Victorian Valhalla (Highgate Cemetery)

Member Name: douglasadams

Product:	Highgate Cemetery
Date:	11/09/05 (170 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: atmospheric, great guides

Disadvantages: no toilets

May seem like a strange destination for the casual tourist, but what a surprise Highgate cemetery is. A wonderfully preserved victorian cemetery full of great sculptures and well known names. From the wonderful atmosphere in the West side, to the tranqulity of the East. The guides certainly know their stuff, very knowledgeable and entertaining. We had a tour of the West side. It cost us £5, but it was certainly worth it. The guide we had seemed to know so much about the cemetery, from the people there to what various symbols on the stones meant. She took us to many places in the West side but some of the one's we wanted to see (Faraday, Rosetti and Dickens) were apparently along pathways which were quite overgrown. Didn't matter though, the places that we went were spectacular. There was a great atmosphere there, including a stragely misty path, which made it a very eerie place to be. Small wonder then that in the early seventies Hammer Horror used it in some of their films. The East side cost us a further £2 plus £1 for a camera permit (who still has those?). Karl Marx is here, he has a wonderful tombstone which stands high above the rest. Other famous people here include Ralph Richardson, George Eliot and some whose names were not familiar but what they did will be (inventor of the cinema projector anyone?).
In all quite a brilliant day out, if you go make sure you have time to take in both sides. One drawback though is that there are no toilets for visitors or is there anywhere to get a drink. These minor drawbacks though pale into insignificance though when you think of the entire package. All in all a fantasic place.

Summary: The tour is something you have to have when there.