It was my first time visiting Highgate, and I knew the cemetery was a must-visit spot.
Opened in 1839 as one of London’s “Magnificent Seven” cemeteries, it was built to deal with overcrowded churchyards and today holds around 170,000 graves.
By the 1960s, parts were overgrown and neglected, so in 1975, the Friends of Highgate Cemetery Trust was established to rescue the cemetery from further decay.
Even though it’s in London, this part of Highgate now feels like a quiet world of its own, a place where history and nature come together.
As soon as I stepped in, the noise of the city faded.
I started in the East Cemetery, which is open to the public every day.
It was there that I met Priya, 41, whose dad was buried here.
Priya, who is from Wembley, told me: “I come here from time to time because it’s nice to escape to.
“It’s so peaceful, and living in London, particularly in Wembley, that is very rare.
“The history here is amazing, but what really gets me is how nature has kind of taken over in places.
“My father was buried here in the 1990s, and his grave has ivy crawling over it. He loved nature, so he’d be so happy.”
Priya directed me to the tomb of Karl Marx.
The revolutionary thinker’s grave is a simple stone slab, worn by time and bears many coins, notes, and tokens left by visitors.
A cartoon placed on his grave said: “Yes, the planet got destroyed, but for a beautiful moment in time, we created a lot of value for shareholders.”
Nearby is the newer, much bigger black granite monument with a bust of Marx looking down.
Fresh flowers were laid at its base, as well as a copy of the book he co-wrote with Engels, The Communist Manifesto.
While there, I met Jamie, a student from Toronto in Canada.
Jamie, 23, said: “I came for Marx’s grave, because I’m studying Marxism and Communism back in Canada.
“But once I started wandering around, I got totally lost in it.
“It’s like stepping back in time.
“You see all these famous names, but also loads of ordinary people, and it just makes you think about how many stories there are buried here.
“I’ve been in London for only about a week, and this place is definitely my favourite spot so far.”
Seeing Marx’s tombs up close was a reminder of the huge impact he had, but here he rests quietly, among thousands of others who helped shape London’s story.
Many visitors treated the spot with respect, with some taking photos and others just standing quietly.
Walking the paths between Victorian graves, I came across some familiar names.
The writer Mary Ann Evans, known to most as George Eliot, has her simple headstone here.
Nearby is Malcolm McLaren, the man behind the Sex Pistols, marked with a plaque that suits his rebellious reputation.
Douglas Adams, author of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, is also here.
I found myself thinking about the lives behind the names on the stones.
These people lived and died so long ago, but their stories remain part of this place.
Debbie, from Highgate Village, was there that day.
The 71-year-old told me: “My husband is buried here, so this place means a lot to me.
“At first, I was hesitant to come back, but over time it’s become a peaceful spot where I can feel close to him.
“It’s quiet and calming and has really allowed me to reflect on my own life.”
Debbie made me realise how important it is to remember those who are no longer with us, particularly as we came along the burial site of the 78 sisters of Bethany, an Anglican religious order.
When I walked in, I was listening to House of Memories on my headphones, which was fairly appropriate, but inside the cemetery, any sort of music felt out of place.
I wanted to hear the quiet crunch of gravel, the wind in the trees, and soft voices of other visitors.
If you go, I’d suggest leaving headphones behind or turning them off.
The silence is part of what makes this place so special.
I have to admit, the layout of the cemetery is not straightforward. At one point, I completely lost my way.
I wound down narrow paths and between overgrown tombstones until I wasn’t quite sure which way was out.
It added to the sense of stepping back in time, but I wouldn’t recommend it if you’re in a hurry. A map or a guide is a good idea if you want to explore fully.
If you’re visiting, entry to the East Cemetery costs £7 for adults and it’s open daily from 10am to 5pm.
It’s easy to get to from Archway or Highgate tube stations.
For a different experience, the West Cemetery is wilder and only open on guided tours.
Highgate Cemetery isn’t just a graveyard, but a place where London’s history lives on in stone and nature.
If you visit, take a moment to stop, listen, and appreciate the quiet, because sometimes the city’s silence speaks loudest.
