Highgate East (2017 & 2018)
Highgate Cemetery is undoubtedly the most celebrated of the Magnificent 7 cemeteries, not least because of the enormous monument marking the burial of perhaps its most famous resident, Karl Marx. Other famous residents include Douglas Adams (author), George Michael (singer/songwriter), Malcolm McLaren (musician, performer, artist) and Michael Faraday (scientist and engineer). Highgate Cemetery is still open for burials and there is a quite breath-taking range of sculpture on show, both victorian and modern.
Highgate Cemetery is located is located on the border between three London Boroughs (Camden, Haringey and Islington) and in 2 postcodes (N6 and N19). Highgate is really two cemeteries (hence the fact that I have 8 Magnificent 7 galleries!). Highgate West was established in 1839 and Highgate East was established in 1854. Highgate West can only be visited as part of a guided tour, but Highgate East can be visited at anytime throughout the day with a small payment.
Both sides of the cemetery are actively (and beautifully) maintained, but despite this there are still plenty of areas with a suitably gothic and picturesque level of over-growth!
I first visited Highgate some years ago, but my first visit as part of this project was the very next day after visiting Tower Hamlets Cemetery in 2017. I visited both Highgate East again, together with Highgate West in 2018.
