Kenwood House, one of north London’s most loved heritage attractions, will shut its doors on Friday as Storm Austen brings gale-force winds to the capital.
English Heritage, which runs the 18th-century house and its extensive grounds on Hampstead Heath, announced the closure on Wednesday. It covers the house, the estate, the shops and the cafes — all of it closed for the day.
“Site Closure – Friday 23 October. Due to forecast gale force winds Kenwood will be closed this Friday,” the charity said in a social media post. “This includes the house, estate, shops and cafes.”
Meteorologists expect the storm to send gusts of 60 to 70mph across England on Friday morning. Winds of that strength can bring down trees and turn loose debris into a hazard — the main reason behind the decision.
A house set among ancient trees
The closure reflects the particular risk at Kenwood, where the house sits within a large landscaped park. Much of the estate is woodland and parkland, and the Heath itself is known for its veteran trees — exactly the setting where high winds are most dangerous.
Walkers heading for Hampstead Heath on Friday are being urged to take the conditions seriously: keep away from wooded areas during the strongest gusts and be alert for falling branches.
About Kenwood House
Kenwood is one of the great houses of London, with interiors by the architect Robert Adam — including the celebrated library, often described as one of the finest rooms of the 18th century. It also holds the Iveagh Bequest, a collection that includes paintings by Rembrandt and Vermeer, and its grounds host outdoor concerts each summer.
The estate normally draws visitors from across the city, and its free-to-enter grounds are a fixture of weekend life for the Camden borough. The borough’s schools, meanwhile, have been at the centre of their own consultations this autumn, as we reported in Camden this month.
Storm Austen so far
The storm is already making its presence felt. Earlier today we reported on cancellations and disruption at London’s airports as the system moved in, and forecasters expect the strongest winds to peak on Friday morning before easing later in the day.
If you were planning a visit
Anyone hoping to visit Kenwood on Friday should change their plans — the closure applies to the whole estate, not just the house. The announcement covers Friday only; English Heritage has not said anything about other days.
It is worth checking English Heritage’s latest updates before setting out over the next couple of days, and Heath walkers should avoid the woods while the gusts are at their peak.
