Along its more rural course, it passes by the Bird Sanctuary Pond and Kenwood Ladies’ Bathing Pond, all the while enclosed by lush vegetation and shaded by venerable trees. This creates a special wildlife corridor where the sounds of tawny owls and birdsong provide an escape from the urban clamour of London.
Further south Millfield Lane becomes a paved road.
Millfield Lane is a favoured route for various outdoor enthusiasts, including walkers, joggers and cyclists. It provides the only access route to the Ladies’ Pond during the winter months.
The history of this area is rich, dating back to the Middle Ages. It has been known by different names over the centuries, including Cut Through Lane, Nightingale Lane, and Poets’ Lane, where renowned poets Keats and Coleridge once met. Interestingly, its name also stems from its connection to Charles II and his illegitimate son, Charles Fitzroy.
Originally part of the medieval manor of Tottenhall, this region later became part of the Parish of St Pancras before being incorporated into the London Borough of Camden.
Millfield Lane has a delicate and significant ecology, with ancient horsetails lining its path and many towering oaks that have witnessed centuries of change. A freshwater spring originating from the grounds of 55 Fitzroy Park flows across the lane, even during exceptionally dry periods.
Millfield Lane has played a role in the history of conservation. In the early 19th century, Sir Thomas Maryon Wilson’s proposal to develop Hampstead Heath sparked public outrage. The subsequent 42-year battle for the Heath’s preservation marked the birth of the conservation movement. In 1871, Parliament ensured that the Heath would forever be protected, securing its status as the “lungs of London.”
