Highgate in London: Woodland, Culture and History

Highgate combines woodland, school history, historic architecture and the distinctive atmosphere of an old cemetery. If you would like to experience London beyond the major sights in the city centre, Highgate offers a range of reasons for a varied stay. When looking for a hotel in Highgate, it is therefore particularly useful to consider whether you want to focus on nature, culture or architectural history.

Highgate Wood and Roman traces

Highgate Wood is a 70-acre ancient woodland in north London. It is designated as both a Green Flag Site and a Green Heritage Site. There is a clear reference point for getting there: Highgate Wood is a five-minute walk from Highgate station on the Northern line. If you arrive by Underground, you can therefore incorporate this location directly into your day's plans.

Historical traces are also part of the character of the woodland. Highgate Wood contains the remains of at least ten Roman pottery kilns. Interest therefore extends beyond the landscape itself to the history of the site. For families and other London travellers who want to combine nature and the past, this creates a distinctive attraction alongside the classic destinations in central London.

School history and historic buildings

The Highgate School Museum is dedicated to the history of Highgate School. It displays documents, artefacts, photographs and paintings. The museum also houses the royal charter granted by Queen Elizabeth I on 29 January 1565. Free visits are offered under the guidance of the school's archivists. Those interested in educational and local history will find a clearly defined cultural focus here.

Other historic buildings add to this picture. Lauderdale House is a Tudor house in Waterlow Park in Highgate. St Michael's Church is a Grade II* listed church dating from 1830–1832. Shepherd’s Cottage is also located at 36a Highgate High Street. The Grade II listed cottage probably dates from the early 18th century. These details invite you to view Highgate through the lens of different periods and types of buildings, without reducing the area to a single museum.

Highgate Cemetery and planning your visit

Highgate Cemetery opened on 20 May 1839. In Victorian Highgate Cemetery, you can walk among ivy-covered monuments. At the same time, you should take the differing levels of access into account when planning your visit: the West Cemetery of Highgate Cemetery is accessible only as part of the guided Highlights Tour. This detail is particularly important if the cemetery is to be a fixed part of your day in London.

You will encounter this history in the centre of Highgate as well. The boundary wall of the cemetery of the former Highgate Chapel makes a striking contribution to the centre of Highgate village. Together with the historic buildings, it creates a streetscape in which individual buildings, memorial sites and older traces stand side by side.

Which accommodation suits your stay?

A simple decision based on your interests can help when looking for accommodation in Highgate. If you prefer woodland and archaeological traces, Highgate Wood and the remains of the Roman pottery kilns take centre stage. For a culturally focused stay, the Highgate School Museum and its school history provide a useful point of reference. Those with a stronger interest in architecture and cemetery history can include Lauderdale House, St Michael's Church, Shepherd’s Cottage and Highgate Cemetery in their plans.

Discover more places in London

For further London planning, you can also visit the pages on Kilburn, Kenley, West Wickham, Cricklewood, East Ham, Merton, Rotherhithe and Redbridge.