Hampstead, A London Village
24th September 2019
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On a very wet but fairly warm morning, 38 members and guests left St Ives, Cambs, by coach for the trip to Hampstead - A London Viilage.
We met our guide at the King William IV pub in Hampstead for morning coffee. We then went for a short guided walk, enjoying the village atmosphere of attractive lanes of old Hampstead, lined with beautiful houses which attracted artists and writers to form the Montmartre of London. We also visited St John-at-Hampstead Church where the famous landscape painter, John Constable is buried.
We returned to the King William IV pub and enjoyed a roast lunch.
After lunch, we boarded the coach and headed for Kenwood House in Hampstead via a scenic route through the old embassy district of Bishops Avenue, one of the UK’s first millionaire rows.
Kenwood House is one of London’s last remaining grand country houses with wonderful views over London. Our tour of the house allowed us to enjoy the extensive and fabulous art works including Gainsborough and Turner.
The visit concluded with afternoon refreshments in the old coachhouse before heading home.
A very enjoyable day was had by all. Furthermore, we were lucky enough to keep mainly dry with the heavy rain and thundery showers falling whilst we were were on the coach.
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(Click on [Enlarge] under an image to open it in a new window)
Some of the group during the guided walk of old Hampstead [Enlarge]
John Constable’s grave at St John-at-Hampstead Church [Enlarge]
Autumn flowers in bloom in the graveyard [Enlarge]
Inside the wonderful Church [Enlarge]
A member taking a photo of London from Kenwood’s gardens high above the City [Enlarge]
Outside the front of the stately Kenwood House [Enlarge]
The Library within Kenwood House [Enlarge]
Admiring some of the fabulous art works [Enlarge]