Hidden history and famous graves: Explore London's Highgate Cemetery

Highgate was the second private cemetery in London, opened under a parliamentary act in 1832. This new legislation aimed to address the limited space in small church cemeteries, a problem that surfaced during London's rapid development and population growth.

Seven such necropolises were established in the 1830s and 1840s, now known as the "Magnificent Seven." The first was Kensal Green, inspired by Paris's Pere Lachaise. It was followed by Highgate, specifically its western section, which was opened in 1839 by the London Cemetery Company.

The cemetery quickly gained popularity among the capital's wealthy residents. This was significant because the private companies establishing these necropolises promised not only to solve the problem of finding burial spaces and prevent coffin and body thefts but also to provide quick and substantial profits.

The popularity of Highgate led the London Cemetery Company to purchase 19 additional acres on the opposite side of Swain’s Lane in 1854, adding to the initial 17 acres the cemetery occupied. Thus, the picturesque and richly architecturally designed western section of the cemetery was joined by an eastern section, whose main purpose was profit generation.

Today, it's hard to notice that money once prevailed over nature and beauty on the eastern side. Although this section lacks architectural gems like the Egyptian Avenue in Western Highgate, it still has places that truly captivate.

The nearly 200-year-old necropolis is one of the most magnificent monuments of the Victorian era. However, it remains unique because new graves continue to appear. Although the number of available plots at Highgate is greatly limited, burials still occur here.

The Friends of Highgate Cemetery Trust, the charitable organization that has taken over the care of the necropolis, states on the cemetery's official website that available plots can only be purchased for immediate use. Only those over 80 years of age or terminally ill are permitted to buy a place in advance.

What makes Highgate one of the most beautiful cemeteries in the world is the collaboration between nature and human influence. Both parts are lush with greenery. In fact, some gravestones are hard to see among the trees, while others are entwined with vines and roots. In some corners, it feels as if you're walking through a jungle.

Amid this greenery are true gems—stunning monuments, beautifully sculpted stone gravestones, and monumental tombs. In terms of funerary architecture, the western section has more to offer. Here, you'll find the Egyptian Avenue, which resembles an avenue of the dead from an ancient kingdom, winding beyond two obelisks.

Nearby is the equally stunning Circle of Lebanon and the Terrace Catacombs. However, all these places can only be seen during a guided tour. This attraction is very popular, so booking tickets in advance is advisable.

While the more prestigious western section, also known as the "Old Grounds," is famous for its architectural monuments, most celebrity graves are in the eastern section. The final resting places of many famous writers, including George Eliot, Charles Dickens, John Galsworthy, and Douglas Adams, author of the classic novel "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy", are found here.

The grave, or rather the monument to Karl Marx, is a particular attraction. Initially, he was buried alongside his wife in a side alley. However, in 1956, with funds from the Marx Memorial Fund established by the Communist Party, a monument with an impressive bust of Marx created by socialist sculptor Laurence Bradshaw was funded in the central part of eastern Highgate.

You can also find the graves of famous people in the western section. In 2016, George Michael was buried here. Visitors to the famous musician's grave are asked not to leave any mementos or gifts on the gravestone. While the organization running the cemetery has no objections to pens left on the graves of writers in the eastern section, trinkets brought for the musician are removed by cemetery staff.

The cemetery area is vast. With 53,000 graves in both parts of the necropolis, approximately 170,000 people are buried there. If you want to find specific graves, preparing in advance using the cemetery search tool is best. Similarly, suppose you want to see the most beautiful architectural monuments in the western section. In that case, they can only be viewed during guided tours, which are very popular, so it's worth reserving in advance.

The cemetery is open daily, except for the Christmas holidays, from 10 AM to 5 PM (March to October) or 10 AM to 4 PM (November to February). Tickets can be purchased online or at the venue (card payments only).