Waterlow Park's Free Views Hack

Everyone heads to Hampstead Heath for those London skyline views, but they've got the crowds and the entry queues. Waterlow Park sits right next door on Highgate Hill with the same panoramic drop over the city, and it's completely free. I've walked past it a dozen times en route to the Heath, only to realise it's the smarter stop.

What you get Free entry to a 26-acre public park at Highgate Hill, Highgate, London N6 4RP. You're getting spectacular city views from the hilltop, plus three natural spring-fed ponds packed with wildlife, think herons, ducks, and frogs if you're lucky. It's open from early morning till dusk, every day, no fees or tickets. Nearest tube is Archway on the Northern Line, a five-minute walk up the hill.

How to get it 1. Hop off at Archway tube (Northern Line), exit towards Highgate Hill. 2. Walk five minutes uphill along Highgate Hill, you can't miss the park gates on your left. 3. Stroll straight in, no booking, no app, no barriers. Head to the western edge for the best views. 4. Wander the ponds or find a bench. Pack a picnic if it's sunny. 5. Leave whenever, gates shut at dusk.

What the TikTok didn't mention - Weekdays before 10am beat the weekend BBQ crowds; locals fire up grills from noon on Saturdays. - Skip the fenced-off pond edges, they're nature reserve, so no wading, but peer in for kingfishers (better spotting than the Heath's busier lakes). - Pair it with a Highgate Hill cafe stop like The Hill for a £3.50 flat white post-view, cheaper than Hampstead's overpriced spots. - Spring and autumn are prime; summer's lush but the hill paths get muddy after rain.

The catch The park's on a steep hillside, so it's a proper leg workout getting around, especially if you've got kids or dodgy knees. Ponds are partially fenced off as a nature reserve, which keeps the wildlife safe but stops you getting too close.

Better than Hampstead Heath if you hate queues.