Travel Channel

Primrose Hill is one of London’s most enchanting residential districts. All regency (1810s-1830s), it started out as middle class (you can see where Engels lived) but spent much of the 20th century down-at-heel only to be rescued in the late 1960s. The terraces and squares have been lovingly restored and now represent some of the most expensive real estate in the capital, but it still retains its feeling of being a little bit like San Francisco in England. The main street, Regents Park Road, contains some good shops and the truly wonderful Primrose Patisserie, where the cooked cheesecake is legendary. They do good coffee too. It also contains my favorite Greek Restaurant, Limonaki. When you have finished enjoying the houses, the end of Regents Park Road brings you to the hill itself. The short five-minute climb rewards you with the best view in London. There it all is: one of the world’s greatest cities. Sigh.