The Hill Garden and Pergola Reviews Summary

Accessibility

Pros:

• "Easily accessible from public transport options."
• "Many parts of the facility are paved, making it accessible for wheelchairs and strollers."
• "Free to walk along the raised pergola or through the gardens."
• "It's very nice and peaceful here. It wasn't crowded at all as we went during February."
• "You can park on the main streets by the park."
• "A cafe is located within and if you get there in summer before 8am you easily get parking."
• "Most areas are free to enter, which is appreciated."

Cons:

• "Not very accessible, with a spiral staircase up to the pergola and at least one set of steps in the garden beneath it."
• "It is not very accessible for elderly or infirm guests as you need to walk down to the venue and then again to the one toilet."
• "The only problem - parking. We parked in Jack Straw car park, £5 for 2 hours, nightmare app to download, it didn’t work properly."
• "Parking space is limited, and most people seem to park along the narrow alleys nearby."
• "You might find it challenging to carry a pushchair or if you use a wheelchair, as there are plenty of stairs but the grounds are accessible and beautiful to visit."
• "However, there are no guide signs, so it's unclear how to navigate to avoid stairs."
• "No bathrooms."

Atmosphere & Aesthetics

Pros:

• "One of London's hidden gems! Has a bit of a 'secret garden' vibe with its vast open-air structure surrounded by greens."
• "This is a fairy tale setting, with its romantic pathways overhung with graceful foliage."
• "It's a place to escape the bustle of London life, where you can sit on a bench, close your eyes, and pretend you're in the middle of a Jane Austen novel."
• "So beautiful, romantic and peaceful. Great for photoshoots if you are into it. Autumn is my favourite time to go for all the warm colours."
• "Stroll through, and you'll encounter vibrant blooms, from elegant roses to vibrant wisteria, creating a mesmerizing kaleidoscope."
• "The Pergola itself is a masterpiece of Edwardian design, a grand structure that seems to have sprung from the pages of a fairytale."
• "The Hill Garden and Pergola are worth the trip from the main part of Hampstead to experience pure peace."

Cons:

• "Not an ideal place to come and relax as you'll have many people walking around trying to take the best shot."
• "Unfortunately attracts one too many of the 'influencer' wildlife these days."
• "The pergola is beautiful. But the management is rubbish, a bunch of rude staff, barking at people."
• "The Pergola was unfortunately going through renovation so we had to use the forest instead."
• "From outside - entropy has definitely advanced."
• "The arch itself is in poor condition, with overhead timber in desperate need of replacement."
• "No proper care and maintenance of the plants and often the wrong plant for that situation."

Photography & Events

Pros:

• "Perfect for any occasion photoshoot."
• "Very nice garden and park, suitable for impressive photoshoots."
• "Stunning location and relatively unknown. The structure itself is really rather beautiful and the gardens are informal and perfect for a relaxed picnic."
• "Amazing location pay £100 for preshoot plus VAT so you end up paying £120."
• "This wonderful garden is very often being the N°1 place to go for my clients for engagement photo session."
• "The meticulously landscaped gardens, adorned with vibrant flora, change with the seasons, ensuring a constantly evolving backdrop for photography."
• "One of the best place to do photoshoot for your special day."

Cons:

• "Most importantly, don't forget to pay the permit fee to use the venue for photo shoots!"
• "It was crowded with photographers, even had a newly wedded couple to come and get their wedding photoshoot done."
• "Can get annoying when people take over the walkways for their videos or IG modelling but I get why they do it."
• "Just be aware that there aren't any toilets nearby and expect to wait for people to get out of the way to get that 'shot' with your camera."
• "Shame that the Butterfly House was closed as I would have enjoyed admiring the beautiful butterflies."
• "If you are going on a big hike up the hill in winter you will be disappointed when you get there."
• "It’s a shame that it was cloudy."