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Parliament Hill

Parliament Hill (16)

Parliament Hill is in north London, and is the gateway to a beautiful unspoilt area of 32 hectares called Hampstead Heath. 

From the hill, at some 100 metres altitude, you get a marvellous view across London, and can even see Saint Paul’s Cathedral and the skyscrapers of Canary Wharf and the City.

Its name may confuse us, since we could be led to believe that the Houses of Parliament are here, an institution which, as we are well aware, is in Westminster. The most plausible explanation for the name of this hill, previously called Traitor’s Hill, suggests that here may have been sited the defensive batteries of the forces loyal to the Parliament  during the Civil War that destroyed England in the 17th century.

Others, with a more legendary outlook, boldly suggest that the name is due to the idea that it was here where Guy Fawkes could have climbed on the night of his failed attempt to blow up Parliament.

In recent years, the growing presence of kite fans has meant that an alternative name has been popularised for this spot: Kite Hill.

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