a Rembrandt self-portrait. Built in the early 17th century, architect Robert Adam was charged with remodeling Kenwood in the 1700s. Shortly after, George Saunders added two wings plus offices, kitchen buildings and brewe...Read More

NB. Kenwood House will be closed to the public from Winter 2011 – Summer 2013 for repairs and restoration.

Overlooking a small patch on the north side of Hampstead Heath is the well-worn and well-loved Kenwood House. Operated by English Heritage, entry to Kenwood House is free to the public and the house and grounds offer a full day out for adults and children.

Compared to many stately homes, Kenwood is modest in size but houses its own art collection and boasts a Rembrandt self-portrait. Built in the early 17th century, architect Robert Adam was charged with remodeling Kenwood in the 1700s. Shortly after, George Saunders added two wings plus offices, kitchen buildings and brewery to the side of the house. The brew house is now a popular restaurant, serving breakfast, hot and cold lunches and towering jam and cream-filled scones.

We visited on a chilly January day when the house is open from 11.30am – 4.00pm. Families are asked to leave pushchairs outside and although the rooms are large and uncluttered, viewing the art and rooms at Kenwood probably doesn’t make for the most exciting activity for young children. However it doesn’t take too long to make a cursory tour and the grounds outside are great for kids so parents could take turns.

Handy laminated leaflets are placed in each room to explain the subjects of the artwork in each room. Upstairs the collection continues with cabinets of exquisite shoe buckles, miniature portraits, striking black iron jewelry and additional canvases.

As well as the small art collection, the grounds at Kenwood demand an hour or two of exploration. In the immediate garden area, there is a continuation of the art exhibition thanks to sculptures by Barbara Hepworth, Henry Moore and Reg Butler.

Footpaths meander down to a tranquil pond framed by a fake white bridge and usually occupied by a real duck or two. The pond forms part of the staging for Kenwood’s famous summer concerts, which take place in the open air and allow spectators to enjoy picnics in front of the house. The musical acts vary year to year but concerts take place every Saturday night from late June to August.

A short walk from the Brew House restaurant is a viewpoint where, mist permitting, visitors can identify key London buildings including St. Paul’s Cathedral and the Gherkin. From here, Hampstead Heath sprawls out for 790 acres and is a paradise for energetic children, dogs, kite-flyers and hikers. Be warned that in winter, areas of the Heath get quite boggy after rain or snow and although there are some paved paths boots are a good option.

While Kenwood and Hampstead are best enjoyed on a warm summer’s day, the restaurant and art collection are worth a visit on any day of the year. As from Winter 2011, Kenwood House will be closing for renovations for about a year. The cracked paint and musty woodwork are definitely in need of some attention and it will be nice to see Kenwood restored to a condition befitting the art and fine rooms within it.

Reaching Kenwood House and the north of Hampstead Heath is a little challenging, as there are no nearby tube stations. The 210 bus stops outside Kenwood House and runs between Finsbury Park (via Archway) and Golders Green tube station. Otherwise visitors can take the tube to Hampstead and walk uphill to the heath. From the top of Heath Street it is about a 30-40 minute walk to Kenwood either across the heath or along Spaniards Road. Read Less

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on April 25, 2025

Kenwood House
Hampstead Lane
London, England NW3 7JR
+44 20 8348 1286

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Parkland Walk, Local Nature Reserve

Hotel | "The Parkland Walk "

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Away from the city smoke and noise is a leafy trail that runs through Crouch End. This gentle four-mile walk is ideal for children, dog walkers and railway aficionados.The north of London is blessed with green, open spaces. Hampstead Heath is one of the largest in the city and further north and east are Waterlow Park and Queens Wood in Highgate. London may be better known for its parks but there are also many public footpaths worth investigating. One such trail is the Parkland Walk, a 4.5 mile / 7.2km track that runs between Finsbury Park and Highgate. A final stretch continues on to Alexandra Palace and its park for far-reaching views over London. The trail is a nature reserve...Read More

Away from the city smoke and noise is a leafy trail that runs through Crouch End. This gentle four-mile walk is ideal for children, dog walkers and railway aficionados.

The north of London is blessed with green, open spaces. Hampstead Heath is one of the largest in the city and further north and east are Waterlow Park and Queens Wood in Highgate. London may be better known for its parks but there are also many public footpaths worth investigating.

One such trail is the Parkland Walk, a 4.5 mile / 7.2km track that runs between Finsbury Park and Highgate. A final stretch continues on to Alexandra Palace and its park for far-reaching views over London. The trail is a nature reserve and open only to walkers and cyclists and is accessible year round. The path follows what used to be part of the Northern Heights railway line, which ran from Finsbury Park to Alexandra Palace until 1954.

Steam trains once ran between Finsbury Park and Alexandra Palace and there were plans to electrify the line and make it a part of the London Underground system. The outbreak of World War Two halted the development and when the war ended, the Northern Heights railway instead remained an overground line for steam trains and eventually fell into disuse.

After years of neglect, the rails were pulled up and eventually the way was cleared for the opening of the Parkland Walk. A few reminders of the railway can be found along the trail. At Crouch End, an abandoned platform is now overgrown with weeds and trees and at Highgate the trail dead-ends into the derelict overground station. It is at Highgate that walkers have to leave the trail of the railway line and either cut through Queens Wood or walk along Muswell Hill Road as far as Cranley Gardens to rejoin the trail. The Friends of the Parkland Walk www.parkland-walk.org.uk website provides a map although bringing an A-Z map is advisable as there aren’t many good landmarks en route.

In 1990, the Parkland Walk was declared a Local Nature Reserve and most of the trail has been left for nature to take its course. Graffiti artists are in evidence where old railway bridges remain but for the most part, the path remains unaffected. Wild flowers have taken over where tracks once lay and animal life has replaced local commuter traffic. Hedgehogs, foxes, butterflies, birds, squirrels and rare deer have all been spotted in the Reserve.

Access to the Parkland Walk can be found at many sites along the route although the easiest starting points are at Highgate and Finsbury Park, reachable by the Northern and Victoria and Piccadilly lines on the London Underground. Helpful signs have recently been erected along the trail, indicating those roads, which connect with the trail. These are: Holmesdale Road (near Highgate tube), Northwood Road, Milton Park, Stanhope Road, Crescent Road, Crouch End Hill, Crouch Hill, Blythwood Road, Mount Pleasant Villas, Stapleton Hall Road, Florence Road, Upper Tollington Park and Oxford Road for Finsbury Park tube.

The trail can be accessed at any time of day and there is no entrance fee. Much of the path is flanked by trees and embankments obscure it from general view. In addition there are no lights so it is not a recommended route to take at night. It is also unpaved so boots and waterproofs may be required on wetter days and during the winter when the path can be reduced to a soggy, leafy mulch.

In the summer, taking a picnic to enjoy in either Finsbury or Alexandra Park is a great way to round off the walk. Alternatively, Crouch End has numerous cafes, bakeries and restaurants and also makes a great stopping point along the way. There are also no less than four supermarkets on the Broadway, enabling walkers to pick up a picnic en route. Or for more thirsty travelers, there are also plenty of good pubs to choose from. Read Less

Parkland Walk, Local Nature Reserve
North London
London

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Waterlow Park (Lauderdale House)

Attraction | "Waterlow Park & Lauderdale House"

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A brisk walk up Highgate Hill from Archway tube will eventually lead you to the lovely Waterlow Park, which provides the southern bookend to Highgate High Street. Rather bizarrely, Waterlow Park doesn’t show up on Google Maps and while it is tiny compared to neighbouring Hampstead Heath, it is definitely significant enough to be marked on a map.There are three ponds in the park, all fed by natural springs. It is the abundance of water, clean air and far-reaching views that has attracted Highgate’s predominantly wealthy residents both past and present. At the top of the park, the Earl of Lauderdale resided in a house that now bears his name and the house and adjoining terraced g...Read More

A brisk walk up Highgate Hill from Archway tube will eventually lead you to the lovely Waterlow Park, which provides the southern bookend to Highgate High Street. Rather bizarrely, Waterlow Park doesn’t show up on Google Maps and while it is tiny compared to neighbouring Hampstead Heath, it is definitely significant enough to be marked on a map.

There are three ponds in the park, all fed by natural springs. It is the abundance of water, clean air and far-reaching views that has attracted Highgate’s predominantly wealthy residents both past and present.

At the top of the park, the Earl of Lauderdale resided in a house that now bears his name and the house and adjoining terraced garden are open most days to visitors. Originally built in 1582 for London’s Lord Mayor Sir Richard Martin, the Lauderdale family was resident in the mid-1600s. The last private owner was another Lord Mayor, Sir Sidney Waterlow. By 1883 Lauderdale House lay empty and the man who would give his name to the park donated the house and its 29 acres of land to the council for public enjoyment.

Lauderdale House is now run mainly as an arts and education centre. They have a wide range of exhibitions, fairs, concerts and activities that run throughout the year so it is worth checking ahead to find out what’s on. There is also a café, open daily except Mondays, where tea, cake and other snacks can be enjoyed.

Waterlow Park is best entered from the top entrance on Highgate High Street (directly opposite the Cote restaurant). From here, you can walk down to the ponds while catching glimpses of the Gherkin building and its nearby landmarks along the City of London skyline. There is an open play area for children as well as an odd large patch of concrete that never seems to be well used but is probably an ideal spot for youngsters to learn to ride a bike, skateboard or any other wheeled toy.

The park’s sloping lawns make it ideal for sledding in the winter and picnicking in the summer. Dog walkers and pram pushers can usually be found in large numbers as the paved paths make it an easy park to get around. Benches dedicated to the memories of the deceased line the walkways and provide perfect resting places for tired, weak or just plain lazy legs. Quite often people will sit to read a book or just enjoy the view. It’s usually quite a quiet park and is a good place for contemplation and meditation.

At the top of the park are six tennis courts. Courts have to be booked one week in advance and paid for on the day with the cost at £7 / hour. For the younger crowd, the playground near the bottom of the park is a popular place and there are usually a healthy number of ducks in residence at the ponds to chuck bread at (although I have a feeling that the RSPB or others concerned with duck diets might not encourage human-donated meals).

At the very bottom of the park, close to the Swain’s Lane entrance is the Highgate East Cemetery. If you go up to the fence and peak through the leaves and headstones you can usually see the oversized head of Karl Marx’s tombstone in the distance. Entrance to the East Cemetery is next to the Waterlow Park entrance at the bottom of Swain’s Lane and there is an entry fee but once inside, visitors can roam around at leisure. The West Cemetery is directly opposite and is by guided tour only.

Leaving Waterlow Park by the southern gate on Swain’s Lane will take you downhill to a small grouping of shops and restaurants next to Parliament Hill Fields (including Kalendar) and then further still to Kentish Town. Exit via the north gate opposite Cote and you can continue on up Highgate High Street and stop at one of many great pubs, which include The Flask, Red Lion and Sun and The Prince of Wales. Read Less

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on May 17, 2025

Waterlow Park (Lauderdale House)
Highgate Hill
London, England

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Places to Eat

The Angel Inn

Restaurant | "A Questionable Special Offer for Food and Wine"

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The Angel Inn is located not too far from where we live but this was our first time trying their food menu. We decided to redeem a £20 voucher, which entitled us to two main courses and a bottle of red or white wine.We arrived around 6pm on a Friday night and already The Angel was busy with noisy after-work drinkers ready to celebrate the weekend. We moved away from one particularly vocal crowd, leaving a sunken sofa for a small table surrounded by about fifteen chairs. After some furniture rearranging we sat down to enjoy our merlot-cabernet blend (the white option was Chardonnay). It is difficult to describe The Angel Inn. To be honest, I actually quite like the place, I’m ju...Read More

The Angel Inn is located not too far from where we live but this was our first time trying their food menu. We decided to redeem a £20 voucher, which entitled us to two main courses and a bottle of red or white wine.

We arrived around 6pm on a Friday night and already The Angel was busy with noisy after-work drinkers ready to celebrate the weekend. We moved away from one particularly vocal crowd, leaving a sunken sofa for a small table surrounded by about fifteen chairs. After some furniture rearranging we sat down to enjoy our merlot-cabernet blend (the white option was Chardonnay).

It is difficult to describe The Angel Inn. To be honest, I actually quite like the place, I’m just not sure why. The service is slow but the staff is friendly and good humoured. The springs in the sofas expired long ago and there is the anomaly of a miniature aquarium behind the bar. But there is a nice mix of young and old and no one seems too bothered that this Highgate pub is a little rough around the edges.

With our voucher, our food choices were limited to about five main courses, including fish and chips, handmade burger and sausages and mash. I chose the roasted root risotto and my husband ordered the breaded chicken breast with Serrano ham, barbecue sauce and cheddar. Our food took quite a long time to arrive and although we weren’t in a hurry, we did chase up our order with one of the bar staff. The wine was pretty lacklustre, a watery sharp blend that is probably best reserved for something like sangria.

The food wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t great. I was immediately suspicious as the rocket atop my risotto, and the watercress clump on my husband’s dish, were both limp and a day or three past their prime. The risotto was creamy and crunchy but could have done with a few more roasted roots to qualify as more than a carrot risotto. The chicken breast was helped by its smoky sauce and although it was served with a smattering of chips, we still felt hungry after clearing both plates. I will definitely go back to The Angel Inn, but I’m not sure I’ll be eating there again any time soon.

For those not local to Highgate, The Angel Inn is accessible by bus or on foot from Archway tube station (head straight up Highgate Hill) or walking from Highgate tube station along Southwood Lane, which joins Highgate High Street at the opposite end. Read Less

Member Rating 2 out of 5 on January 16, 2026

The Angel Inn
37 Highgate High Street
Highgate, London N6 5JT
020 8341 5913

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Capri Ristorante Pizzeria

Restaurant | "An Italian Tragedy in Highgate"

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If you do an online search for the Capri restaurant on Archway Road, you will find plenty of glowing reviews. Archway Road is a fairly dreary and unattractive highway so any proprietor setting up shop along it is in for a challenge. However it is my understanding that Capri has existed for a number of years now and has a loyal following. The restaurant is small and its walls are decorated with an assortment of Fiat 500 trinkets and a mishmash of posters, postcards and banknotes. Directly opposite the tiny serving area are two posters of Pamela Anderson. In one she’s wearing some sort of see-through garment, which made me worry a little about the focus of the person preparing and serving th...Read More

If you do an online search for the Capri restaurant on Archway Road, you will find plenty of glowing reviews. Archway Road is a fairly dreary and unattractive highway so any proprietor setting up shop along it is in for a challenge. However it is my understanding that Capri has existed for a number of years now and has a loyal following.

The restaurant is small and its walls are decorated with an assortment of Fiat 500 trinkets and a mishmash of posters, postcards and banknotes. Directly opposite the tiny serving area are two posters of Pamela Anderson. In one she’s wearing some sort of see-through garment, which made me worry a little about the focus of the person preparing and serving the food.

Tacky posters aside, the place was busy so we assumed that there must be some weight behind Capri’s online reputation. I ordered a pizza with salami, artichokes, mushrooms and olives and my husband ordered a chili penne pasta. The food was brought up from the basement by way of what looked like a homemade dumb waiter. The ropes rattled up and down, making plates of food appear in an instant.

Our pizza and pasta were brought out in what seemed like less than five minutes. In some cases I would be impressed by such quick service but truly authentic Italian dishes cannot be prepared that fast. Our suspicions were soon confirmed. The penne pasta was drizzled with what must have been tinned tomatoes and my pizza was constructed using bland, undercooked pizza dough, topped with a mixture of fresh and not so fresh vegetables. The two meals were remarkable only in that they lacked fresh tomatoes, seasoning and traditional Italian herbs.

The half bottle of house red was below average but only tasted as good as it did because the food tasted so bad. I didn’t finish my pizza and although my husband finished the penne, he lamented the fact that there are people out there who have been to the Capri Ristorante and take this to be authentic Italian fare.

The service was fine but far from the cheerful and familiar welcome we had expected from other visitors comments. Of course this was our first (and only) visit but the reception from the waitress was on the verge of cold and once we had finished our meals we were ignored for about fifteen minutes. Needless to say we weren’t tempted to order anything more. I was fairly convinced that everything on their dessert menu would come from a freezer box and almost wanted to order something to prove myself right.

If you’re looking for well-priced, great Italian food, head to The Ripe Tomato in Notting Hill. I am so disappointed by Capri that I feel compelled to mention one place in London that does Italian food right! Read Less

Member Rating 1 out of 5 on January 23, 2026

Capri Ristorante Pizzeria
256 Archway Road
London, England N6 5AX
020 8341 7327

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Cote Highgate

Restaurant | "French Fare on the Hill"

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Although I do lament the fact that lovely Highgate village is now a procession of chain coffee shops and restaurants, I have to admit that I wasn’t wholly disappointed when Cote opened a branch at the end of Highgate High Street. I would give anything to see a row of quaint independent teashops, bars and restaurants but when all else fails, Cote is definitely not a bad place to have on your doorstep.I have been to the Highgate restaurant twice now and both times have left 100% satisfied. The dinner special is hard to beat: either 1/2 roast chicken or Steak-Frites. I again opted for the steak and my husband had the chicken. The one thing lacking at Cote is that they don’t offer pichets of w...Read More

Although I do lament the fact that lovely Highgate village is now a procession of chain coffee shops and restaurants, I have to admit that I wasn’t wholly disappointed when Cote opened a branch at the end of Highgate High Street. I would give anything to see a row of quaint independent teashops, bars and restaurants but when all else fails, Cote is definitely not a bad place to have on your doorstep.

I have been to the Highgate restaurant twice now and both times have left 100% satisfied. The dinner special is hard to beat: either 1/2 roast chicken or Steak-Frites. I again opted for the steak and my husband had the chicken. The one thing lacking at Cote is that they don’t offer pichets of wine, which as a staple in France seems like a no-brainer to offer here. Instead we ordered a glass each of House Red and at the same time enjoyed their complimentary pre-filtered water.

The centimetre thin steak arrived with a naughty disc of garlic butter barely melting on top with its tiny bucket of crispy fries and small clump of salad greens. The roast chicken is a large leg portion doused in buttery rosemary sauce atop string beans and served with a petite dish of gratin dauphinoise. Both dishes were roundly finished off in no time at all and rather than being satisfied with our delicious, wholesome dinners, we instead wasted little time in ordering a creme caramel dessert and a large glass of Armagnac.

While the dessert was delicious, it was perhaps a little too rich due to the puddle of cream it was served in. The tall vanilla custard mound would have been fine with just its caramel sauce but that didn’t stop me eating the whole thing.

As at their Soho location, the staff is friendly, attentive and as they are asked to try everything on the menu when they start working there, they’re apt to give recommendations. Cote also offers excellent value for money. They have a few regular specials (the steak-frites and roast chicken were only £9.95 each) and our two meals with French bread, dessert, wine, Armagnac and tip came to £46.

The Highgate restaurant is an attractive space with an outdoor patio at the back and sliding windows at the front which not only allows a cool breeze to blow through when it’s hot but gives the feeling of being outdoors indoors. Read Less

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on April 25, 2025

Cote Highgate
2 Highgate High Street
London, England N6 5JL
020 8348 9107

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The Flask

Restaurant | "A Pub for All Seasons"

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While Highgate is a fairly quiet neighbourhood for most of the year round, it seems that on a sunny day, half the world descends on The Flask pub. With a large courtyard and plenty of outdoor tables, their beer garden is a coveted space when the sun comes out. The pub’s handsome brick façade, decorated with colourful flower boxes belies its murky past. Dating from the 17th century, the Flask is young compared to some of its Hampstead neighbours but legend has it that Dick Turpin stopped in on occasion, presumably shortly before or after paying a visit the Spaniards Inn a mile and a half down the road. The Flask is also reported to have its own resident ghost and while her identity remains ...Read More

While Highgate is a fairly quiet neighbourhood for most of the year round, it seems that on a sunny day, half the world descends on The Flask pub. With a large courtyard and plenty of outdoor tables, their beer garden is a coveted space when the sun comes out.

The pub’s handsome brick façade, decorated with colourful flower boxes belies its murky past. Dating from the 17th century, the Flask is young compared to some of its Hampstead neighbours but legend has it that Dick Turpin stopped in on occasion, presumably shortly before or after paying a visit the Spaniards Inn a mile and a half down the road. The Flask is also reported to have its own resident ghost and while her identity remains a mystery, there is one story that the spirit belongs to a barmaid who committed suicide when an illicit romance hit the rocks.

Other famous and less criminal regulars include the artist William Hogarth, who allegedly sketched a fight between two pub customers as it unfolded.

In the summer, an outdoor barbecue is often fired up and large jugs of red Pimms sell out alongside rolls stuffed with pulled pork and juicy legs of lamb and whole trout. The regular menu isn’t bad either although prices for some dishes are often a little silly as they try to cash in on the local wealthy clientele. Fish and chips are usually a safe bet and are decently priced, as is the giant burger.

Indoors, The Flask is an amalgam of hobbit-friendly rooms, making for a cosy hideaway on cold winter days and even offering the possibility of a romantic evening out if the place isn’t too busy. Despite now being owned by Fullers, the beer selection is still pretty decent with one popular and recent addition being a Belgian Strawberry beer.

Sunday roasts at The Flask are also a popular event although again, the food isn’t quite as spectacular as that offered at The Bull and Last down the hill near Kentish Town. The charm of The Flask is its old world, villagey comfort and the fact that even if it has changed a lot in the last 300 years, it doesn’t show. Read Less

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on May 17, 2025

The Flask
77 Highgate West Hill
London, England N6 6BU
(020) 8348-7346

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The Red Lion and Sun Pub

Restaurant | "Real Ales and Hog Roasts on Request"

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About a five minute walk from The Flask is the Red Lion and Sun. This place has a little bit of everything. In the winter there is a log fire, in the summer there are front and rear beer gardens. For geeks there is free WiFi and for animal lovers, dogs are welcome. The Red Lion and Sun serves real ales, including a rotating guest ale and during the summer they offer spit roast barbecues, even cooking entire hog roasts to order. It is a long, Elizabethan-style pub where you will usually find a handful of locals debating life’s serious issues at the bar near the front of the pub and a larger scattering of guests from near and far at one of their many dining tables that stretch out to the bac...Read More

About a five minute walk from The Flask is the Red Lion and Sun. This place has a little bit of everything. In the winter there is a log fire, in the summer there are front and rear beer gardens. For geeks there is free WiFi and for animal lovers, dogs are welcome. The Red Lion and Sun serves real ales, including a rotating guest ale and during the summer they offer spit roast barbecues, even cooking entire hog roasts to order.

It is a long, Elizabethan-style pub where you will usually find a handful of locals debating life’s serious issues at the bar near the front of the pub and a larger scattering of guests from near and far at one of their many dining tables that stretch out to the back of the pub. Reservations are recommended even during the week and are mandatory for Sunday lunch as this place is a very popular destination. They are even open on Christmas Day if cooking for the family is too daunting a task although booking needs to be done well in advance.

Despite the chef’s French heritage, the food menu largely sticks with hearty English fare such as slow roasted pork belly, braised lamb shank and haddock and chips, which they now also offer to take away. Food is allegedly cooked to order but usually arrives in good time. As at many pubs, they don’t have a large number of vegetarian dishes but there is the less satisfying option of ordering a couple of their starters such as grilled Portobello mushrooms and a tomato and buffalo mozzarella salad.

I usually go to The Red Lion and Sun for Sunday lunch or mid-week fish and chips and have never left disappointed. The service is friendly and despite its popularity, I have never felt rushed. It is nice that this place has, so far, maintained its independence from the big breweries and tries to use local suppliers where possible. It appears to be doing good business and has somehow struck a happy medium between family friendly on the weekends and providing a safe haven for pint-loving locals during the week. If The Flask’s beer garden is full up it’s worth the five minute walk up the road to The Red Lion and Sun as it’s an attractive and often more laid back alternative. Read Less

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on May 17, 2025

The Red Lion and Sun Pub
25 North Road
Highgate Village, London N6 4BE
020 8340 1780

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London Journals

The Highs and Waterlow of Highgate

Getting to Highgate Village

Places to Visit

A Walk Around Highgate

Highgate Cemetery

Kenwood House

Parkland Walk, Local Nature Reserve

Waterlow Park (Lauderdale House)

Places to Eat

The Angel Inn

Capri Ristorante Pizzeria

Cote Highgate

The Flask

The Red Lion and Sun Pub

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