Hampstead Heath Running Routes for Beginners to Hills

You have got 40 minutes while someone else does bedtime, or a Saturday morning before swimming lessons, and you want a run that is better than another lap of the same pavement. Good news if you live in Tufnell Park or Kentish Town: one of the best places to run in London is on your doorstep. This guide covers Hampstead Heath running routes for real people, from a gentle beginner loop to hilly sessions, with entry points from the east side, landmarks to navigate by and the safety habits I teach every client.

Why the Heath is worth the walk

Hampstead Heath covers roughly 320 hectares, and a lap of the outside is about 4 miles (6.4 km). It mixes surfaced paths with grass, woodland trails and a lot of mud in winter. Above all, it has hills. Parliament Hill rises to 98 metres, and the City of London’s accessibility information is honest that much of the Heath is slopes and uneven ground.

For a beginner, that sounds scary. In practice it means you can choose: stay on the flatter, surfaced paths around the bottom of Parliament Hill, or climb when you feel ready. You do not have to run every hill. Walking the steep bits is completely normal, and smart.

Getting in from Tufnell Park and Kentish Town

• From Kentish Town: head north up Highgate Road. The Heath’s south-eastern corner, near Parliament Hill Lido on Gordon House Road, is roughly a 15 to 20-minute walk from Kentish Town station. That walk is your warm-up.
• From Tufnell Park: walk or jog west through the quiet Dartmouth Park streets and you reach the eastern edge of the Heath around Highgate Road, near the Highgate Ponds side. It is a natural way to add distance as you get fitter.
• By train: Gospel Oak (Overground) is a few minutes from the lido entrance, and Hampstead Heath Overground is on the southern side.
• From Archway: a short bus or tube ride, or a long hilly walk via Highgate if you fancy it.

If you want to start running before you reach the Heath, my post on running routes in Archway has a few flatter options closer to home.

Three Hampstead Heath running routes for different levels

I describe these by landmarks rather than exact distances, because the Heath has dozens of paths and it is easy to vary. Use a free running app if you want to measure yours.

Route 1: The beginner flat-ish loop (20 to 30 minutes)

Start near the lido and the athletics track at the bottom of Parliament Hill. Follow the surfaced paths along the lower slopes towards the ponds on the Highgate side and back. Stay low, avoid the summit.

• Brand new runner: 1 minute jog, 2 minutes walk, repeat 6 to 8 times.
• Getting there: 3 minutes jog, 1 minute walk, repeat 5 or 6 times.

Route 2: The Parliament Hill view loop (30 to 40 minutes)

Do the beginner loop once, then take one of the paths up to the top of Parliament Hill. Walk up if you need to, catch your breath with the view of St Paul’s and the City, then jog gently back down. Go round the lower loop again to finish.

Tip: run downhill with short, quick steps and a slight forward lean. Long braking strides are where knees and ankles complain.

Route 3: The hill session (40 to 50 minutes)

For when you can run 30 minutes without stopping:

1. Jog 10 minutes easy to a hill (Parliament Hill works well).
2. Run up for 30 to 45 seconds at a hard but controlled effort.
3. Walk back down slowly. That is your rest.
4. Repeat 5 to 8 times.
5. Jog 10 minutes easy, then stretch.

Keep your chest tall, drive your arms and look up the slope, not at your feet. Stop if anything feels sharp or wrong. My guide to hill running in North London goes deeper on technique.

Landmarks that help you not get lost

• Parliament Hill summit, with its viewpoint over London. If you can see the skyline, you know where south is.
• The lido and athletics track at the south-east corner. A good start and finish point.
• The Highgate Ponds on the east side, a chain of ponds that you can follow north.
• Kenwood House at the northern end. If you reach it, you have gone a long way, so save it for when you are fitter.

Safety tips I give every client

• Run in daylight when you can, especially on your own. The woodland paths are dark early in winter.
• Tell someone your route and roughly when you will be back. Take your phone.
• Wear trail shoes or grippy trainers from October to April. The grass slopes get slippery.
• Warm up first. A brisk walk to the Heath plus a few leg swings is enough.
• Health first: if you have a heart condition, high blood pressure or an injury, check with your GP or physio before starting hill work. The NHS page on high blood pressure explains why getting checked matters.

Where a bootcamp class fits

Running is brilliant, but runners who only run often end up with tight hips and niggling knees. Strength work fixes a lot of that. In my classes we do the unglamorous things that make hills feel easier: single-leg strength, glutes, calves and core. If your hips are stiff from a desk job, my SYP Unlock hip and back mobility class is a great partner to Heath runs. And if you are coming back to running after a baby, read my post on running after baby before you hit the hills.

FAQs

How long is a lap of Hampstead Heath?

Running around the outside is about 4 miles (6.4 km), but most people run shorter loops inside the Heath and vary them by the day.

Is Hampstead Heath good for beginner runners?

Yes, if you stay on the lower, surfaced paths and walk the steep bits. Run-walk intervals work really well there.

Is there a parkrun on Hampstead Heath?

Yes, there is a free timed 5k parkrun on the Heath on Saturday mornings. It is hilly, so expect a slower time than on a flat course. Check the parkrun website for the current start point.

Is it safe to run on Hampstead Heath alone?

Thousands of people do. Stick to busier paths, run in daylight where possible, share your route and keep your phone with you.

Book your first class

Want your Heath runs to feel easier? SYP Bootcamp runs 45-minute small-group strength and fitness classes indoors in a church hall in Archway N19, with no more than 10 people and options for every level, all for £15 a class. Book my £15 class or call or WhatsApp me on 07301 512215. If you would prefer a one-to-one plan built around your running, see how I work as a personal trainer in Tufnell Park.

About the author

Artem Olekhnovych is a personal trainer in Archway and the founder of SYP Fitness and SYP Bootcamp. He has coached clients in Archway, Highgate and across North London for over 10 years, and runs small-group bootcamp classes for busy mums and dads. Read reviews from his 1-1 clients.