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

Open daily except 25 and 26 December. Different opening arrangements apply to the East and West.  

East Cemetery

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

Daily:
10am to 5pm (March to October) 
10am to 4pm (November to February)
last admission 30 minutes before closing. 

We may close for short periods to facilitate funerals. In addition, for your safety, strong winds or icy weather may occasionally require us to close the cemetery to visitors. 

Admission: £4 adults, children under 18 and Members free. School groups £1 per child.

Find out more about the East Cemetery including our occasional tours.

West Cemetery

Admission to the West Cemetery is by guided tour only. For further information and to book, see the 'Tours' section at Visit > West Cemetery

Please remember to allow sufficient time to visit the East Cemetery if your tour is late in the day. 

How to get here

Our address is Highgate Cemetery, Swain’s Lane, London N6 6PJ

Download our handy map

By tube

ARCHWAY tube, High Barnet branch, Northern line. (Don’t go to Highgate tube – it's a much longer walk!). Take the Highgate Hill exit. Then either take a bus (210,143, 271) two stops to Waterlow Park or walk up Highgate Hill. It’s then a very pleasant five minute stroll through Waterlow Park to our gates. 

The tube system is often affected by engineering works and station closures. Please check your journey in advance at www.tfl.gov.uk.

By bus

C2 stops at Parliament Hill Fields. C11 stops at Brookfield Park. Buses 143, 210 and 271 stop at Waterlow Park on Highgate Hill.

By road

There is no off-street visitor parking. 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.

Note that there is no access to Swain’s Lane from the north.

Bicycle

There is a bicycle rack outside the West Cemetery gates.

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. 

© 2019 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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