Childs Hill / NW2
from £125 / night
Golders Green, London
Golders Green: North London's Quietest Well-Connected Base
Golders Green is NW11 — leafy, calm, and one of those London neighbourhoods that experienced visitors tend to love while first-timers overlook it. The Northern line puts you in the West End in under 20 minutes. Hampstead Heath is a short bus or cycle ride away. And Golders Green Road is one of the most extraordinary eating streets in London, with kosher bakeries, Japanese ramen, and Middle Eastern grill houses all within a few hundred metres.
What to See and Do
Hampstead Heath is the big draw — 790 acres of ancient woodland, open grassland, and one of the city's finest collections of swimming ponds (men's, women's, and mixed, open year-round). The views from Parliament Hill across the London skyline are among the best in the city. The Heath is around 15 minutes by bus (route 268 from Golders Green) or a pleasant 25-minute walk. Golders Hill Park is the southern extension of the Heath with a small zoo, a butterfly house, and a good café — more formal than the Heath itself and lovely for families. Kenwood House on the north edge of the Heath (20 min walk or bus) is a 17th-century mansion with a free collection that includes a Rembrandt self-portrait, Vermeer, and Turner. The lawns host summer concerts (Kenwood Picnic Concerts, July–August). For culture closer to home, Chicken Shed Theatre in nearby Southgate is a consistently well-regarded fringe venue.
Eating and Drinking
Golders Green Road is serious eating. Carmelli's Bakery (open 24 hours on weekends) produces some of the finest bagels and challah in London. Meat & Wine Co. at the south end of the Road is a South African-influenced steakhouse that's been a local landmark for years. Fujiyama on Finchley Road is considered one of north London's best Japanese restaurants. For Middle Eastern, the stretch near Golders Green station has several excellent Lebanese and Israeli options. The Bull & Last on Highgate Road (near the Heath) is one of north London's best gastropubs — Sunday lunch is worth the journey. For coffee, Coffee Circus on Crouch End Broadway is a 15-minute bus ride but the best independent roaster in this part of town.
Getting Around
Golders Green (Northern line, Edgware branch) is one of the first above-ground stations heading north. The Northern line into the city is efficient: Leicester Square in 18 minutes, Bank in 22. The 268 bus connects Golders Green to Hampstead, Belsize Park, and onwards to Waterloo. The 13 bus runs directly to Oxford Street and Aldwych. The station has a significant bus interchange — Barnet, Finchley, and Mill Hill are all on direct bus routes, making Golders Green a genuinely good base for visitors exploring the northern parts of Greater London. A car makes the M1 and M25 accessible from here without fighting through central London.
Best Time to Visit
Golders Green is excellent in spring and summer — the Heath is at its best in May and June, the ponds are busy from April, and the Kenwood concerts run through July and August. December is surprisingly good: Golders Green Road has an extended Hanukkah atmosphere and the late-night bakeries make it a warm destination on cold evenings. For long stays (a week or more), autumn and winter offer real value and a quieter, more authentic north London experience.
Getting to Golders Green
From Heathrow: Elizabeth line to Baker Street (50 min) then Northern line direct to Golders Green (15 min) — or Jubilee to Finchley Road and Northern line. From Gatwick: Thameslink to City Thameslink, Northern line north to Golders Green (about 70 min total). From King's Cross: Northern line direct, around 25 minutes.
Local tip: Carmelli's Bakery on Golders Green Road is open until midnight most nights and 24 hours on Friday and Saturday. Pick up a fresh bagel with smoked salmon and cream cheese for under £5 — it's one of the best things you can eat in London at any price.
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Childs Hill / NW2
from £125 / night