Highgate Cemetery
Highgate Cemetery is arguably London's most famous cemetery. It is one of the Magnificent Seven Victorian garden cemeteries of London. Since 1975 is has been managed by the Friends of Highgate Cemetery Trust who are dedicated to preserving the historic architecture contained within and to maintain it as a nature reserve. Both the older western part of 7 hectares and the Eastern part of 18 hectars are active burial sites. Please respect this when visiting. Address: Highgate Cemetery, Swains Lane, Highgate, London N6 6PJ (Map:; OS grid reference TQ285869)
History
The sum of £3,500 was paid for seventeen acres of land that had been the grounds of the Ashurst Estate, descending the steep hillside from Highgate Village. Over the next three years the cemetery was landscaped to brilliant effect by Ramsey with exotic formal planting, complemented by the stunning and unique architecture of both Geary and Bunning. It was this combination that was to secure Highgate as the capital’s principal cemetery.
On Monday 20 May 1839 the Cemetery was dedicated to St James by the Right Reverend Charles James Blomfield, Lord Bishop of London. Fifteen acres were consecrated for the use of members of the Church of England and two acres set aside for dissenters (people who were not Church of England). Rights of burial were granted for either a limited period or in perpetuity. The first burial, on 26 May 1839, was Elizabeth Jackson aged thirty-six, of Little Windmill Street, Soho.
In 1854 the London Cemetery Company was so profitable that the cemetery was extended by a further twenty acres on the other side of its Swain’s Lane site. This new ground, now known as the East Cemetery, was opened in 1856.
The London Cemetery Company was finally declared bankrupt in 1960. In 1975 restoration of the site to its former glory commenced with formation of the Friends of Highgate Cemetery Trust.
Habitat
Secondary woodland of ash and sycamore has become established among the tombs and mausolea, and the stonework supports a diversity of lichens, ferns and mosses. A rich assemblage of plants occurs in the woodland and glades, including species unusual for a suburban location such as great horsetail, prickly sedge and the nationally scarce ivy broomrape. A nationally scarce liverwort, Luisier’s tufa-moss, has recently been found here, at its most eastely site in the UK. The cemetery is now maintained under a policy of “managed neglect”, with emphasis on supplementing woodland growth with a sturdy understorey and a multitude of native woodland plants.
Species
Birds
More than 40 species of bird frequent the cemetery, including Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Tawny Owl. The London Wildweb website mentions Spotted Flycatcher and Willow Warbler, but this may not be up-to-date information.
Sparrowhawk breed in the area and regulary hunt in the cemetery although are best seen flying above the trees rather than in the cemetery itself. Nuthatch, peregrine falcon, goldfinch, coal tit and mallard duck have also been sighted. kingfisher also sighted once in the pond next to the cemetery in waterlow park.
Other vertebrates
The FoHC website says that Foxes and Hedgehogs are resident in the cemetery. It adds that “bats may be seen” but names no individual species.
Invertebrates
The FoHC website says that some 20 species of butterfly are regularly recorded in the cemetery. Holly Blue is a site speciality but has been suffering because of attacks from wasp larvae. Recent rare visitors include Clouded Yellow.
Practicalities
Directions
If intending to arrive by car, note that part of Swains Lane is one way heading north (uphill) so you should avoid turning into it from Highgate Village. There is no parking at the cemetery other than for Blue Badge holders, and parking on local streets can be difficult, with most of the surrounding area covered by controlled parking zones. There are some “pay and display” bays on Swains Lane and in Highgate Village. Check the parking regulations carefully because Camden’s parking restrictions can be draconian and the area is regularly patrolled by parking wardens.
To reach the cemetery by London Underground, take the Northern Line (High Barnet branch) to Archway. On leaving the station, you can catch a bus (143, 210, 271) for the short ride up to Highgate village, from which the cemetery is a six-minute downhill walk. Alternatively, walk up Highgate Hill (past the Whittington Hospital) to St Joseph’s Church (“Holy Joe’s”), with its large green copper dome. Just beyond the church, turn left into Waterlow Park and go downhill across the park, past the duck ponds, to the Swains Lane exit (below the tennis courts). The walk takes about 20 minutes. Slightly farther away are two other Northern Line stations, Tufnell Park and Highgate (also Northern Line). Also within walking distance are two London Overground stations — Gospel Oak and Upper Holloway. Both are on the Gospel Oak to Barking Line (“Goblin Line”), while Gospel Oak can also be reached on the North London Line (Richmond to Stratford).
A number of bus routes pass close to the cemetery. They include routes 271 (Liverpool Street to Highgate Village via Holloway and Archway), 214 (Liverpool Street to Highgate Village via Islington, Kings Cross and Camden Town), C2 (Victoria Station to Parliament Hill Fields, at the bottom end of Swains Lane, via Green Park, Oxford Circus and Camden Town), 210 (Finsbury Park to Brent Cross via Highgate Village and Golders Green).
Access
The East Cemetery is open daily (except 25 and 26 December) from 10am weekdays, 11am weekends. It closes at 5pm from March to October and 4pm from November to February. Last admission is half an hour before closing. For booking tickets and prices see the FoHC website.
Ticket prices for either cemetery include permission to take photographs for personal use. Video cameras and tripods are not permitted.
Surfaces are uneven and some paths climb steeply. In wet conditions, it is advisable to wear walking shoes or boots.