London's free pergola secret

London's got paid gardens that charge a tenner for less than this. Hill Garden & Pergola gives you weathered columns dripping in wisteria, roses, clematis and jasmine, plus a long wooden walkway with proper views over Hampstead Heath. It's free, dead quiet, and right now in May it's at its best with everything in bloom.

What you get Free to enter, no tickets, no fees, nothing. You get the full Pergola walkway, the pond in the Hill Garden below, and those views across the Heath to the city. Address: The Pergola, Inverforth Close, Hampstead, NW3 7EX. Opens at 8:30am daily; closing varies by season, 9pm in summer, earlier in winter.

How to get it 1. Head to Hampstead tube (Northern Line), it's a 10-minute walk uphill, or Golders Green if you're coming from the north. 2. From Hampstead station, walk up Spiegelhalter Road towards Jack Straw's Castle pub. 3. Spot the path near the pub signed for Inverforth Close, that's your entry. Or try paths off New End Square or New End Way if you're closer. 4. Wander in. No booking, no app needed. Just turn up.

What the TikTok didn't mention - Best time's early morning or late afternoon, avoids the dog walkers and gets you soft light on the flowers. - Pair it with Hampstead Heath after, the Pergola's the quiet bit, the Heath's got the big ponds and wild stretches. - Skip weekends if you hate selfie crowds; the columns are prime phone-camera bait then.

The catch It's not signposted from main roads, you'll walk past if you're not paying attention. And the walk from Hampstead tube is steeper than it looks on the map.

Free, opens 8:30am, wisteria peaks through May.