It was 7-8 years ago that I visited Hampstead for the first time. That year, "Notting Hill" came out. I thought that it was OK to go to Kenwood House where the film had been taken without a detailed map. However, I got lost and failed to get off the bus at the correct bus stop, so 1 or 2 hours had passed before I arrived there although people said that it only took 15-20 minutes. Because it was only a 3 day trip in England, I went to anothre place without walking around Hampstead.
Several years later, I found out that there was Keats House in Hampstead. I don't know why, but the white simple house attracted me, so I wanted to visit Hampstead again.
Same as last time, I got on the Northern line. However, I took the wrong train, so I was in East Finchley when I knew I had made a mistake. In a hurry, I got on a train going in the opposite direction to go to Hampstead. When I got on a train from Slone Square, it was still after 10 o'clock, but at that time, it was already 12 o'clock. Oh no! It is my destiny not to arrive at Hampstead easily!
Keats House was supposed to open from 1 o'clock, so I decided to go firstly to Fenton House which was near Hampstead station.
In about 1686, Fenton House was built by William Eades who was a bricklayer. Brown and red bricks were used. It was one of the earliest big houses and now maintained by the National Trust. In 1793, Phillip Fenton bought this house, and thereafter people called it "Fenton House". After that, James looked after the house. He refurbished it by removing some partitions to widen rooms. Since then, the house almost became what it is today. To the rear, there is a well-maintained garden which hadn't changed so much for 300 years. It was wonderful!

Fenton House is famous for its collections such as early keyboard instruments and porcelain. After seeing three rooms on the third floor, a woman called to me, "If you are interested is costumes, do you want to watch some videos?" I failed to say "Sorry", so I watched the program. Ha ha ha. It was almost 1 o'clock when I left Fenton House. Keats House should be open.
I walked along Heath Street and Hampstead High Street. When I arrived at Keats House in Keats Grove walking through Downshire Hill, I didn't know why, but the gate still wasn’t open. I looked around for the entrance and finally noticed a sign that said, "Today, a staff member is acutely ill, so Keats House is closed." Wow! Therefore, a few days later, I went to Hampstead again to visit Keats House.

Keats, a poet, had lived at the house for two years with his friend, Charles Armitage Brown. Here, he met Fanny Brawne who was living in the neighborhood. They fell in love and got engaged. However, his happiness didn't last so long. He suffered from tuberculosis, so he moved to Italy, a warm country, in the hope of healing it. About a year later, in 1821, he died when he was only 25 years old.
At first, the house was semi-detached house which consisted of two houses joined together. Those two houses shared the same garden. From 1838 to 1839, Eliza Chester, who became the owner of this house, refurbished and combined the two houses into one. Since 1925, the house has been opened to the public as a museum.
Probably, partly because now it exists as a museum and nobody lives there, it looked bare inside. I felt like I was becoming ill although I’m completely healthy!
Seeing the ticket, it was written that it would be valid for one year. I checked using the Internet, now the expiration date has changed ; it will be valid until October 31st. Anyhow, we can enter it whenever we like while the ticket is valid. However, I wondered who visits there many times. Do some fanatical fans of Keats visit to read his poems and have a doze?
In 2006, I suddenly decided to visit Hampstead again at the end of the last day of my trip. Using a bus, you can go directly form Pimlico to Hampstead via Camden Lock. I got on the bus from Victoria, the next bus stop from Pimlico. It took about 50 minutes because it was the busiest hour of the day. I never felt bored when I was on the bus because I could see the scenery of London. It depends on where you get on a bus, but I recommend a bus.
When I passed through Camden Lock on the way back, I found a large Sainsbury store. “Ah! This shop must have apple crumble powder. Next time, I’ll come here and look for it.”, I thought.

(2007.7.29)

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Trip to England

I really love London!