OPEN DAILY 10AM - 4PM November to March (EXCEPT CHRISTMAS DAY AND BOXING DAY) CARD PAYMENTS ONLY.
With its sinuous paths winding up a steep wooded hill and ivy-clad monuments, Highgate Cemetery is a secluded funerary landscape at its most evocative.
Check before you travel
Our knowledgeable volunteer guides bring the stories of Highgate Cemetery to life
Ticket information and where to buy them
Groups must book to visit Highgate Cemetery during the week. We do not offer private tours at weekends
Please visit us by walking, cycling, or public transport
Highgate Cemetery is still an active burial place and visitors are expected to behave in a quiet and orderly manner
What you'll find when you get here
We want to be open and accessible to all visitors to ensure that the widest number of people can enjoy the Cemetery
At Highgate Cemetery, we ask our sightseeing visitors to contribute an entrance fee to safeguard its future
Daily 10am to 5pm. Last entry 4.30pm.
Daily 10am to 4pm. Last entry 3.30pm.
Closed Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
During funerals and periods of inclement weather access may be restricted.
Join one of our top-rated volunteer guides as they share the history of the Cemetery and the compelling stories of the people buried here.
Take in the unmissable highlights of the spectacular West side of Highgate Cemetery, including the iconic Egyptian Avenue, the Circle of Lebanon and the Terrace Catacombs (which are opened exclusively for tour participants). Your ticket price includes admission to the whole Cemetery on the day of your tour leaving you free to explore this remarkable place further at your leisure.
Tickets: Adults £18, Children 8-17 £10; Members £8. The price includes admission to Highgate Cemetery on the day of the tour, so there's no need to buy separate entrance tickets.
(From 1 November 2024: the Child price will be reduced to £9)
While the West side of Highgate Cemetery boasts many dramatic architectural features, the tranquil East side is also well worth a visit to discover the stories of many of the fascinating people laid to rest here, including unsung heroes, names you will know and our most renowned ‘resident’, Karl Marx.
Please note: The Catacombs, Egyptian Avenue and the Circle of Lebanon are in the West side and are not visited on this tour.
Tickets: Adults £14 Children 8-17 £6 Members £8. The price includes entrance to the East side of Highgate Cemetery on the day of the tour. You can upgrade to visit the whole Cemetery on payment of a supplement at the ticket office on the day.
(New prices from 1 November 2024: Adults £15 Children 8-17 £7.50 Members £8)
Tours last around 75 minutes and are in English. They take place even if it’s raining. Strong winds or icy conditions may require us to cancel the tour in which case you will receive a full refund. Paths are steep and sometimes muddy so please do wear appropriate footwear.
Photography is allowed with a hand-held camera for personal use only. No tripods. No filming. No food or drink. Tickets are not refundable or transferable.
Children are allowed on our tours, but as the content is designed for adults, it’s natural that some may not find it entertaining. If your child becomes distracting to the rest of the tour group, we'll ask that you distance yourselves from the group until they are feeling more receptive.
Tickets can be purchased online or at the Cemetery. We accept payment cards only; we do not take cash.
You do not have to buy tickets in advance, but we recommend that you book a guided tour as they often sell out. If you want a guided tour, head back up this page; you don't need to buy separate entrance tickets.
Tickets are not refundable or transferable.
Adults £10, Children 8-17 £6, Children 0-7 Free. Members Free.
(From 1 November 2024: the Child price will be reduced to £5)
One free carer is permitted per person in need of support. We are sorry, but there are no discounts for seniors or students.
*Please note: The interior of the Terrace Catacombs may only be visited on a guided tour.
A ticket for the East side only is available to buy at the Cemetery on the day of your visit.
Adults £6, Children 8-17 £2, Children 0-7 Free. Members Free.
(From 1 November 2024: Adults £7, Children 8-17 £3.50, Children 0-7 Free. Members Free)
Grave owners are issued with passes allowing entry to the Cemetery and do not need to buy tickets. Friends and relatives may obtain passes directly from the grave owner. Persons coming to visit a particular grave without a grave pass may be asked to purchase a ticket.
Private group tours last around 75 minutes and take in the unmissable highlights of the West side of Highgate Cemetery with our excellent volunteer guides. The price includes admission to the whole Cemetery on the day of the tour leaving your party free to explore this remarkable place further at their leisure.
Please complete this form to request to book your private group tour. We require a minimum of two weeks' notice, and dates and times are subject to availability. We do not offer private group tours at weekends. Once your request has been received, we will contact you to confirm your booking.
Tours: Adult £18, Children 8-17 £10, Students* £9.50. Minimum fee based on 10 participants. Payment must be made in advance.
(From 1 November 2024: the Child price will be reduced to £9)
All self-guided groups of 10 or more people must book their visit.
Please complete this form to request to book your self-guided group visit. We require a minimum of two weeks' notice, and dates and times are subject to availability. Please note that as only Highgate Cemetery guides are permitted to conduct tours of the Cemetery, this is not a suitable option if you wish to take a tour.
Once your request has been received, we will contact you to confirm your booking.
Prices: Adult £10, Children 8-17 £6, Students* £8. Minimum fee £100. Students* East side only £4.80. Payment must be made in advance.
(From 1 November 2024: the Child price will be reduced to £5)
* Student prices available for booked and prepaid group visits organised by or on behalf of accredited academic institutions only. They are not available to buy on site. Check on the OfS Register (UK) or DPAIP (USA) or similar to see if your group is eligible.
The maximum group size is 25. All pupils under 18 years must be accompanied by an adult, with a minimum ratio of 1 adult to 10 pupils.
Information
Please email info@highgatecemetery.org or telephone 020 8347 2475 for further information.
Our address is Highgate Cemetery, Swain’s Lane, London N6 6PJ. Download our handy map.
Our what3words location is window.pouch.career. Plan how to get here at www.tfl.gov.uk or citymapper.com/london. Public transport may be affected by engineering works and station closures. Please check your journey in advance.
There is a bicycle rack outside the West side gates. If that's full, there are other racks further down the hill. There are no Santander bike docking stations nearby.
As there is no visitor parking, we encourage you to leave your car at home. Parking restrictions are in place on the surrounding streets between 10am and 12 noon Monday to Friday. After those times and at weekends, on-street parking is free. We have a small number of parking spaces for grave owners. We are happy to reserve a spot for visitors with a Blue Badge; see the Accessibility section below.
Visitors must not leave the paths or climb on or under any monument. Monuments may be unstable. The cemetery can get muddy underfoot, so do wear sensible shoes.
Grave owners are discouraged from bringing their cars into the Cemetery except for Blue Badge holders, those less able to walk or when delivering heavy or bulky items to their grave. The Cemetery speed limit is 5mph and pedestrians have priority at all times.
Photography is allowed for personal use only. Whether for personal use or otherwise, a permit must always be obtained for projects involving:
* special equipment such as lighting or screens. Tripods are allowed, but must not be used on tours.
* posed subjects, fashion shoots, music videos or subjects with a supernatural element (but permission is most unlikely to be granted)
* funerals or people visiting graves (but permission is unlikely to be granted)
* guided tours or other events
* commercial photography
* making films or videos.
As a rule of thumb, if the photographs are more about you than the Cemetery, they are unlikely to be considered appropriate.
Requests for a permit must be submitted at least two weeks in advance.
Most visitors understand that they must behave with respect in a working cemetery. Inappropriate conduct, which is prohibited, includes but is not limited to:
a) creating any disturbance or committing any nuisance
b) interfering with any burial taking place
c) drinking alcohol, holding picnics or barbeques
d) smoking
e) distributing literature or other advertisements or undertaking any business activity without permission
f) sunbathing, jogging, rollerblading, skating or playing any sport or games
g) bringing in a bike, moped, or bicycle or using a scooter, skateboard, or skates
h) damaging, destroying, climbing any tree or plant, headstone, monument, memorial, grave, wall, fence or any other property within the Cemetery
i) picking flowers or foliage
j) littering or leaving any refuse apart from in the bins provided
k) the playing of any musical instrument or any device used to generate or amplify sound, except as permitted at funeral services
l) obstructing any member of staff or volunteer.
We may exclude or remove from the Cemetery any person whose behaviour we consider inappropriate.
For everyone's safety, all bags, rucksacks, packages and personal items may be searched before entry. Please don't leave your bags unattended at any point during your visit or they may be removed.
The following items may not be brought inside the Cemetery:
* large items of luggage
* dangerous chemicals, including herbicides or pesticides
* motorbikes, mopeds, bicycles, adult scooters
* any animal, apart from appropriately-trained assistance dogs
or any items we consider suspicious or likely to cause disruption.
Our shop stocks a range of relevant books and objects such as postcards, candles and soap. It is at the entrance to the East side. Our shop accepts payment cards only; we do not take cash.
We have very limited food and drink options. The 'Colonnade Cafe' in the West side courtyard is operated by an independent contractor. Please check their website for opening times and menu.
A wider selection of cafes, restaurants and food stores can be found at the bottom of Swain's Lane or up in Highgate Village. There is also a cafe in Lauderdale House.
Visitors may bring their own food to eat in the West side courtyard, but we ask that you take any rubbish away with you.
West side courtyard: Men's and women's / accessible toilet. Water bottle refill station.
East side, near entrance: 2 unisex toilets. Drinking fountain.
Watering cans are available at the entrance and taps are dotted around the site.
Free wifi is available in the entrance area and Chapel. Please connect to 'Highgate Cemetery' wifi network. We ask that you do not use it for streaming or downloading large files so that bandwith is available for other visitors. Charging phones or plugging in any other devices is not allowed.
Visitors may bring prams and buggies, but please keep them with you at all times. Baby changing facilities can be found in the Women's / Disabled toilet in the West side courtyard. Parents are welcome to breastfeed or bottle-feed anywhere in the Cemetery.
Large items of luggage, including all wheeled suitcases, are not permitted. We are happy to keep them for you but our storage area has limited capacity. When it is full, no further items will be accepted until space becomes available again.
If you've lost an item while visiting the Cemetery, please ask a member of staff on the day or email us. We keep anything which is found for a month, after which items will be either disposed of or given to a charity shop.
We hope the following information will help you plan your visit.
There is generally no queue for entry. There are two steps up from the West entrance into the Courtyard. The stair from the Courtyard into the cemetery has handrails, but those from the Lower to the Upper Circle do not. Some paths are steep. The main routes are predominantly tarmac, but the rest are gravel or grass. The East side is on a gentler slope with no steps and predominantly tarmac paths and is more easily wheelchair accessible.
There are benches in the West side courtyard, East side entrance, and dotted about the East side. There is very limited seating in the West side. You are welcome to bring folding stools with seat attachments.
We do not have a dedicated disabled bay, but Blue Badge parking can booked through the office. Please give us at least two working days' notice. Any parking requests for a Monday must be received no later than the previous Friday afternoon.
When booking, please provide: Your name, telephone number and email address; Vehicle registration number, make and model; The date and time of your visit; and your Blue Badge number.
Please display your Blue Badge clearly during your visit.
An accessible toilet is available in the West side courtyard. It has a pull-cord alarm. We don't have a Changing Places toilet on-site. To find the nearest one, visit www.changing-places.org/find.
There is a loop system in the Anglican Chapel. Please ask for a hearing loop receiver.
We want Highgate Cemetery to be a tranquil place of sanctuary and generally it is. The busiest areas are the entrances. Sometimes we have group tours and school groups who may be noisy, and inevitably there may be noise from garden, tree, grave and building maintenance, but this is less likely at weekends. You can usually find a quiet and peaceful space somewhere.
People with disabilities are welcome to bring appropriately-trained assistance dogs with them. The dog should be registered with Assistance Dogs International (ADI), Assistance Dogs UK (ADUK) or the International Guide Dog Federation (IGDF) and should be wearing an appropriate tabard or harness which indicates their status. We may ask to see your ID book. Otherwise you should get in touch with us in advance, outlining the training the dog has had. Unfortunately there is no toileting area for them at the Cemetery.
No other animals are allowed. If your service, assistant or emotional support animal is not a dog, please email info@highgatecemetery.org prior to your visit to avoid being refused entry on the day.
We are working to improve access to Highgate Cemetery. If you have any ideas, queries or feedback please get in touch.
At Highgate Cemetery, we ask our sightseeing visitors to contribute an entrance fee to safeguard its future.
Highgate Cemetery is still a working cemetery as well as being a popular heritage destination for visitors from all around the world.
Following the collapse of its private owners, Highgate Cemetery was rescued by a charity, the Friends of Highgate Cemetery Trust. The Trust receives virtually no government funding and must raise all its own income. It costs at least £1.4 million a year to keep the Cemetery open. And that's before spending on our major programme of conservation and improvements for which we have secured some funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
While bereaved people visiting graves may obtain a free pass from the grave owner, we are extremely grateful to all those who make a paying visit to Highgate Cemetery. Not only do you get to see a beautiful and fascinating place, but the entrance ticket helps keep us open. You will not only have a great experience, but your visit will enable others to share that experience in the future.
You could help us even more by becoming a member or a patron.
Our chapel is free to visit, set aside for private prayer and contemplation throughout the day. We have social programmes with local schools and charities who benefit from free or reduced-price entry.
Thank you for helping to keep our gates open.
© 2024 Friends of Highgate Cemetery Trust. Registered Charity No. 1058392. Company Limited by Guarantee. Registered in England No. 3157806. Registered office Swain’s Lane, London N6 6PJ