The Friendly Data Walk - June 2025 - Hampstead Heath

MEETING POINT: Whitestone Garden
MEETING TIME: 12pm
START TIME: 12:30pm sharp!

Hi new friends and old! We're baaack!

This June, we thought we’d give the pub carpets a break and swap the scent of ale and ambition for fresh air, floral blooms, and the unmistakable aroma of Hampstead Heath!

📌 The Plan:
Rather than our usual leaning-on-the-bar networking, we’re heading out for a Friendly Data Walk at Hampstead Heath!

Stretch our legs, get some fresh air, and pretend we know things about birds and trees, before very quickly finding the nearest pub for a well-earned pint.

🌳The Trail:

Sandy Heath and the Pergola Walk (via City of London
Distance: About 4.5 km (just under 3 miles)
Time: 1–1.5 hours

Highlights: The wonderfully atmospheric Hampstead Pergola and Hill Gardens (secret garden vibes on steroids), quieter woodlands, and hidden corners that feel straight out of a Brontë novel — if the Brontës had been into cloud infrastructure.

Route: A more compact route, perfect if we want to linger for photos or impromptu philosophical debates about AI ethics.

Also happy to extend route if everyone is up for it (we'll see how it goes on the day)

Ref #1: https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/things-to-do/green-spaces/hampstead-heath/activities-at-hampstead-heath/walks-and-trails-at-hampstead-heath
Ref #2: https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/assets/Green-Spaces/hampstead-heath-trails-map.pdf

🥾 What to Bring

Footwear: Trainers or walking shoes you don’t mind getting a bit muddy. No heels, no regrets.

Clothes: Layers. British weather is famously indecisive.

Water: Stay hydrated — even if you're planning on replacing all fluids with lager later.

Optional: Snacks, sunnies, raincoat (aka the full British survival kit)

🍻 Food & Drinks After

Once we’ve had our fill of nature, we'll decamp to a local Hampstead pub (likely The Spaniards Inn or The Flask — both historic and very atmospheric).

We'll grab some proper pub grub (and possibly a Sunday roast if we’re feeling fancy) and continue doing what we do best: chatting about AI, data lakes, and that one time someone accidentally emailed an entire customer database to themselves.

⚠️ Precautions & Disclaimers

Fitness level: You should be comfortable with gentle walking for a couple of hours. This isn’t Ironman, but also not a 30-second dash to the bar.

Terrain: Some paths may be uneven or muddy. Expect hills (nothing Everest-like, promise).

Dogs: Very welcome if you have one. 🐶

Weather: If the forecast is truly dire (think Ark-building levels of rain), we may revert to Plan B (which involves a pub, obviously).

Health: This is an informal, at-your-own-risk ramble. Wear good footwear, be sensible, don’t duel with squirrels. — If you feel unwell, stay home, and we’ll toast to your speedy return.

Getting lost: We do our best to keep at a cohesive pace so the group stays together. Find a buddy and follow the group closely. You've got this!

Summary:

Fresh air ➡️ Friendly faces ➡️ Summer vibes ➡️ Optional pint ➡️ Guaranteed good time.