Explore an old, overgrown cemetery on the north side of London, England.
In northern London lies Highgate Cemetery, a cemetery full of gravestones lost to time and ivy. Victorians founded this parkland cemetery back in 1839 outside of Central London, in what once was suburbs. London had a bit of a problem. Its cemeteries were full, most being parish cemeteries surrounding churches. New buildings made churchyards smaller and smaller over the years and people kept dying. There was no more room, and the smell was becoming a bit of a problem. The dead had to leave town.
Highgate was one of seven new modern cemeteries. Parkland cemeteries were becoming a thing over Europe and the United States. These weren’t just places to bury the dead but also places to go for a nice stroll. Cemeteries became parks where it was fashionable not only to be seen, but also to be buried. Highgate was no different. The original cemetery (now called the West Cemetery) filled up fast and the cemetery was expanded, adding the East Cemetery.
While the West Cemetery was always wooded, the East Cemetery wasn’t always that way. You can’t tell much today, but it once was open grassland. Trees, shrubbery and wildflowers have since grown to cover both, without human intervention. Highgate Cemetery is basically a de facto nature reserve today, with small rodents, foxes and birds.
You are able to free roam the East Cemetery after paying a small fee. The West Cemetery, however, is by guided tour only. Luckily, I booked that tour. This is what I found at Highgate.
An impressive start to an amazing cemetery. What an entrance.
It’s already awesome and I haven’t even gotten to the overgrown parts yet.
Starting to look a little ragtag. I’m walking with anticipation.
Highgate is the final resting place for many famous people, including the writer Douglas Adams, author of Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy.
Highgate is crowded like many other European cemeteries. Graves are almost on top of each other. In the case of family plots, they are on top of each other.
It is a very pretty and quiet place to wander to be honest.
I love tombs that feature statues or images of the people buried in them.
Ivy in a British cemetery is a must.
Sooooo much ivy.
Highgate may seem like a random mess of burial plots but there is some order.
A book shaped tombstone for Harold Herbert, who died in action in WWI.
Even though it is early spring, the cemetery is simply wonderful to explore. I somehow got a sunny day that day.
A simple tombstone shows exactly how many people are buried in this family plot, including a soldier in WWI.
Just so much awesome.
The most famous person buried at Highgate Cemetery has to be Karl Marx.
This wooded area was one of my favorite parts of the cemetery.
Wildflowers sure beat flowers in vases.
And it is in this wooded area we find Karl Marx’s original tombstone. His current tomb was funded by his followers.
A magpie, 0ne of the many birds I saw that day.
Probably one of my favorite tombstones of all time.
Another one of my all-time favs.
Enough of the East Cemetery, lets head the West, which starts out manicured like the other side.
Which quickly turns into this awesomeness.
A skyscraper tombstone, so cool!
What makes the West Cemetery unique is Egyptian Avenue.
Egyptian Avenue is a series of vaults with a giant Cyprus tree on top.
There are a couple of these circular vault structures. One has other freestanding mausoleums built in as well.
Tomb of George Wombwell who was a “Menagerist,” basically an early zookeeper.
Simply wonderful.
If you find yourself in London and you want to get away from the normal tourist sites of the city, check out Highgate Cemetery. It may only be a simple Tube ride away, but it truly feels like you are in the English countryside. A great escape from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Check out my other posts on Cemeteries and Tombs!
