Highgate.

 We watched a very interesting online talk  about the so called ' Magnificent Seven' Victorian cemeteries    in London.  We learnt that Highgate, which usually only allows guided tours of the West cemetery have changed their rules during the pandemic. You can, for a charge, walk round both sides of Highgate Cemetery under  your own steam.

We decided to take advantage of this  probably not to be repeated chance. Guide tours are very good, you can learn alot but its nice to amble along at your own speed. So,  booked online off we went on Saturday for a usual Morbid Morgan fun day out!

Weather was cold unfortunately and felt like it got colder as the day went on. After an uneventful drive down we got parked easily in a nearby street as parking restrictions are lifted during the weekends. There's no facilities in the cemetery but I'd packed as a picnic and flask of coffee  which we had a cup of before   organising ourselves to move off.

Entry to Highgate was all very organised  and straight forward we  got in, got our guide book and off we went onto the Colonnade Path. There  are many graves of the famous, or once famous  including the     magnificent grave of George Wombwell, a Victorian circus& freak  show owner with a resting Lion atop his grave. His circus also   at one time featured John Merrick, aka The Elephant Man. 

Malcolm  McClaren of Sex  Pistols fame  is also buried here. It's his actual death mask used on his grave! 

Russian spy killed in London

 

  The most famous person buried is Karl Marx, though the  huge grave he now has was a addition made b y the Soviet Government in the 1960's, the original being far smaller  and unassuming. Actress Jean Simmons  also is buried in Highgate.

It's a fascinating day out if you fancy it. It's much more than a cemetery & more a  history lesson.

Since visiting  the rules have gone back to guided tours only of the West cemetery which is the more interesting side with the terraced catacombs etc.