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Highgate Cemetery - 4 Hour Tour
£300.00
So why on earth should you visit a cemetery?
If your motivation is morbid curiosity about how the pioneering Highgate Cemetery was conceived to allay the fear of thwart Victorian grave robbers and body snatchers, then you are in luck. It was created because of the overcrowded church and graveyards in the city. Or perhaps you have a desire to see how the imposing Highgate Cemetery has been used as a filming location for the famed Hammer Film Productions horror films of the 1960s and 70’s through to modern period films such as ‘Fantastic Beasts ’and ‘Dorian Gray’? Or maybe you fancy a spot of celebrity grave spotting to enhance your daily nature walk? Highgate Cemetery delivers on all points.
The History of Highgate Cemetery is fascinating and prior to its opening in 1839, London's dead were buried in graveyards attached to individual churches. Lack of space, concern about public health and grave robberies inspired the idea of a private cemetery more akin to a public park and was enticing to those with the financial means in Victorian London.
Highgate Cemetery was the third such cemetery in a plan to provide seven (originally eight) large, modern cemeteries, now known as the "Magnificent Seven", around the outside of central London and were considered a great success.
Notable Residents include Radclyffe Hall, Charles Cruft (founder of Crufts dog show) famed scientist Michael Faraday and Alexander Litvinenko, the Russian dissident and defector murdered by poisoning in London, there are some very interesting back stories to some residents of Highgate cemetery.
Henry Gray, the anatomist, surgeon and author of Gray's Anatomy (considered the Doctors Bible, not the TV show) is interred in Highgate although his grave isn't visible to the public.
Charles Dickens’ wife Catherine is also buried here and although it isn't on the map, visitors are welcome to ask the guide to show her grave's whereabouts.
Elizabeth Siddal (with Christina Rossetti, the poet) have their resting places here along with Dante Gabriel Rossetti’s wife. The grave has connections with Dracula (inspiration for Lucy).
Some notable names from the arts include the Lord of the Rings actor Ian Holm (although not visible to the public), Douglas Adams, author of Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and the beautiful and talented actress Jean Simmons's grave is here too. The Sex Pistols manager Malcolm McLaren with an interesting headstone is very near to the father of communism, Karl Marx. George Michael, also has his final resting place at Highgate Cemetery.
If you are a fan of Sherlock Holmes, why not visit the grave of Adam Worth. He was widely considered as the inspiration for Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's fictional criminal mastermind.
The cemetery is on 37 acres of woodland and grassland overgrown and gothic and is designated as Grade I on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens. Aside from the historical significance of the cemetery itself and some of its residents, Highgate Cemetery is a peaceful and tranquil space to enjoy many of the species of flora and fauna that call the cemetery home.
There are two sides to the cemetery and both are filled with interesting features, monuments and famous residents.
The west side of the cemetery includes the iconic Egyptian Avenue, the Circle of Lebanon and the Terrace Catacombs (which are opened exclusively for guided tour participants).
Tickets can be purchased from https://highgatecemetery.org/visit#featurephoto382
Highgate Cemetery is open 10am to 5pm daily from March to October.
The Black Cab Tours will take you on a journey back in time to this fascinating and incredible place.
We will pick you up, bring you to Highgate cemetery, and take you to a lovely place to eat thereafter (optional). We will then bring you back to your drop off point.
Before booking the guided tour at the cemetery, please check our dates of availability. Feel free to call or email us with your dates.
Cab holds five people and price is per cab.
‘I need never have known existence’: Radclyffe Hall and LGBTQ+ visibility - The National Archives blog Gray's Anatomy - Wikipedia
Taste the Blood of Dracula, Christopher Lee, Hammer Films 1969 (baharna.com)
Please note that any fees for venues, food and refreshments are payable to the vendors on the day!
We will request a £100 deposit upon booking to secure your date with the remainder of payment to be paid 14 days in advance of your tour.
Cancellation policy: A 50% refund is available up to 8 days before your tour. No refund is available thereafter.