There's a cozy cottage-style cafe tucked away in this ancient London forest, and it looks like it's straight out of a fairy tale
Although summer is currently trying, without much success, to make a last-minute comeback, I think it's safe to say that autumn has officially arrived.
The Queen's Wood Café is picturesquely situated in the heart of Highgate Woods, with a look that seems equally at home in a fairytale and on the set of "Gilmore Girls." The café and its community garden are dedicated to "conserving and enhancing the local environment," meaning a visit is as good for your conscience as it is for your taste buds (and your camera roll).
The cabin was originally built as a ranger's house back in 1898, but after years of neglect, it fell into complete ruin a century later. The site was at serious risk of demolition when Wanjiku Kamau and Murray Shelmerdine stepped in to save it. They launched an ecological project to carefully conserve and restore the building and its gardens (which at the time were nothing more than a tangle of weeds and nettles). The gardens were completely transformed, the cabin became a cozy café, and… well, the rest is history, really.
Today, Queen's Wood Café is a haven of peace in the heart of London, with an atmosphere as delightful as the food and drinks themselves. The menu is brimming with pastries, sandwiches, and sweets, many of which are made with seasonal organic produce from the community garden (tended by a group of dedicated volunteers).
The café offers a diverse program of cultural events, ranging from live music, poetry, and therapeutic experiences to meditation, yoga, and forest bathing. You can also rent the space for private parties and events.
It is, without a doubt, the very essence of a hidden gem, a haven of peace with spectacular views that will make you forget in minutes that you're just steps from the city center. So, if you head to the woods today, a wonderful surprise awaits you: a slice of cake and a cup of tea at the Queen's Wood Café. And we highly recommend…
📍You'll find Queen's Wood Cafe at 42 Muswell Hill Road, Highgate, N10 3JP.