We are open! Booking essential. Please see ‘visit’ for all options.

The Friends

We rely on the entrance charges you pay to enable us to maintain and enhance Highgate Cemetery. Unlike most cemeteries, we are not run or funded by a local council. All the funds we raise are devoted to the preservation of the cemetery: we don’t make a profit.

The Friends have three aims:

  • to preserve Highgate Cemetery as a place of historic and other interest and beauty;
  • to permit the Cemetery to be used as a public burial ground; and
  • to secure the repair, restoration and preservation of the Cemetery for the public benefit.

Our memorandum and articles of association are our governing documents. 

Memorandum of association  | Articles of association (29 March 2015) 

 

Conservation milestones

2012

Chapel redecoration
Restoration of Otway

2005

Repairs to damaged and dangerous monuments in East Cemetery

2004

Completion of West Cemetery north boundary wall
Rebuilding of staff facilities in East Cemetery after arson

2003

Drainage and resurfacing of Cuttings Road

2002

Terrace catacombs roof repair

2001

Completion of repairs to south boundary walls

1998

Europa Nostra award for conservation of Lebanon Circle

1992-7

Conservation of Lebanon Circle

1996

Restoration of Colonnade

1995

Staff accommodation built in East Cemetery

1993

Restoration of Julius Beer Mausoleum

1992

Conservation of Egyptian Avenue

1991

Restoration of terrace catacombs completed

1985-89

Restoration of Chapels; one used as office for the Friends

1988 

Forecourt paved with setts

1988

Small staff appointed to run the cemetery

1983-88

Manpower Services Commission project of building restoration and landscape development

1987

Strathcona mausoleum restored

1981

Freehold of the Cemetery obtained

1976

Plan to create a managed woodland rather than restoration

1975

Friends of Highgate Cemetery founded

 

Opening times

East Cemetery

  • Wednesday May 12: Timed entry - book now
  • Wednesday May 12: Grave owners 1-5pm
  • Thursday May 13: Closed
  • More dates...

The East Cemetery is where Karl Marx is buried. Visitors may roam freely on this side, but there is an entrance charge.

Admission is by timed ticket which you can only purchase here. Tickets are not sold at the Cemetery.  If you are planning to visit both sides please buy a West Cemetery ticket as access to the East Cemetery is included in the price. 

West Cemetery

  • Wednesday May 12: Timed entry - book now
  • Wednesday May 12: Grave owners 1-5pm
  • Thursday May 13: Closed
  • More dates...

Admission to the West Cemetery is normally by guided tour only, but we're trialling open access to cope with social distancing. Admission is by timed ticket. For further information and to book, see Visit > West Cemetery

Please remember to allow sufficient time to visit the East Cemetery (which is included in the price) if your tour is late in the day. 

How to get here

Please visit us by
walking, cycling, or public transport

Our address is Highgate Cemetery, Swain’s Lane, London N6 6PJ. Download our handy map

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 Cemetery gates.If that's full, there are other racks further down the hill. 

Parking

As there is no off-street visitor parking, we encourage you to leave your car at home if possible. 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 do keep a small number of parking spaces for grave owners.

Contact us

Email info@highgatecemetery.org

To find out whether someone is buried here, go to Searches

Telephone enquiries

Monday to Friday
General enquiries 020 8340 1834
Burials, memorials, grave ownership 020 8347 2471
Filming or photography requests 020 8347 2472
Group visits 020 8347 2475
Volunteering 020 8347 2474

You should know...

The cemetery can get muddy underfoot, so do wear sensible shoes.

Photography

Still photography of graves is allowed for personal use only. We don't allow the cemetery to be used as a backdrop for unrelated subjects such as fashion shoots. No video. You can use a tripod, but not on tours.

Animals

No animals are permitted with the exception of assistance dogs.

Accessibility

Visitors to the West cemetery should be aware that the paths are steep, and the tour route also includes two flights of stairs. The East cemetery is on a gentler slope with no steps and predominantly tarmac paths and is more easily wheelchair accessible. A small amount of disabled parking is available outside the cemetery’s entrance on Swain’s Lane. There is a disabled toilet in the West Cemetery. For further information, please contact the office in advance of your visit. 

More rules

You can download a full set of our rules here. 

© 2021 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

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