Hotels near Highgate Cemetery

For a Halloween outing with real history rather than actors, Highgate Cemetery is London's most atmospheric Victorian burial ground. The West Cemetery opened in 1839 as one of the city's "Magnificent Seven" garden cemeteries, and the East Cemetery followed in 1860. After decades of neglect, including the 1970s tabloid craze over the so-called Highgate Vampire, the Friends of Highgate Cemetery Trust has cared for the site since 1975. Its ivy-covered tombs, the Egyptian Avenue and the gold-leaf ceiling of the Julius Beer mausoleum give it a gothic feel that suits late October.

Famous graves include Karl Marx (with his large 1956 monument), George Eliot, Christina Rossetti, Douglas Adams and Malcolm McLaren. In 2026 a single admission ticket gives entry to both the East and West sides for the whole day. Visitor reports put a day ticket at about £10 (about €12) per adult, rising to about £18 (about €21) with a guided tour, though check the official booking site for current prices. Guided tours last around 75 minutes and are recommended for first-time visitors, especially on the West side, where paths are steep and gravelled.

Opening hours through October 2026 are 10am to 5pm (last entry 4:30pm), shortening to 10am to 4pm from 1 November. There is no visitor parking and no café on site, so plan food in Highgate Village. Tour dates are released four weeks ahead.

Pro Tip: Book a morning guided tour for Saturday 31 October as soon as dates open four weeks ahead, then walk down Swain's Lane and take the Northern line from Archway to Camden Town for the evening. Wear sturdy shoes, as the West Cemetery paths get muddy in autumn rain.