Sometimes you want to get away and have an adventure, but you don’t really want to go anywhere far. That was me and Ryan this weekend. We decided to take a mini-stay-cation to Highgate, a neighborhood that is just a short bus ride away from our flat.

Highgate is so charming and beautiful. The architecture is beautiful and what I always think of as truly English. The buildings are all brick, with wrought irons garden gates, and creeping ivy regally snuggling up the walls. There are classic red phone booths – but they are clean without any smutty adverts pasted inside. And the pubs stand out for their gorgeousness, but are simultaneously tucked away into odd angles and hidden spots. It’s the kind of place where Ryan and I walk around and think, “wouldn’t it be nice to live in this here?” (Even though it’s expensive and not so near a tube station).

So if you’re thinking of an in-town day away, here’s what I think is a nice itinerary for an afternoon out in Highgate. Be warned, my schedule is all about eating. First, start out at the Flask, a pub which dates back to 1663. Have a pint and maybe a starter, but you don’t have to go too heavy. If you go on a warm day, the outdoor patio looks like the perfect place to while the way the time drinking a pint with friends. Not only is this pub so charming to look at, it also apparently has some good history too. The Flask was visited by famous literary greats like Byron, Shelley, and Keats. If that’s not enough for you, supposedly the pub is also haunted by two ghosts.

After, walk it off with a jaunt through Waterlow Park. It’s a bit hilly, so you can feel like maybe you’re working off those calories you put on at the pub. Check out the ducks and other birds in the lake. See some kids playing on a crazy rope based looking play ground and watch tons of dogs frolicking through the fields. The trees are all knobbly and both beautiful and eerie. If you’re tired out from walking, there are plenty of benches where you can sit and watch things go by. The best part though is to find the high points in the park and catch a glimpse of the tall buildings in central London.

Are you ready for more eating? Interested in more lovely feelings of English-ness? Check out the absolutely adorable High Tea of Highgate. Have a black tea and giggle at the cow shaped creamer dish. They sell those cow dishes too and if I didn’t already have too many kitchen tchotchkes, I’d be tempted to buy one.

Then, walk north up Highgate High Street and take a left on South Grove to take a quick walk around Pond Square to look at some of the pretty architecture. I read online that Pond Square also had it’s own ghost – this one though is a chicken. Then walk back to Highgate High Street from the far side of the square and you should almost run into Highgate Pantry. Buy a delicious pastry or cake for your ride home. Everything there looks delicious, but I found the giant donuts especially tempting.

Finally, if it’s conducive to your ride home, take the bus south towards Archway. Sit on the top level of the bus and you can see the Arsenal stadium. I took a really awful grainy picture, that I won’t burden you with, but let it be known that Ryan and I were impressed. All in all, and excellent in-town day trip stay-cation. It made me look forward to discovering other nearby neighborhoods. If you have any suggestions for places I should visit near London, please leave a comment below!

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