The Cemetery has been transformed from being a typical neatly laid out burial ground into a natural, woodland park officially Grade II*. This gives it a special beauty and charm.

Buildings

It has been said that Highgate has the finest collection of Victorian funerary architecture in the country. Two building's are listed Grade I, two Grade II*, and over sixty Grade II. In the Western Cemetery of particular interest are the Lebanon Circle Vaults, the Egyptian Avenue, the Terrace Catacombs and the Julius Beer Mausoleum; and in the East Cemetery the massive, much visited bust of Karl Marx.

Famous People

There are known to be at least 850 notable people buried at Highgate, about two thirds of whom appear in the Dictionary of National Biography and most of the others in either Modern English Biography, Who Was Who, in the obituary notices in the Press, or in Graves "Dictionary of Exhibitors at the Royal Academy 1796-1906". Amongst these are 18 Royal Academicians, 6 Lord Mayors of London, 48 Fellows of the Royal Society, the founders of London businesses including Maples, Foyles, Negretti-Zambra, John Lobb, P&O, and Quaritch, and familiar names such as Faraday, Karl Marx, George Eliot, Radclyffe Hall, Carl Rosa and Sir Ralph Richardson.

Fauna and Flora

There is a set programme for the maintenance of the landscape and for the improvement of access. Over the years there has been copious planting including upwards of 100 different species of wildflowers and countless trees including hornbeam, exotic limes, oak, hazel, sweet chestnut, tulip and field maple.

Some 50 species of bird and 18 species of butterfly have been sighted; among the spiders were 3 rarely seen in the UK; and there is even a resident colony of foxes.

We always need a helping hand

Volunteers are much appreciated. If you can help in welcoming the public, selling tickets and publications, occasional working parties on landscaping and planting, or by training for guided tours. Please telephone 0208 340 1834