Highgate: Woods, History and Cemetery Heritage

Highgate brings together woodland, school history, historic architecture and cemetery history. If you’re looking for hotels in Highgate, this range of attractions can help you decide what you’d like to focus on during your stay: Highgate Wood combines a landscape perspective with Roman traces, while the museum, buildings and cemetery offer other ways to explore history.

Highgate Wood: Woodland and Roman Traces

Highgate Wood is a 70-acre ancient woodland in north London. It is designated as a Green Flag Site and a Green Heritage Site. The woodland contains the remains of at least ten Roman pottery kilns, connecting the landscape with a specific historical context. Highgate station on the Northern line is a clear point of reference for finding your way: Highgate Wood is a five-minute walk from the station.

School History and Historic Buildings

The Highgate School Museum displays documents, artefacts, photographs and paintings relating to the history of Highgate School. The collection includes the royal charter granted by Queen Elizabeth I on 29 January 1565; its date provides a specific point of reference alongside the collection’s diverse materials. Visits are free and led by the school archivists. Contact the school to arrange a visit.

Lauderdale House is a Tudor house in Waterlow Park in Highgate. St Michael’s Church dates from 1830–1832 and is a Grade II* listed building. Shepherd’s Cottage at 36a Highgate High Street is Grade II listed; it probably originated in the early 18th century. The buildings named here differ in their architecture, dates and listed status.

Highgate Cemetery and the Village Centre

Highgate Cemetery opened on 20 May 1839. Access to the West Cemetery is restricted: it can only be visited as part of the guided Highlights Tour. As visiting arrangements may change, check the access information in advance. The boundary wall of the cemetery of the former Highgate Chapel also makes a striking contribution to the centre of Highgate village.

The dates refer to different things: 29 January 1565 is the date of the royal charter, 1830–1832 is the construction period of St Michael’s Church, and 20 May 1839 is the opening date of Highgate Cemetery. Shepherd’s Cottage probably originated in the early 18th century. This distinction helps keep the document date, construction period, cemetery opening and probable date of origin separate.

Visiting Arrangements for Your Planning

Practical arrangements vary: a museum visit must be arranged in advance, access to the West Cemetery is limited to the guided Highlights Tour, and a specific walking time is given for reaching Highgate Wood from the station. If you’re looking for hotels in Highgate, consider which of these historical or landscape attractions you’d like to shape your stay. Arrange your museum visit and plan access to the West Cemetery; the station information provides a separate point of reference for the woodland.

Discover more destinations: Kilburn, Cricklewood, Camden Town

For the broader travel overview: Camden.