Highgate Cemetery

Highgate Cemetery stands on a south-facing hillside in North London, designed by architect Stephen Geary in 1839. It covers 53,000 graves across two sides divided by Swain’s Lane, with Waterlow Park beside it. The West Side features Egyptian Avenue and the Circle of Lebanon, both Grade I listed. The East Side opened in 1860 to meet demand for burials. The cemetery holds 170,000 people, from Victorian notables to modern figures. It is also a nature reserve, home to foxes and wildflowers. The site reflects Victorian attitudes to death, with Gothic tombs and grand catacombs. Notable interments include Michael Faraday, George Cruikshall and Lucian Freud. The Julius Beer Mausoleum and Terrace Catacombs overlook the grounds. The Friends of Highgate Cemetery Trust has managed it since 1975. The cemetery was part of the “Magnificent Seven,” seven large cemeteries built to replace crowded city graveyards. Its design and atmosphere made it a fashionable place for burials and visits. Visitors walk winding paths past elaborate tombs and vaults. The Egyptian Avenue and Circle of Lebanon remain striking landmarks. Wild trees and shrubs grow untended, creating a peaceful, overgrown feel. The highest point offers views across the cemetery and beyond. The Dissenters’ section holds Faraday’s grave, separate from Anglican burials. The grounds feel both historic and alive, a quiet contrast to the city around it.