Keats House — Attraction in London

With so many über bars, venues and pop-up restaurants around it’s easy to forget what (I think) really makes London so unique: the fascinating history lurking around every corner. So it’s a good job that people like ‘London Shh’ (Secret Historic Houses) exist to take care of these significant places while we’re off enjoying another prohibition-style cocktail in Shoreditch, or signing up to the waiting list for the 68th floor of The Shard.

Hiding down seemingly regular streets all over town are the former residences of some of history’s more notable personalities, including Benjamin Franklin, Lucien Freud and John Keats, all carefully maintained and kept open to the public by London Shh. The latter (Keats) once resided in a fairly modest house in Hampstead, ‘Wentworth Place’, where he wrote some of his most famous poems and met the love of his life Fanny Brawne, and it’s among the nine houses open to the public (pick up a ‘Shh’ loyalty card if this sort of thing is your bag!)

Keats House is a place which you might otherwise walk by, especially in well-to-do Hampstead, where many of the buildings have something of the impressive about them, but in this pretty white building, next to the local library, you can see Keats’ parlour, where wrote ‘Ode to a Nightingale’, his bedroom and even his wine cellar. The house hosts alternating exhibitions, which have included love letters to Fanny Brawne and, currently, his annotated copy of Shakespeare’s works and Fanny’s rather bling engagement ring. What’s more, if you are so inclined, they also run sewing workshops, where you can find a cosy spot anywhere in the house and make yourself an empire line dress / Regency jacket / bonnet. Something to sport for your next trip to the aforementioned Shoreditch cocktail bar perhaps…

The spirit of Keats House’s former inhabitants is very much alive, and visiting is an eye-opening experience, as well as the perfect way to legitimately indulge in some good old-fashioned nosiness. The poor man died at the age of 25, having never married Fanny, and wandering around his old quarters makes you appreciate how much he accomplished in his very short life. Hampstead might be a bit far for some Londoners to travel, but there are open houses all over town. And if you do make the trip up north, Keats House is less than five minutes from Hampstead Heath, so you could combine it with a leisurely stroll or, if you’re feeling brave, a dip...

Keat's house is located in Keats Grove, one of the most beautiful and picturesque streets in Hampstead NW3 in North London and it is near the access to Hampstead Heath. You can get there either by tube with Belsize Park being the nearest or by bus with number 24 or 168 stopping at South End Green, or by overground railway getting out at Parliament Hill. As I used to live here for me it is a bit like going home: many memories of my early days in this big city are set here. I love everything about this area has got to offer: the Heat scenery and its walking paths with the swimming ponds nearby, lively cafes, an excellent Italian Deli ( Giacobazzi) and of course, Keat's House with its lovely English garden where you can go for a moment of peace away from the crown and noise. It is like being in the country side: you can sit and read on one of the benches, or just do nothing. Visiting Keat's House is highly recommended as it gives you insights in the poet's life; in the basement you can watch a video that helps to set this location in the events of Keats life and London at the time. Before or after visiting I highly recommend to watch Jane Campion's beautiful movie entitled 'Bright Star' about the life of the...

Keats House in Hampstead is a captivating destination for literature enthusiasts and history buffs alike. This beautifully preserved Regency villa offers an intimate glimpse into the life of Romantic poet John Keats. Walking through the rooms where Keats lived and wrote, visitors can view personal artifacts such as his annotated copy of Paradise Lost, his engagement ring to Fanny Brawne, and a replica of his death mask. The tranquil gardens, where Keats is said to have composed "Ode to a Nightingale," provide a serene setting for reflection, The museum also hosts rotating exhibitions and events that delve into Keats's life and the Romantic era. Whether you're a devoted fan of Keats or simply interested in literary history, Keats House offers a poignant and enriching...