Wandering around a cemetery may not be every traveler’s idea of a good time, but if you’re in London, Highgate Cemetery is a must-see. A nature reserve and a burial place for thousands of people, the cemetery is full of unique sights and rich history.
Highgate Cemetery was opened in 1839 to combat London’s critical shortage of burial space, which was a public health crisis. The cemetery grew over the years into two sections, East and West, with around 170,000 people in 53,000 graves.
Of course, no cemetery would be complete without a few ghost stories. Some people claim to have seen a mysterious vampire haunting the graves. According to the story, the vampire broke into some tombs and stole corpses!
But Highgate Cemetery offers much more than spooky legends. Probably Highgate’s most famous resident is Karl Marx, the revolutionary German socialist philosopher. Other well-known inhabitants include novelist George Eliot, Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy author Douglas Adams, sculptor Anna Mahler, and Adam Worth, a famous criminal and the supposed inspiration for Sherlock Holmes’s nemesis, Professor Moriarty.
Now’s a great time to plan your next London getaway. Even better, Silversea’s ultra-luxury ships Silver Cloud and Silver Wind will be visiting the city this spring and summer on select Northern Europe itineraries. For more details, talk to your Stellar Travel advisor.