I’ve been living in Primrose Hill since 2007. Before that, we were in Chalk Farm. My wife, Natalie, grew up in Primrose Hill so we always had to move here.
I love it. The first time I came here, I thought it was such a lovely part of London.
It’s central, but it’s quite village-y. You don’t feel like you’re in the middle of the metropolis.
Eating and drinking
Regent’s Park Road is the best place to go, everything is there.
Lemonia is a wonderful Greek restaurant and we’ve been going there since the kids were tiny. It’s amazing value for money, incredibly consistent, everything’s home-made and it’s got a lovely atmosphere. The waiters have all been there since forever — it’s a proper family run restaurant.
There’s a lovely Italian called Lume on Primrose Hill Road. It’s an enoteca, so it has a wine shop in it. They do very good pasta.
The nearby Greenberry Café is one of the best brunch restaurants. They allow dogs, so mine sits under the table and they give her a treat.
I go to Yeomans, the greengrocer, every morning with my daughter. They do the best juices and have really good vegetables.
Next door is Roni’s Café, which does fantastic bread. There’s one I love, called All Grain; it’s probably the best toasted bread with butter and Marmite on the planet.
For a pint, I’ll go to The Queen’s, where there’s good real ale.
Where I work out
Generally, the workout is a long walk with my labrador, Maud. We go for a couple of laps around Primrose Hill, or Regent’s Park for a longer walk.
To commune with nature
Primrose Hill and Regent’s Park are the best green spaces in the area.
My son used to play football in Primrose Hill, and we always used to take the kids to London Zoo. I can walk right into central London through Primrose Hill and Regent’s Park. It’s a lovely walk and it’s vast; you don’t realise how big it is until you map it out.
Grocery shopping
Being an Italian addict, I buy most of my food at Primo Italian Provisions on Regent’s Park Road. It’s the best Italian deli by a country mile. The owners are so friendly, and they have everything in there: incredible salumi, wonderful cheeses, new-season olive oil, Italian wine and handmade pasta.
You can get sliced prosciutto, bresaola or a big piece of parmesan, cut from the wheel. It’s stuff that you wouldn’t necessarily always find, like smoked cheeses or a particular pasta shape.
It’s quite a small shop, but like all good Italian delis, it’s full to the brim with products. I can’t walk out of there without a couple of bags.
Bottle Apostle, on the same road, is a nice wine shop. The guy in there is so knowledgeable. You can go in and ask what to pair with your dinner. He’s very open-minded and gets you to try things you wouldn’t normally choose.
For a culture fix
There’s a great bookshop called Primrose Hill Books, which has been in lots of films. It’s one of those dusty old bookshops with books everywhere, where you can get lost for hours. Daunt Books on Haverstock Hill is another favourite.
I love jazz, so there’s nothing better than going down to Jazz Cafe on Parkway in Camden. I saw Herbie Hancock there, and the late Gil Scott-Heron. You always have a good time there. Another great place is the Everyman cinema on Haverstock Hill with huge, comfy seats.
Getting around
I always get the Tube. Swiss Cottage is our closest station. I can get to Green Park in a couple of stops on the Jubilee line, which is fantastic for getting to the restaurant in Mayfair.
We’ve also got Chalk Farm Tube on the Northern line and there are good buses.
Dream street
Elsworthy Road, backing onto Primrose Hill, has some beautiful Victorian houses with vast gardens.
Something you only see in Primrose Hill
Dogs being allowed into shops and restaurants. Dogs are allowed everywhere in Primrose Hill.
What’s the catch?
It can get really busy and people leave so much rubbish behind. Sometimes you can get to the park early in the morning to find a bonfire in the middle of the field, empty wine bottles and rubbish everywhere.
In three words
Relaxed. Beautiful. Timeless.
Theo Randall is chef patron of Theo Randall at the InterContinental. His new cookbook, Verdura, is out now; @theo.randall
Schools
There are 20 primary schools rated as good or outstanding in the area, including Richard Cobden Primary School, Abacus Belsize Primary School and Edith Neville Primary School.
For secondaries, Haverstock School, Regent High School and The Camden School for Girls are among the top choices, all deemed good.
What it costs
Buying in Primrose Hill
Average flat price: £1,000,040
Average house price: £2,248,750
Renting in Primrose Hill
Average flat price, pcm: £4,390
Average house price, pcm: £8,520
