4
Posts
3 days
Our trip
2026
Visited
London is far too big for one trip, so we’re taking it one neighbourhood at a time. So far: three days on foot over the August bank holiday — west London’s Hammersmith and the Thames path out to Barnes, then north to Camden and Primrose Hill. More of the city is still to come.
So far we’ve covered:
Hammersmith & the riverside
The Thames path to Barnes
Camden
Primrose Hill
Why go
London, one neighbourhood at a time
Hammersmith
Hammersmith is a great place to see a more relaxed, local side of London, away from the biggest tourist crowds. You get the Thames, riverside pubs, leafy streets, good food and a lively neighbourhood atmosphere — and it makes a very convenient base for exploring the rest of west and central London.
Camden
Camden is London at its most colourful, alternative and slightly chaotic — famous for its markets, street food, music history and wonderfully eccentric shops. But don’t stop at the market: walk towards Camden Lock, Regent’s Canal and Primrose Hill and you’ll find a much quieter and surprisingly pretty side of the area.
Start here
Walking London, Part One: Hammersmith to Camden
Where our London trip starts — then pick a pub and keep walking →
The Streets — Olesia
Walks and sights
Walking London, Part One: Hammersmith to Camden
The riverside pubs, the walk out to Barnes, and Camden after dark
Walking London, Part Two: Primrose Hill and the Long Way to Dinner
Camden in daylight, the protected view, and the best dinner of the trip
The Taps — Ian
Pubs, taprooms and breweries
Older Than America: Seven Hammersmith Pubs on the Thames
Seven Hammersmith pubs on the Thames in one Saturday
Under the Arches: Camden’s Breweries and the Best Beer of the Trip
Camden’s breweries under the railway arches
London through our lens
Plan your visit
The practical bits
Getting there
Hammersmith
By Tube: unusually well connected, with the District, Piccadilly, Hammersmith & City and Circle lines all serving the area.
From Heathrow: easy to reach from the airport and from other parts of west London.
Camden
From Hammersmith, the Tube is the easiest option — take the Piccadilly line to King’s Cross St Pancras and change to the Northern line for Camden Town. From elsewhere, head into central London and continue north.
When to go
Hammersmith
Spring to early autumn is best if you want to enjoy the Thames and the riverside walks. It’s also a good choice in unpredictable London weather, with plenty of cafés, pubs and restaurants to escape into.
Camden
Weekdays or early mornings are best if you’d like to explore Camden Market without the biggest crowds. For atmosphere, though, a Saturday or Sunday afternoon is hard to beat — just expect it to be busy.
Where we’d stay
Hammersmith
We’d stay in Hammersmith and use it as our base. It’s less hectic than staying right in the centre, more relaxed in the evenings, and has excellent transport connections.
Camden
We wouldn’t necessarily stay in Camden on a first London trip. We’d keep Hammersmith as our base and make Camden a day out — time around the market, then a walk along the canal to Primrose Hill, one of my favourite ways to experience this part of London.
Keep exploring
More places we’ve written about
Follow the journey
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