BELSIZE PARK …

About ten years ago Belsize Park seemed to realise that it had the perfect wide pavements to accommodate outdoor eating. From an inconsequential high street it has transformed into a much sought-after family district with more than a hint of a metropolitan, edgy vibe. With its Screen on the Hill art cinema and lack of clothes shops, it has a very different feel to its Hampstead and Camden Town neighbours.

Restaurants line Haverstock Hill and a number of fruit, veg and flower shops spread onto the pavements adding colour to the scene. Further shops and cafés can be found in the quiet, pedestrianised triangle of Belsize Village. Down from the tube station is Englands Lane with its own abundance of cafés as well as beauty parlours galore. On its northern reaches are the shops of South End Green, soon to be supplemented by a new M&S and the Royal Free Hospital, of recent MMR vaccine research scandal fame, dominates the skyline.

Belsize Park has roads and roads of huge white stucco fronted houses. Their gigantic front rooms are enviable and they alone could comfortably house a family of six. More likely, they are hosting a therapy session. The area has the highest proportion of analysts practising in the country (together with Hampstead) which may reveal something about the levels of neurosis amongst local people. Sigmund Freud himself lived and worked in Maresfield Gardens and his house is open to visitors to view the original couch.

More unusual architecture includes the 1930s’ modernist Isokon Building, currently being restored to its former glory of small private living spaces, where Agatha Christie and Walter Gropius lived. Modernist architect Erno Goldfinger’s house overlooking Hampstead Heath is the National Trust’s youngest building and is well worth a summer visit.

Belsize Park’s main attraction for families must be that it is walking distance to the Heath. Apart from the joy of simply having all that space available, it has the best hill for kite flying and tobogganing in winter, a good play park with a paddling pool in summer, a 1 o’clock club for under fives, an adventure playground and nearby a café that is very popular all year round. The Heath hosts Zippo’s circus each autumn and the Hampstead Fun Fair three bank holidays a year. Going south, Primrose Hill is also within walking distance with its superb views of London.



Shopping
Shopping for kids
Health & Beauty
Restaurants
Nurseries
Primary Schools
Activities for children
Pets
Places of interest
Property

Shopping
Belsize Village Deli, 39 Belsize Lane (020 7794 4258) is excellent for its sandwiches at lunchtime, made to order from the entire deli counter which is huge. Very good for European treats and unusual international delicacies like Biltong and Austrian Sourdough bread. They sell homemade chopped liver pate and have good cheese and homecooked ham on the bone with cloves. Aurora’s flower shop on Englands Lane has a very elegant feel and stocks a good selection of tall stemmed blooms.
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Shopping for Children
Daunt Books, Haverstock Hill, (020 7794 4006) has a children’s section but, better still, is the branch at 51 South End Road, (020 7794 8206) where they have a cosy little children’s room (grown-ups always bump their heads on the way in) with bean bags and a free story time session on Thursday afternoons at 4pm.

Party Party, 11 Southampton Road, NW5, (020 7267 9084) sells just about everything you need for birthday, Halloween, Easter and Christmas parties. Good party bag fillers and helium balloons of all description.

For Birthday Cakes on the other hand, just nearby lives Carolyn Mackenzie (020 7419 4537) who makes cakes to order which are the most stunning works of art. Even her fairy cakes are masterpieces and add beauty to any occasion.

Kristen Baybar’s Doll’s House Shop in Mansfield Road, opposite Gospel Oak overground station, has no visible signage on the pink exterior and always looks closed but don’t be put off. It opens 11am (closed Sun & Mon) and you have to knock on the red front door. Once inside, if you are keen and polite you get a personal tour of the most amazing selection of collector doll’s houses. She sells flat packsinstuctions on making them up. Kristen herself, of Play School’s Humpty making fame, is usually in there so brief your daughters in advance not to touch things. You’ll want to stay in there for hours if you’re embarking on buying, making or furnishing one.

Susan Wainwright in South End Road (020 7431 4337) sells toys and gifts. Good wrapping papers and lots of handmade cards.

Lotus and Frog in Englands Lane (020 7586 3931) sells a similar range

Happy Returns in Rosslyn Hill (020 7435 2431) is helpful for the Sunday lunchtime panic before a kid’s party. It sells something for all ages; don’t miss the slightly hidden downstairs area.
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Health and Beauty
Spring Health, 81 Belsize Park Gardens (020 7483 6800) Gym with a creche, a pool, yoga, pilates and aerobics classes.

Body Reshaping (Eileen 020 7284 2509) at Fleet community centre. Gentle deep muscle exercise classes.

Daniel Adams Hairdressing, 209 Haverstock Hill (020 7794 4034) has a delightful beautician who is superb at facials.
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Restaurants
Marzano restaurant opposite the cinema specialises in pasta, pizza and salads.

Pizza Express, 194 Haverstock Hill (020 7794 6777) and almost next door is Tootsies (020 7431 3812).

With Ask Pizza a little further up you’re bound to get your family in somewhere Italian and child friendly.

Curry Paradise, 49 South End Road (020 7794 6314) is the best curry in North London and always busy.
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Nurseries
Fleet School, Gospel Oak School and The Rosary RC School all have a nursery class within the school (contact details below in primary schools section) where children often follow on into the primary school (but not guaranteed entry).

Independent nurseries include Olivers Montessori in Belsize Square (020 7435 5898), Dolphin Montessori (020 7267 3994), Hampstead Hill School in Pond Street (020 7435 6262) and Rooftops (020 7267 4465).
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Primary Schools
State schools in the area include Fleet School, (020 7485 2028) very tight catchment, Gospel Oak School (020 7485 7435), St Paul’s, C of E (020 7722 4381) and The Rosary RC School (020 7794 6292).

There is a relatively large number of private schools in the area but not without their share of competition for places. For girls St Christopher’s primary (020 7435 1521) is very popular. There is also The Village School (020 7485 4673) on Parkhill Road. South Hampstead High School for Girls GDST takes girls 4–18 (020 7435 2899) and ranks near the top nationally in exam results and is therefore highly competitive.

Boys primary/prep schools include Herewood House 4–13 (020 7794 4820), The Hall School 4–13 (020 7722 1700) and Lyndhurst House 7–13 (020 7435 4936), all of which are popular feeders to University College School (boys only) in nearby Hampstead. Trevor Roberts is co-ed 5-13 (7586 1444).
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Activities for Children
In the O2 centre, 255 Finchley Road (020 7794 8719) Gymboree soft play and music classes run on the first floor next to Ed’s Diner. Phone direct for information on class times.

Magic Mirror (Eileen 020 7284 2509) at Fleet Community Centre, Fleet Road, has theatre games and early acting for ages 6–10 on Wednesdays 4.15pm

Keats Grove Library in Keats Grove runs a free toddler story and song drop-in session on Mondays 10 am.

The 1 o’clock Club on the Heath, entrance near the footbridge at Savernake Road or via the car park near the Lido opens 10–12 and 2–4 weekdays and is a drop-in for parents/carers with under 5s, £1.

The adventure playground next door is for over 5s.

The children’s’ playground one minute’s walk away is staffed all year round and closes at sunset.

The paddling pool has just been rebuilt to make it safer but they forgot about adding any shade, so watch out you don’t get torched. It gets really packed on hot days.

The City Farm is technically Kentish Town but free and excellent. If your sons (or daughters) are into train spotting the closeness of the track is a bonus and the trains are frequent – they can be close competition for the animals.

The Globe Lawn Tennis Club is tucked away behind the tube station on Haverstock Hill (020 7435 0248). There are six courts. There are lessons for all levels.
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Pets
Village Veterinary Practice, 11 Belsize Terrace (020 7794 4948) is the local one.

Well Animal Clinic in West End Lane (020 7435 1010) where they are so charming your children will be talking about their trip for months afterwards. Their resident border terrier Sasha does a little rolling trick which takes their minds off the injection (or castration) their own pet is about to undergo.

Animal Crackers pet shop in Fleet Road (020 7485 1476) sells some small furry pets and is run by yet more friendly, helpful people.
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Places of Interest
The Freud Museum, 20 Maresfield Gardens (020 7435 2002) open Wed–Sun 12–5pm nearest tube Finchley Road.

2 Willow Road, (020 7435 6166) Architect Erno Goldfinger’s house owned by the National Trust, open Sats only for tours. Closed 4 Nov–6 Mar. Adults £4.60, children £2.30.

Screen on the Hill Cinema, 199 Haverstock Hill (020 7435 3366) Special screenings for parents and carers with babies under one on Wednesdays at 12.15pm. Tickets £5.50 for adults with no charge for babies. Membership £3. No unaccompanied adults and no older children.
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Property
Day Morris 020 7482 4282
Salter Rex 020 7431 1881
Home 020 7483 2551
Foxtons 020 7433 6600
Stickley and Kent 020 7722 8899
Parkheath Estates 020 7431 1234
Hadleigh Residential 020 7722 9799
Des Res 020 7586 3566

House Prices
Two-bed flats cost from £350,000
Three-bed flats from £400,00
Five-bed houses from £1.2m
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First published in angels and urchins, Christmas 2004/5