Highgate Cemetery London

Highgate Cemetery London | Everything You Need to Know

There is nowhere quite like Highgate in London — perhaps nowhere quite like it in Britain. This Victorian burial ground in North London, opened in 1839, is one of the most atmospheric and visually extraordinary places in the capital: a landscape of crumbling Gothic mausoleums, ivy-draped obelisks, Egyptian colonnades and winding woodland paths where the dead of Victorian London lie in remarkable company. Around 170,000 people are buried here, among them Karl Marx, the novelist George Eliot, the author Douglas Adams and the artist Patrick Caulfield — and thousands of others whose elaborate tombs tell the story of Victorian wealth, aspiration and mortality.

Highgate is one of the “Magnificent Seven” — the ring of grand Victorian cemeteries built around London in the 1830s and 1840s to replace the city’s overflowing churchyards. It is Grade I listed, a nature reserve and an active burial ground. Parts of it are beautifully tended; parts are magnificently overgrown. All of it is extraordinary. This guide covers everything you need to know before you go.

Where Is Highgate Cemetery?

Highgate Cemetery is located at Swain’s Lane, London N6 6PJ, in the London Borough of Camden, adjacent to Waterlow Park. The main entrance is on Swain’s Lane, just north of Oakshott Avenue.

It is close to Hampstead Heath, and the surrounding neighbourhood of Highgate Village is one of North London’s most characterful. For navigation, any map app using the postcode N6 6PJ will bring you to the main entrance.

Opening Hours

Highgate Cemetery is open daily except Christmas Day and Boxing Day:

• March to October: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM (last entry 4:30 PM)
• November to February: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM (last entry 3:30 PM)

Access may occasionally be restricted during funerals or in severe weather. Check the official website before visiting to confirm current hours and availability.

How to Get to Highgate Cemetery

By Underground. The nearest stations are Archway (Northern line, a ten-to-fifteen-minute walk) and Highgate (Northern line, fifteen-to-twenty minutes). From Archway, buses 143 or 271 run to the Waterlow Park stop, just a short walk from the cemetery entrance.

By bus. The C11 bus stops at Brookfield Park on Swain’s Lane, very close to the main entrance. Routes 143, 210 and 271 stop at Waterlow Park on Highgate High Street.

By bike. Bicycle racks are available outside the West Cemetery gates.

On foot. A pleasant fifteen-to-twenty-minute walk from Kentish Town or Hampstead Heath, through North London’s green spaces, is a fitting approach.

By car. No visitor parking is available at the cemetery. Limited free on-street parking is available after noon on weekdays and throughout weekends. Blue Badge parking can be arranged in advance by contacting the cemetery.

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The Best Time to Visit

Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) are the most atmospheric times — the foliage is at its most vivid, the paths are leafy and dramatic, and the light falls beautifully through the trees. Weekday mornings are the quietest; Sundays tend to be the busiest day.

Summer (June to August) brings longer days and lush growth, but also the largest visitor numbers. Winter (December to February) is genuinely atmospheric — frost on the stonework, bare branches, few visitors — but comes with shorter hours and cold, wet conditions.

Foggy days are particularly remarkable here, adding a certain quality to the Victorian monuments. Check the official events page for special tours, workshops and seasonal activities throughout the year.

Tickets and Costs

Entry to Highgate Cemetery requires an advance booking (card only — no cash). Tickets must be reserved online. East-side-only tickets can be purchased on-site.

Ticket Type	Adult	Child (8–17)	Under-8s
General Admission (East & West)	£10	£5	Free
East Side Only	£7	£3.50	Free
Highlights Tour (West side, includes both)	£18	£9	Not permitted
East Side Tour	£15	£7	Not permitted

Friends of Highgate Cemetery members receive discounted tour prices. One carer per visitor with support needs enters free. No senior or student discounts are currently available. Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable. As prices are reviewed periodically, check the official website for current rates.

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What to Expect

Highgate Cemetery divides into two distinct sections, separated by Swain’s Lane.

The West Cemetery is the older, more dramatic and more atmospheric of the two — a landscape of deliberately maintained wilderness, where Gothic structures emerge from ivy and undergrowth. The Egyptian Avenue is its showpiece: a colonnade of Egyptian-style pillars leading to a sunken courtyard, the Circle of Lebanon, ringed by family vaults built into the hillside around an ancient cedar tree. The Terrace Catacombs are accessible only on guided tours. The West side also contains the grand mausoleum of Julius Beer, the historic chapel and many of the cemetery’s most elaborate Victorian monuments.

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The East Cemetery is less overgrown and more open, well suited to self-guided exploration. Karl Marx’s grave — the great monument erected in the 1950s, with its commanding bronze head and the famous inscription “Workers of all lands, unite” — draws visitors from around the world and remains a place of pilgrimage. Douglas Adams is buried here, as is the novelist George Eliot, the art critic Herbert Spencer and the designer of the original Monopoly board. Patrick Caulfield’s stark, striking tombstone, inscribed simply “DEAD” in bold contemporary lettering, is one of the most memorable pieces of funerary design in any British cemetery.

The cemetery is also a genuine nature reserve, managed to encourage wildlife — rare cave spiders, multiple butterfly species, foxes and a rich population of birds all make their home among the monuments.

A typical visit lasts one to two hours; guided tours run for around seventy-five minutes. Facilities include the Colonnade Café in the West side courtyard, accessible toilets, a water bottle refill station and a gift shop.

Safety and Accessibility

Safety. The cemetery is a safe and well-managed site, with staff and volunteers present. Stay on the designated paths — uneven ground and unstable monuments present hazards off the tracks. As an active burial ground, maintain a quiet and respectful demeanour at all times, particularly if a funeral is taking place.

Accessibility. The East Cemetery offers ramp-free entry and is the more accessible option for wheelchair users and those with mobility difficulties. The West Cemetery has uneven paths and steps — staff can open a gate to assist where possible. Accessible toilets and baby-changing facilities are available in the West side courtyard. Blue Badge parking can be booked in advance by contacting the cemetery directly. Assistance dogs are welcome.

Where to Stay Near Highgate Cemetery

Highgate and the surrounding North London neighbourhoods offer a quieter, more residential alternative to central London — well connected by the Northern line, with excellent independent cafés, restaurants and green spaces close by.

A few areas worth considering:

• Highgate Village — the most immediate option, a charming and leafy North London village with good independent dining and the cemetery on the doorstep.
• Archway & Tufnell Park — just down the hill, well connected by the Northern line, more affordable and lively.
• Kentish Town & Hampstead — nearby, characterful and excellent bases for exploring both the cemetery and Hampstead Heath.

Highgate is a popular area and accommodation can fill for summer weekends — booking ahead is advisable.

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A Brief History of Highgate Cemetery

Highgate Cemetery was opened on 20 May 1839 by the London Cemetery Company, designed by architect Stephen Geary. It was created to address the crisis of London’s overflowing churchyards — the “Magnificent Seven” cemeteries were planned around the city to provide dignified burial space for the Victorian metropolis, and Highgate, with its hilltop position, woodland setting and ambitious architecture, was the most fashionable of them from the outset.

The West side’s Egyptian Avenue and Circle of Lebanon were constructed with the era’s fascination with ancient Egypt and classical antiquity in mind. The wealthy and prominent of Victorian London were buried here with extraordinary elaboration — the mausoleum of the newspaper magnate Julius Beer cost more than many contemporary houses to build.

By the mid-20th century the cemetery had fallen into serious disrepair. The Friends of Highgate Cemetery Trust, formed in the 1970s by volunteers who began clearing the undergrowth by hand, saved the site from complete ruination and gradually restored it to its current remarkable condition. The Trust still manages the cemetery today as a registered charity.

A detail that captures the Victorian imagination: the cemetery’s eerie atmosphere inspired Hammer Studios to film horror films on location here in the 1970s. The result was a genuine cultural phenomenon — stories of vampires and grave-robbers in the Gothic West Cemetery — that only added to Highgate’s mystique and helped draw a new generation of visitors to a site that might otherwise have remained forgotten.

Nearby Attractions

Highgate’s North London setting offers several excellent attractions close by.

Attraction	Why Visit	Distance
Waterlow Park	A beautifully maintained terraced park with gardens and fine views	~5-min walk
Hampstead Heath	One of London’s greatest open spaces — ponds, hills, panoramic views	~15-min walk
Kenwood House	A stunning Georgian mansion with free-entry art gallery and parkland	~20-min walk
Highgate Wood	Ancient woodland, particularly magical during bluebell season	~15-min walk
Lauderdale House	A historic arts centre with a café, exhibitions and events	~10-min walk

A natural day out: Highgate Cemetery in the morning, lunch in Highgate Village, then a long afternoon walk across Hampstead Heath to Kenwood House.

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Practical Tips for Your Visit

• Book online in advance. Tickets sell out, especially for West side tours and at weekends.
• Wear comfortable walking shoes. The paths — especially on the West side — are uneven and sometimes steep.
• Pack a compact travel umbrella. London weather is unpredictable and the paths are narrow enough that a large golf umbrella is awkward.
• Overseas visitor? The UK uses Type G plugs — a UK travel adapter is essential for charging your devices.
• Respect the site. This is an active burial ground — quiet, respectful behaviour is expected at all times.
• Large bags are not permitted. Leave bulky bags behind; limited storage is available.
• Photography is welcome for personal use. Commercial photography requires a permit.
• Come on a foggy or frosty morning. The West Cemetery in atmospheric conditions is genuinely one of the most visually striking experiences in London.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the opening hours of Highgate Cemetery London?

March to October: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM (last entry 4:30 PM). November to February: 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM (last entry 3:30 PM). Closed Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Check the official website for any restrictions during funerals.

How much does it cost to visit Highgate Cemetery London?

General admission (East and West) is £10 for adults and £5 for children aged 8–17; under-8s enter free. Guided tours of the West side (including both sides) cost £18 for adults and £9 for children. Check the official website for current rates.

Is Highgate Cemetery suitable for children?

Yes — but children under 8 are not permitted on West side guided tours due to the content and terrain. The East side is suitable for all ages with adult supervision.

Are there any discounts available for Highgate Cemetery London?

Friends of Highgate Cemetery members receive discounted tour tickets. One carer per visitor with support needs enters free. No senior or student discounts are currently available.

How long does a visit to Highgate Cemetery take?

A self-guided East side visit typically takes one to two hours. West side guided tours run for around seventy-five minutes. Combining both sides takes two to three hours.

Is photography allowed at Highgate Cemetery London?

Yes — personal photography is welcome throughout. Commercial photography requires a permit; contact the cemetery for details.

Are there guided tours available at Highgate Cemetery?

Yes — guided Highlights Tours of the West side (including both sides) are available and strongly recommended for first-time visitors.

What’s the best way to get to Highgate Cemetery from the city centre?

Take the Northern line (Archway or Highgate station), then walk ten to twenty minutes or take a bus to Waterlow Park.

Is Highgate Cemetery wheelchair accessible?

The East Cemetery has ramp-free entry and is the more accessible option. The West side is more challenging. Accessible toilets and Blue Badge parking (book in advance) are available.

Are there dining options near Highgate Cemetery London?

The Colonnade Café is available in the West side courtyard. Highgate Village, a few minutes’ walk away, has a good range of cafés and restaurants.