Oliver Bancroft

I have lived on the edge of Hampstead Heath for most of my adult life, and it remains the one part of London that genuinely surprises visitors expecting only streets and buildings. My sessions cover the ponds and the climb up to Parliament Hill, where the whole city skyline opens up unexpectedly from what still feels like open countryside. I keep the pace slow on the climb so the camera has time to settle before I start pointing out which landmarks are visible on a clear day. Twelve years of walking this same route has taught me exactly which mornings are worth getting up early for.