With the vast green fields of Hampstead Heath in the north and the crowded shopping and nightlife hub of Camden to its south, this affluent neighbourhood really does span two different worlds. The section of the heath that this area incorporates is home to the famed bathing ponds that get very popular in the Summer but are in use all year round, even on New Year’s Day! The neighbourhood’s main road of Haverstock Hill has all the amenities one could need, including a number of bars, cafes and small boutique shops, as well as Chalk Farm and Belsize Park stations, both on the Northern line. Combined with the Overground station of Hampstead Heath slightly to the north, Belsize Park is incredibly well connected. Despite the stations, the locality is very quiet and residential, with even the main roads lined with quaint Victorian homes and attractive high-density blocks. The leafier side streets give the neighbourhood a real village feel with a number of much-loved local shops. Even the large Royal Free Hospital in the centre doesn’t detract too much from the family-friendly vibe, and in fact only adds to the area’s many conveniences.

Belsize Park’s name derives from the French, ‘bel assis’, meaning ‘well located’, which certainly rings true to this day! This title was given to a 17th-century manor house and surrounding parkland, built for the Countess of Chesterfield in 1663. The parklands were opened as a pleasure gardens, which hosted concerts and sports that were enjoyed by those looking for somewhere to get away from the city. Large country houses began to pop up in the area in the mid-18th century, which helped the neighbourhood grow into a country suburb by the early 19th century. Hampstead Road station opened in 1851, followed by the Metropolitan Railway at Hampstead Heath and Finchley Road in 1860. By 1900 the country mansions had been torn down and replaced by smaller terraces, many of which remain today.

Hampstead Heath’s much-loved ponds are supplied by natural springs and have been in use for almost 500 years when, in 1544, the London Conduit Act allowed for large-scale water collection. They were dug into reservoirs in the 18th century, and in the 19th century became a popular spa spot due to the iron-rich waters. From then on the ponds were no longer used for drinking water but are now used primarily for swimming, with separate mens’, womens’ and mixed bathing ponds.

Given the popularity and notoriety of the location, much of the area’s housing is rather pricey. That said, there is a good amount of social and affordable housing remaining from the fantastic projects of Sydney Cook and Camden Council during the 1960s and 70s.

Much of the Belsize area will be affected by the ongoing HS2 project, with many road closures on the horizon as the project continues. Many are concerned that the new train line and surrounding infrastructure will cause much noise pollution and damage the area’s rich biodiversity, as well as the destruction of a number of the area’s much-needed homes.

Camden Council has been focusing on the regeneration and improvement of a cluster of housing estates in this area. In 2022, Camden council announced that it was seeking development partner to carry out the next stage of regeneration on the Bacton Estate redevelopment. Phase 1 was completed in 2015 and won the 2016 Building Award’s Housing Project of the Year. The regeneration plan aims to deliver a total of 247 new homes (176 private, 61 social rent and 10 intermediate homes), as well as 260 sq m of commercial space. Considering the success and acclaim of the first phase, it is hoped that the regeneration’s future is just as bright. That same year, a masterplan proposal was also submitted to Camden Council for delivering a £565 million investment for the West Kentish Town Estate that intends to build larger, modern homes for residents. The initiative aims to deliver 885 new homes over eight phases including at least 276 council homes and 78 homes for Camden Living rent. The first phase of construction could begin in late 2023 and the first two phases would deliver 218 new homes, of which 81 would be ringfenced for families on the estate - allowing them to make one direct move into a new home. Due to the scale of the scheme, it is also expected that development would not be completed until 2038.