If you want to escape from the chaos and pressure from your lives there is no better place to be than Escape to Hampstead Heath. I interview guests on the significance of Hampstead Heath in their lives and how time spent on the Heath refreshes, restores and energises them. Join us to Escape to Hampstead Heath
In this episode of Escape to Hampstead Heath, we have a brilliant guest – Dick. He’s lived practically on the Heath for the last 20 years. Having moved from Portsmouth via Winchester, Dick has made the Heath his home. He enjoys outdoor exercise swimming and the everyday encounters he has there. When he’s not making films with bands like Oasis, the Rolling Stones and Stereophonics – the list goes on – he’s busy making trouble. Just a heads up there are a couple of F-bombs in this episode. Enjoy!
19 Jun 2026
Fay
In this episode of Escape to Hampstead Heath, we’re delighted to welcome a fascinating guest, Fay. As a child, she fondly recalls walking on the heath with her father for lunch. Fay is also the fonder and editor of a literary magazine called Ambit. She loves the Lido and swims there daily. When she’s not exploring, drawing or exhibiting her art, Fay also describes her love of the pagan alter. She even shares a rather scary incident involving a crow. Enjoy!
9 Jun 2026
Tom
In this episode of Escape to Hampstead Heath, we have a wonderful guest – Tom. He’s lived by the Heath for over half his life, travelling from Maine, USA, with a stopover in Ukraine, to finally settling in Hampstead. After some persuasion from friends and a harrowing encounter with a bendy bus, Tom experienced a life-changing epiphany during his first swim in the Mens Pond. This led him to found the East German Ladies Swimming Team. Enjoy!
1 Jun 2026
Francis
In this episode of Escape to Hampstead Heath, we have a great guest— Francis, who remembers collecting firewood on the Heath as a child with his mum. Francis has lived near the Heath all his life and finds it a wonderful place for reflection, pleasure, and exercise, while he isn’t prosecuting or defending allegedly and sometimes bad people. Enjoy.
15 May 2026
Carrie
In this episode of Escape to Hampstead Heath, we’re delighted to welcome Carrie, a remarkable guest. Having moved from Cleverly near Blackpool to West Hampstead at the age of 21, Carrie initially took the Heath, a little, for granted. However, she soon discovered a passion for running, walking with her dog and children and a profound connection to the Ladies’ Pond. This all happened while she was co-founding and building Mumsnet into the successful brand and business it is today. Enjoy!
19 Feb 2026
Martin
In this episode of Escape to Hampstead Heath, we have a fascinating guest, Martin, who moved from South Africa to enjoy and write about Hampstead Heath. Martin delves into stories of how Hampstead Heath survived being developed, the renewal and repair of the Spanish Civil War veterans’ commemoration bench, and the discovery of a ‘Pound’. Enjoy.
12 Feb 2026
Ovidio
In this episode of Escape to Hampstead Heath, we have a magnificent guest, Ovidio, who has travelled from Hollywood to Holloway to enjoy the delights and specialness of Hampstead Heath since 1975. Ovidio explores how Hampstead Heath enhances his life when he isn’t making films or surfing, and how he has formed a band by approaching people in the Lido showers. Enjoy.
5 Feb 2026
Catriona
In this episode of Escape to Hampstead Heath, we have a great guest, Catriona, who has been local to the Heath since the age of two. Catriona recounts her stories of tobogganing, hyperthermia, sheep, and sitting outside the Freemasons with a packet of crisps. Enjoy.
29 Jan 2026
Michele
In this episode of Escape to Hampstead Heath, we have a special guest, Michele, who came down from Pointon, up North, to find her fortune down South, and stayed ever since. Michele found her tribe, exercised in all weather, found love, and got married on the Heath. Enjoy.
22 Jan 2026
Sandrine
In this episode of Escape to Hampstead Heath, we have French guest, Sandrine, who has lived around the Heath for a number of years, enjoying the Ladies' Pond and the woods. Sandrine tells us about how she spends her time photographing the trees on the Heath, and recalls a touching moment with a fox. Enjoy.
Explore Sandrine's wonderful photos of Hampstead Heath at;
https://www.sand-jo.com (https://www.sand-jo.com)
16 Jan 2026
Richard
In this episode of Escape to Hampstead Heath, we have a fantastic guest, Richard, who lived by the Heath from when he was a child and returns to it whenever he can. Richard remembers a time when he won a blanket at Hampstead Fair and played in the Parliament Hill Bandstand with Fairport Convention, supporting Jefferson Airplane. Enjoy.
10 Jan 2026
Amanda
In this episode of Escape to Hampstead Heath, we have a wonderful guest, Amanda, who first came to the Hampstead Heath May Fair after ice creams at Marine Ices and has enjoyed it ever since. Amanda reveals how the Heath is a perfect escape from her work as a ‘not straightforward’ barrister and how small moments of humanity on the Heath make her happy. Enjoy.
15 Oct 2025
Stephen
In this episode, I spend a wondrous time with Stephen, who talks about his experiences of Hampstead Heath in the last few years, when he travelled over from New Zealand. Stephen talks about his experiences of the people and the wildlife in the men’s ponds. Enjoy.
15 Oct 2025
Judith
In this episode, I am fortunate to spend time with Judith, who has had a historic attachment to Hampstead Heath and thinks of Waitrose on Finchley Road as her home. Judith also nearly shares her favourite part of the Heath. Enjoy.
14 Oct 2025
Mogador
In this episode, I am lucky enough to speak to Mogador, who has had quite a history with Hampstead Heath, from grazing the family goat on the Heath to planning a daring raid, armed with a cleaver, to provide dinner for his brother and himself. Enjoy.
3 Oct 2025
Rupert
In this episode, I talk to Rupert cowering from the wind by the Bandstand. Rupert talks about how he is now enjoying life in North London, and how he finds enjoyment in the Heath even when he is covered in mud and his face is in the grass. Enjoy.
3 Oct 2025
Hildegard
In this episode, I spend a joyous time with Hildegard, who worked around, walked upon, and still enjoys Hampstead Heath and Kenwood. Hildegard talks about her favourite season, flowers, and cafés. Enjoy.
3 Oct 2025
Jeremy
In this episode, I have the pleasure of spending time with Jeremy, who is a composer and has a physical attachment to Hampstead Heath. Jeremy describes how exercising on the Heath frees him from the confines of his keyboard, where he spends most of his working time. Enjoy.
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