London villages to while away some time
 

Hi, I would like to spend at least some time while we are in London just enjoying the villages. Shopping, people watching, interesting scenery, tea, strolling. Any ideas welcome. Chlesea, Knightsbridge, Kensington... Thank you.

Chelsea, Knightsbridge, Kensington do NOT have a "village" feel at all!They are big city neighborhoods full of shops and shoppers!

Do a little research and you'll discover London is in fact a city.

Hampstead is perhaps the most "villagey", but it's just another part of London, and nothing rural or country about it at all.

Maybe Highgate village?

Got to drive out of the City. If you don't want to, Kew Gardens and surrounding area is a good start. Otherwise get outside the M25 'beltway' and you'll soon find villages on side roads, complete with churches, pubs, village greens and picturesque homes...

Andrew Duncan's book Walking Village London has several walks in places both north and south of the River Thames. It will take you in areas of London where the average visitor doesn't go -like Harrow on the Hill. Well, maybe except for me. :)

My vote, as ever, always goes to Primrose Hill. The park itself is just north of Regents Park (the other side of the zoo)and the high street (Regents Park Road) is full of little boutiquey shops and cafes/restaurants. It's not on a 'through route' and generally isn't well known so is pretty quiet and limited to locals.

Whilst it wouldn't be worth taking a day out to go and visit, it's certainly worth making part of a walk through Regents Park, or as I like to do, to combine with a morning spent at Camden market/lock, then a late lunch and a wander around Primrose Hill and the parks.

Highgate Hampstead would be my favourite "villages" within greater London. If you do get out of the city, and head for Hampstead, make sure you walk around Hampstead Heath. Some great pubs & restaurants in both Highgate & Hampstead. For Highgate check out Flask Pub. Hampstead has a nice little pub, which John Constable frequented. Hampstead buzzes on weekends, with people shopping for clothing, and eating out at cafes/restaurants.

If you go to Hamsptead - don't do it on a weekend (too many shoppers and tourists), and get off the main shopping streets - it's the back alleyways with interesting houses that makes Hampstead so nice. Ask for directions to the Holly Bush pub for lunch - very cosy with great pub food. I've seen Jamie Oliver having lunch there so it must be true! It's not easy to find because it's tucked away amongst the winding back streets, but that's its charm.

Take a walk through Hampstead Heath afterwards to walk off that big lunch.

South of the River the is Blackheath Village. Its full of little shops cafes and Pubs. You could combine this with a trip to Greenwich as Blackheath is a short walk through Greenwich park.
http://www.blackheath.org/

Although there's not a lot to do other than look at antique shops, Barnes has a pretty village green, and you can have a good long walk across the Common and/or along the river to Putney.

As a Londoner myself, I'd recommend Hampstead definitely (and make sure you include the Hollybush pub as Kate said which is lovely). Harrow on the Hill is another villagey place but quite far out. Wimbledon village is a good bet if the sun's shining and you fancy a long walk on Wimbledon Common. And I agree with the other poster that Primrose Hill would be my first choice (maybe lunch at one of the pubs towards Chalk Farm e.g. the Engineer) Have fun!