Hampstead and Highgate Monopoly board game launches

Making a surprise appearance at Hampstead High Street Waterstones this morning (November 8), the top hat wearing character revealed his most hated deviations from the official rulebook.

To summarise – nobody should be collecting twice the cash for landing on ‘Go’ instead of passing it, and you certainly shouldn’t be making a quick buck by landing on ‘Free Parking’.

There is no doubt this intervention will ruffle a few feathers, but after all, when has a game of Monopoly not been contentious?

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Hampstead and Highgate edition of Monopoly (Image: Newsquest)

Infamous for causing family spats and Christmas Day meltdowns, the latest local version of the game will really bring all those arguments home.

No longer will wannabe-property tycoons be vying for Mayfair and Park Lane. Instead, Highgate Cemetery is the dearest square on the board. Not sure how Karl Marx might feel about that.

Someone who is no stranger to the dangers of a well-intentioned Monopoly game is Jane Garfield, charity director of the Toy Project, which features on one of the Hampstead and Highgate community chest cards.

At the local game’s launch this morning, she told Ham and High that she once split up with a former boyfriend over Monopoly.

But despite any personal apprehensions the charity’s team might have, business manager Lilly Lambert is clear that the game is among those that provide a lifeline to the children the Toy Project supports.

She said: “We are a charity that makes sure that everyone has access to play and creativity.

“We achieve that through the recycling of toys, including many Monopoly boards over the years.”

The Toy Project's Emma Howat (left) and Lilly Lambert (right) (Image: Newsquest)

The Toy Project secured its place in the game through a public vote, alongside Heath Hands, whose volunteers help to conserve the area’s biggest green space.

Hampstead Heath features on the new Monopoly board, as well as both the men's and ladies' swimming ponds.

“Monopoly is all about bringing people together and that’s what Heath Hands does,” said Colin Houston, the charity’s chief executive.

“We do a lot of conservation work trying to keep the Heath green, beautiful and pleasant.

“We are excited to see so much Heath-interest on the board and are looking forward to playing many games of Monopoly on the new board.”

Heath Hand's Karin Oleinikova (left) and Colin Houston (right) (Image: Newsquest)

Another community chest card – which fines players for breaking their bike riding up Swain’s Lane – was inspired by a cycling accident suffered by the game’s creator, John Keen-Tomlinson.

He said: “We always look for these little pockets of the UK where people are really passionate about the area.

“Hampstead and Highgate has got its own character, a local celebrity culture, tonnes of local landmarks and attractions, so it made sense.”

Alongside these, massage and physiotherapy business Lavender on the Hill secured a place on the board, and the Ham and High replaces Fleet Street.

Parliament Hill School also has its own square.

One pupil said: “I really like playing Monopoly with my family and friends because it’s really fun and never gets boring.”

Another added: “It’s a good way to learn about how to invest and buy things.”

Both received the board game for free, alongside Taffy St Bean, who won a competition writing a poem about Highgate to coincide with the board game’s launch.

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Her entry focused on Highgate station, which features as one of the stations on the board.

“I knew I was going to get the game so I thought I might as well enter the competition to get one for free,” she said.

“I love the area, and I genuinely love going up the stairs and seeing the roundel at Highgate station.”

Hampstead and Highgate Monopoly is now available to buy in shops across the UK.