Fenton House, a 17th-century merchant's house in Hampstead, features a stunning walled garden that has become a hidden gem on TikTok. The National Trust property, one of the oldest in the area, offers visitors a chance to explore its multi-level gardens, including an orchard with ancient apple and pear trees, a sunken rose garden, and a kitchen garden.
What to Do at Fenton House
Visitors can enjoy traditional lawn games like croquet on the main terrace and lawns during warmer seasons. The kitchen garden has working vegetable plots for inspiration. Guests can bring a picnic blanket or sit on hidden benches to enjoy the 28°C heat. Inside, the house features art collections, Georgian furniture, 13th-century ceramics, 17th-century needlework, and an 18th-century map of England. A unique collection of historical musical instruments, including harpsichords and clavichords from the Baroque period, is kept in playing condition and played by volunteer musicians on open days. The top-floor East balcony offers panoramic views across Hampstead, the City of London, and The Shard.
Entry Costs
Adult tickets to the garden cost £8.50, children aged 5-17 pay £4.25, and under-fives go free. Family tickets are available: £21.25 for two adults and up to three children, or £12.75 for one adult and up to three children. Combined house and garden tickets cost £14 for adults and £7 for children, with family options at £35 or £21.
Events at Fenton House
Monthly musical tours feature volunteer musicians playing historic keyboards; the next tour is on July 24 at 2:30 pm. The annual Idler Festival, described by the Spectator as 'Britain's best arts and literary festival,' takes place July 10-12 in the walled gardens. Weekend tickets cost £155, with day tickets at £50 (Friday) and £75 (Saturday and Sunday). In August, a 'summer's night of Shakespeare retellings' offers pay-what-you-can entry.
