The Dollis Valley Greenwalk runs for 10 miles from Moat Mount in Mill Hill through Barnet to Hampstead Heath, linking green spaces along the way. The route is mostly flat and has firm surfaces; it is suitable for walkers, runners and wheelchair users. Cycling is also possible on some signposted sections. Weather and maintenance can affect trail conditions in detail. Check conditions before your visit if needed.
Routes of different lengths
If you are looking for a shorter route, the Barnet and Hadley Walk offers a comparison: it is about 5.5 kilometres long and includes ten stops in and around High Barnet and Hadley. Compared with the 10-mile Greenwalk, it is a considerably shorter route. Check the council’s current route information in advance.
Nature reserves and landscapes
In Totteridge Valley, between Totteridge and Mill Hill, lies Darlands, a 32-hectare nature reserve in the London Borough of Barnet. Its habitats range from woodland and grassland to scrub, wetlands, wet woodland and open water. This variety provides food and shelter for a wide range of wildlife. Darlands is a destination for walks in a rural setting and wildlife watching.
Totteridge Fields has a different character: the area is described as a piece of traditional English countryside in Barnet, full of varied life each spring and summer. The London Outer Orbital Path runs along its northern boundary and provides access to the area; trail conditions may vary. Hornbeams, oaks and ash trees shape Oak Hill Wood, through which a tributary of Pymmes Brook flows. The smaller Woodridge Nature Reserve is a 2.47-hectare local nature reserve with numerous oaks and wooded and grassy areas.
Barnet’s parks and open spaces include formal parks and gardens as well as natural landscapes, extensive green belts and green river valleys. Taken together, the parks offer opportunities for recreational sports, park cafés, playgrounds and dog walking. Individual facilities may change.
Local history in houses, collections and historic sites
Barnet Museum is housed in an attractive early Georgian building in the Wood Street Conservation Area, in the heart of Chipping Barnet. Its collection includes hundreds of artefacts dating from the Bronze Age to the present day. It also has an archive for local and family history research. The museum is run by volunteers; check opening hours before visiting.
A distinctive historic site is Barnet Physic Well. The mineral spring was once associated with healing properties and was visited by Samuel Pepys. Beneath a Tudor-style building erected in 1937 lies the underground 17th-century well chamber. Volunteers from Barnet Museum look after the well and offer regular public openings with free admission. Check current opening dates with the museum before travelling.
The RAF Museum London focuses on historic aircraft and the history of the Royal Air Force. Six aircraft hangars form part of the exhibition, alongside family-friendly displays and interactive presentations. Admission to the museum is free. Check booking requirements before your visit.
In Monken Hadley stands the Grade II listed church of St Mary the Virgin. It was rebuilt in 1494 on a site where religious buildings had stood since the 12th century. A stone obelisk erected in 1740 at Hadley Highstone commemorates the Battle of Barnet. Stephens House & Gardens combines a Grade II listed house with extensive landscaped gardens, donated by Henry Charles “Inky” Stephens for public use and enjoyment.
A long market tradition
Barnet’s market history also goes back a long way: High Barnet has had a market tradition since at least the 12th century, though its form and location have changed over time. By the late Tudor period, Barnet Market controlled the sale of almost all the meat in London. Its historical significance therefore extends beyond local history to the supply of the capital.
Discover more destinations
Discover more destinations: Barnet, Golders Green, Enfield, Waltham Forest, Newham, Lambeth, Haringey, Islington.
Back to the main travel overview: Greater London.
