Living in West Hampstead brings its unique challenges, opportunities and emotions. One minute you’re all This place is awesome and the next it’s more Why aren’t there any useful shops?
There are the ups and downs of West End Lane.
You might bag the last table for brunch at the Wet Fish Café.
But then you pop into Tesco on your way home from work and get stuck in the queue.
And is that another estate agent that’s just opened?
Bill Nighy holds the door open for you at the bookshop and you play it cool.
But then you see Emma Thompson browsing at the farmers’ market and you try to just keep walking.
We all know West Hampstead’s brilliantly connected.
You can get anywhere in London in half an hour.
Until you get to the tube station.
The Thameslink is a godsend
Until there’s a change of platform announcement.
Or you find you’re on the fast train to St Albans.
We all know that West Hampstead is an expensive place to live – but even locals can be shocked.
At the price of a one-bed flat in West Hampstead Square.
At the price of a coffee and croissant in Gail’s.
Still, it’s a small price to pay to live in this fantastic part of London.
On one side there’s the Heath…
… on the other side there’s Kilburn.
(I’m kidding – I love Kilburn).
There’s an undeniable community spirit in the area. People look out for each other.
Tweets about missing cats trigger an almost visceral reaction.
Though (pet peeve) for some reason, tweets about a missing child get this response.
And we bring you all this excitement via West Hampstead Life.
We may be writing the newsletter when it’s 10pm on Sunday night already.