As cosy season (slowly but surely) approaches the capital city, and we Londoners begin to embark on our annual search for the snuggliest spots to hibernate with a hot chocolate, I thought I would take it upon myself to point you in the leafy green direction of Highgate. And more specifically: the Queen’s Wood Cafe.
Tucked away in a cosy corner of the woods is a little cabin café and community garden that’ll draw you in like a moth to a flame (or me to the candle aisle in TK Maxx) this autumn, with its oh-so wholesome allure.
The café and garden are dedicated to the preservation and enhancement of the local environment. So, paying a visit to the Queens Wood Cafe is as good for your conscience as it is for your taste buds and camera roll. What more could you ask for?
Queen’s Wood Café
Originally built in 1898 as a wood keeper’s lodge, the property suffered increasingly from neglect over the years. And by 1998, the lodge was completely derelict and its gardens were a tangle of weeds and nettles. With the prospect of demolition on the cards, Wanjiku Kamau and Murray Shelmerdine stepped in to save the day with their idea of setting up an eco-project to preserve and restore the building and its gardens. The garden was transformed, the café was opened, and the rest is history.
With an aim to enrich the lives of its visitors, Queen’s Wood Café serve up a range of wholesome, homemade food (made with seasonal produce from the garden), a varied programme of cultural events, and some tranquil respite from the hubbub of London life.
The vibrant community garden (maintained by a team of dedicated volunteers) grows delicious seasonal fruit and veg, and holds food-growing and compost-making workshops for green-fingered Londoners to get stuck into.
What you can expect to find at Queen’s Wood Café
This isn’t a regular café, this is a cool café, and so you can expect to find all sorts going on inside. From live music and poetry events to meditation, yoga and forest bathing; this place truly has it all.
It’s home to the Woodland Retreat, a therapeutic group practice that aims to provide affordable therapeutic experiences and services through a diverse range of workshops. And gorgeous spot also advocates for local art and regularly exhibit the work of talented local artists in the café. Oh, and you can hire the space for parties and private functions too.
With a menu of tasty treats and an atmosphere as delightful as the cuppa you’ll be sipping on; there’s every reason to pay a visit to this hidden gem. And if you’re still not convinced: they’ve regularly been referred to as the best café on the 78-mile long Capital Ring Walk – not too shabby, hey?
Find out more and plan your visit here.
📍42 Muswell Hill Road, N10 3JP.