Highgate & Hampstead: Wednesday 5th June

Highgate & Hampstead: Wednesday 5th June 2024. When London’s churchyards filled up, just as a young Queen Victoria came to the throne, a scheme was launched to build The Magnificent Seven – huge, modern cemeteries in a ring around the City. As soon as it opened in 1839 Highgate Cemetery in the Northern hills became THE place to be buried if you were rich or famous. Highgate would become one of the greatest cemeteries in the world full of eccentric funerary architecture. In the heart of the grounds the Egyptian Avenue leads to the Circle of Lebanon created by earth being excavated around an ancient Cedar of Lebanon. The cemetery fell into ruin for many years until in the 1970s The Friend of Highgate Cemetery was formed to buy the freehold – the tours are run to raise money to look after it. Nature has gradually taken over and this remarkable site is now also an important wild-life reserve. Come and meet London’s famous dead in this Victorian Valhalla. 12 Noon Arrive in Hampstead for Fish & Chips lunch with dessert (cheesecake) and tea/coffee.  The  restaurant is on the ground floor and can cater for gluten free and other dietary requirement when pre-ordered. 2.00pm Guided tour of the West Cemetery (the extraordinary side with all the gothic tombs), which lasts around 70 minutes. Paths are steep and sometimes muddy and there are two flights of stairs so please do make you are aware of this and advise participants to wear appropriate footwear. Following there is time for a self-guided visit to the East Cemetery (where Karl Marx is). This is on a gentler slope with tarmac paths and is more easily accessible. 4.45pm Depart. There are loos at Highgate but no café. Price £59.00 per person.  Coach will depart Stevenage at 10.30  .