Perched at the top of the winding and woody Swain’s Lane, close to Highgate village with its soaring views over the city, Highgate Cemetery offers a romantic, rambling, rustic retreat from everyday life – in more ways than one. Crammed full of gravestones, tombs, catacombs, monuments and mounds dating from Victorian times to the present day, the cemetery is a more a woodland wilderness than a neatly laid out burial ground. Divided into two cemeteries – the East and the West – many of the graves are either covered in ivy and brambles or overrun with tree roots. As a result, spotting the graves of most importance is hard, which makes a guided tour an ideal option for those who really want to explore the cemetery’s hidden treasures. The West Cemetery boasts some of the finest tombs and can only be entered as part of a guided tour, which is reason in itself to take a tour. There are known to be at least 850 notable people buried at Highgate. Among these are 18 Royal Academicians, 6 Lord Mayors of London, and 48 Fellows of the Royal Society. You are also likely to stumble across the familiar names of Faraday, Karl Marx, George Eliot, Radclyffe Hall, Carl Rosa and Sir Ralph Richardson. One of the nicest cemeteries in London, Highgate Cemetery has a peaceful air about it and a truly unique charm. Finish off by walking up to Highgate village through Waterlow Park, taking in the views over London. Finish off with a pint at the historic Flask pub (77 Highgate West Hill) in Highgate village.
Best for:
Tombs and views, woods and walks, Karl Marx and George Eliot.
Did you know?
Highgate Cemetery is now a Grade II listed park.
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Wild woodland Victorian cemetery.
