What is it?
Following an 1832 Act that encouraged the building of private cemeteries outside of the City of London, seven major cemeteries were built – including Highgate, in 1839.
Originally run by a private company, the cemetery fell into disrepair in 1970 which led to its new carers ‘The Friends of Highgate Cemetery’ taking over the day-to-day running of things, from 1975 up to the present day.
Today, you can go and witness Highgate Cemetery in all its crumbling glory. Several of its catacombs are Grade II-listed (English Heritage has even pronounced the site as a whole Grade I-listed) and architect Stephen Geary's graves are just as impressive as ever.
Why go?
A day out at a cemetery may not seem like everyone’s cup of tea, but for Highgate Cemetery, you might want to make an exception. Not only does it have status as a nature reserve and is a haven for birds and foxes, but it is the burial place for many historical figures including poet Christina Rossetti and architect Sir Lawrence Weaver.
Don't miss:
The cemetery is perhaps most famous for being the final resting place of Karl Max. His tomb is Grade I listed and not to be missed.
When to visit:
It is open daily, except for Christmas Day and Boxing Day, from 10am-5pm.
Ticket info:
Tickets are available from the website or in person.
Adults £10; Children 8-17 £5; Children 0-7 Free; Members Free.
Time Out tip:
The West Cemetery is only accessible by guided tour, which must be booked in advance. But, if you're curious, don’t be put off by this being a purely morbid affair - the history of the site and the architecture alone are enough to take your mind of the fact you’re essentially wandering around a very large graveyard.