North London is good at free. Most of the best things here cost nothing, and we list those first. Then there is one thing we would pay for, because we run it, with the exact price and four ways to make it cheaper.
1. Parliament Hill and Hampstead Heath
The view from the top of Parliament Hill takes in the whole of London, and it is fifteen minutes on foot from Kentish Town station. Behind it is the Heath proper: woods, ponds and enough grass for a picnic. Bring lunch and it is a free day out.
2. Kentish Town City Farm
A working farm between the railway lines, with pigs, goats, sheep and horses, run by the community since the seventies and free to visit. With children, this is the first stop.
3. The canal to Camden
Regent’s Canal runs south of Kentish Town, and the towpath takes you to Camden Lock in about fifteen minutes without touching a pavement. Walking round Camden Market costs nothing; the street food is where the money goes, so share.
4. Free museums, a few stops away
The British Library and the Wellcome Collection are both on Euston Road and both free to walk into. The British Museum is a little further south. All three are good on a wet day.
5. Kenwood House
The house at the top of the Heath, with an art collection that includes a Vermeer and a Rembrandt. Combine it with the walk in point 1.
The one worth paying for: paint your own pottery
At Studio 136 on Kentish Town Road you pick a ready-made piece, paint it, and we glaze and fire it for you. Here is what it really costs: a £5 studio fee per person plus the piece you choose. Kids’ pieces start at £18 and adults’ at £23, so a visit is from £23 per person all-in. Paints, glazing and firing are included, and a session is two hours.
Why it is worth it on a budget: you leave with a mug, plate or bowl you would otherwise buy, or a gift you no longer need to buy for someone. It is ready to collect two to three weeks later.
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How to keep it cheap
Pick a smaller piece: the price is the piece you choose, so a small dish costs less than a large platter.
Come Tuesday to Friday with a student ID: students and registered charities get 10% off painting sessions, and NHS teams get 15%.
Bring your own drinks: the evening Sip & Paint sessions are BYOB, up to two cans each (18+), so there is no bar bill.
Walk in: on weekday afternoons and Sundays there is no need to book, so it can be a last-minute plan when the weather turns.
For a fuller day in the area, see things to do in Kentish Town, or our creative things to do in North London if you want to try the wheel.
