Location: London
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Top 10 Cemeteries in London, England
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1. Willesden Jewish Cemetery
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 6 reviews
Reviewed By I8036DAsusank
We had a brilliant tour of the Willesden Jewish Cemetery with Ingrid Sellman yesterday. The information around the religion and practises around death and burial were brilliant and tour of the buildings. Our guide showed us a number of incredibly interesting graves with a variety of people we knew about and did not know about. We learnt about some incredible Jewish women who were pushing boundaries in their time. We also learnt a lot about some famous local Jewish people. We loved the tradition of placing a pebble on the graves of individuals as a sign you had been there and appreciated the person. Such a simple yet poignant touch. The new visitor centre is really impressive and the volunteers so welcoming and helpful.
2. Nunhead Cemetery, South London
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 55 reviews
Reviewed By 227ianc - London, United Kingdom
Nunhead Cemetery in Southwark was the sixth of the 'Magnificent Seven' cemeteries. Consecrated in 1840 and, although there is an area of modern graves, much of the cemetery is today more of a wildlife reserve dotted with gravestones. At its heart is the Gothic Anglican Chapel, now ruined after an arson attack in the 1970's. There are a number of interesting monuments which have been conserved - including the monument to the Scottish Martyrs - a partner to the larger one on Calton Hill in Edinburgh. The Martyrs were five men - two from Scotland and three from London who were sentenced to penal transportation because of their campaign for parliamentary reform. There are several war graves from those who died in the two world wars, with many from Belgium in the First World war and countries such as Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Canada in the Second, and a monument to nine Sea Scouts who died in the Leysdown Tragedy off the Isle of Sheppey in 1912. Enjoyable to visit and explore and a green natural space for people to enjoy
3. City of London Cemetery and Crematorium
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 18 reviews
Reviewed By maureenmZ2995AR
I have visited this cemetery for many years as my parents were remembered by a rose bush in the lovely gardens of remembrance. However, over the last couple of years I have found it is a lovely place to relax or to exercise by walking through the well kept grounds, with the bonus that they have a lovely cafe - the Poppy Pantry. The staff are very friendly and welcoming and the food is tasty at a reasonable price. In the summer there is a very pleasant outside seating area with a water feature. Overall a very relaxing place to visit.
4. National Police Memorial
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 4 reviews
Reviewed By therichastill - Stevenage, United Kingdom
The National Police Memorial is just on the edge of St James Park and is on the edge of Horse Guard's Parade. It can be reached from the Mall. It's a bit of an unusual monument but the thing I did enjoy from the memorial is that there is a book on display which shows the names of the police officers who have died whilst on duty for the day you visit. It's quite moving to read the names of the officers who died in the line of duty.
5. St Paul's Churchyard and Eden Community Garden
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
A small open space surrounding St. Paul's Church, Clapham which is also home to 'Eden Community Garden' ; this is one of Lambeth's longest standing Green Flag Award-winning sites. The award recognises the considerable achievements made by residents, church parish and council to provide the local community with a green space all can be proud of. St Paul's Church was once the original parish church for Clapham and the grounds, now closed to further burials, have been managed by Lambeth Council since 1965. The churchyard contains a number of striking memorials, mature trees and herbaceous beds, and is widely used for informal play by children. The churchyard is also used for a series of community events through the year including a Summer fete and a Winter bonfire and fireworks Eden’s objective is to provide a tranquil, inner city space; its aim is to create and maintain a sustainable habitat for wildlife and promote bio-diversity by planting native species and through organic gardening
6. Highgate Cemetery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,800 reviews
Beautiful Victorian cemetery near to Hampstead Heath. Highgate Cemetery has some of the finest funerary architecture in the country. It is a place of peaceful contemplation where trees, memorials and wildlife flourish.
Reviewed By NomadicKiwi1 - North Shore, New Zealand
My friend and I visited the Cemetery on a Thursday in February. We had booked a tour of the West Cemetery for 1:30pm so spent about 1.5 hours looking round the East Cemetery first (highly recommend visiting both parts of the Cemetery which cost £12 for both and goes toward the essential upkeep of the place) The East Cemetery has an amazing collection of graves including lots of beautiful Angel Headstones, Karl Marx Grave, Memorial to the London Fire Brigade, a number of Commonwealth War Graves, a Piano Tomb and a fascinating collection of the graves of Iraqi Human Rights Campaigners. We liked how many of the headstone engravings revealed the personality and spirit of the people with their descriptions. Our 70 minute tour of the West Cemetery was well worth it! Our tour guide Gordon was entertaining, knowledgeable and engaging. The West side is more overgrown and atmospheric and we stopped at a number of Graves to hear their stories. I particularly liked the Egyptian Avenue, atmospheric Catacombs and Crypts, Mausoleum, the Sleeping Angel and Sleeping Lion. A fascinating and atmospheric day out!
7. Bunhill Fields
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 70 reviews
Reviewed By 38MichaelP38 - Haddenham, United Kingdom
One of the beauties of London is being surprised at what may be around the corner. Here it is - a slice of 18th Century antiquity beside the ground of the Honourable Artillery Company HQ in City Road. Wesley and Bunyan are buried here and would be an astonishing place to visit very early on a cold November day.
8. Brompton Cemetery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 195 reviews
Reviewed By 227ianc - London, United Kingdom
I have lived a 15-minute drive away for years and passed by many times, but, much to my shame, never visited the Cemetery until today when I was looking for somewhere new to explore and enjoy walking in the sunshine. What a find!! Brompton is one of the more architectural cemeteries, opened in 1840 with neoclassical buildings as the centrepiece of what was intended to be a garden for the public to enjoy in addition as a last resting place for local people of all status. Strangely, it is managed by Royal Parks, though there are no British royalty there that I could see. Among the rich collection of funeral statuary, the most interesting designs are those which reflect their era such as the Art Nouveau monuments for Horace Lot (died in 1896) and Gilbert Laye (died 1926), the Byzantine design for Val C Prinsep (died 1904), the Celtic metalwork for Frederick Richards Leyland (died 1890) and the Celtic cross for Charles Edward Ricketts Robinson Priest. Monuments to search out are those to the 2625 Chelsea Pensioners buried nearby between 1855 and 1893, to Emily Pankhurst (died 1928), Dr John Snow (died 1858) who discovered that cholera was spread by infected drinking water, Blanche Roosevelt Macchetta, Marchesa D’Allegri (died 1898) and the Brigade of Guards Monument surrounded by military graves including many from the Scots and Irish Guards. There are catacombs underneath, but these were not popular due to a rumour that bodies explode when sealed in lead coffins (actually, they don't, they turn to liquid - don't ask me why I know that, but I know.....!!) With the stands of Chelsea Football Club appearing above the monuments along with a few other modern buildings, the Cemetery is a peaceful green space full of social history, popular with runners and a haven for wildlife, though the crows are as sinister as in Alfred Hitchcock’s famous film…. It must also be one of the few cemeteries which has a tea room - how enterprising is that! I have to admit that I did call in for a welcome refreshment. If you are interested in the art of cemetery memorials and the history of the people buried here, there is information on the Royal Parks website which you should download before you visit. Even though I spent some time here, I didn't see everything so another visit will be needed! All cemeteries should be like this!!
9. Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 60 reviews
Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park offers everyone a breathing space in the heart of East London. This woodland cemetery is a unique place of transformation: a people's cemetery, a place for remembrance, a sanctuary for humans as well as nature, a place for festivals, field studies and forest schools. Always changing with the seasons, it is rooted in the history of the East End, a place of rich heritage that is full of possibilities and freedom for all.
Reviewed By Fordie60 - London, United Kingdom
A wonderful place to discover nature. Simply walk around or use their Heritage Trail booklet. You can even help, they have gardening or heritage volunteering days. Look on their website for organised activities for adults and children.
10. West Norwood Cemetery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 30 reviews
Reviewed By 968nicholash - London, United Kingdom
This was the second major burial area in the suburbs set up in 1837 by the Victorians to ease the pressure on London’s church graveyards. Ironically it’s now full and has been closed to new burials (apart from in family plots) for decades. Everywhere you look there’s another historic monument or gravestone. A particularly interesting area is the Greek Cemetery. It’s a huge cemetery covering 43 acres. We took the monthly free guided tour, which was excellent. It lasts 90 minutes and out guide was a source of so much information and had a good sense of humour. This is a marvellous place to visit.
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