Highgate

Highgate station gives access to one of north London's finest and most historically layered villages. The Highgate of today is a prosperous, beautiful place with Georgian terraces, an independent cinema (the Highgate Electric, which has been showing films continuously for decades), excellent restaurants and a village-like high street that has retained an impressive number of independent businesses. But the single most significant attraction is Highgate Cemetery, a Victorian garden cemetery of extraordinary quality where Karl Marx, George Eliot, Michael Faraday and Douglas Adams are among the notable figures buried.

The cemetery splits into two sections - the East Cemetery (free entry, where Marx's tomb is) and the West Cemetery (guided tours only, significant charge). The West Cemetery's catacomb tunnels and overgrown Egyptian Avenue are among the most atmospheric spaces in all of London.

Station Overview

Highgate station opened in 1941 on the former LNER line. It sits in Zone 3 and is served by the Northern line on the High Barnet branch. The station does not have step-free access. It is between East Finchley to the north and Archway to the south.

Lines and Connectivity

The Northern line (black, High Barnet branch) connects north to East Finchley, West Finchley and High Barnet, and south through Archway, Tufnell Park and Kentish Town into central London. Journey time to Bank is approximately twenty minutes.

Facilities

Highgate station has a small shop and ticket machines. Highgate village, a five-minute walk uphill, has excellent cafes, restaurants and independent shops. There are ATMs in the village.

Accessibility

Highgate does not have step-free access. There are stairs to the deep-level platforms. The nearest accessible Northern line stations are in the central London direction at various Zone 1 and 2 stops.

Travel Tips

• Highgate Cemetery East (Karl Marx tomb) has free entry and is open daily. The West Cemetery requires a guided tour (booked in advance). Both are among the most atmospheric Victorian burial grounds in the world.
• Highgate village is a five-minute walk uphill from the station - the high street has excellent restaurants, the Highgate Electric Cinema and independent shops.
• Hampstead Heath's Highgate Ponds are about fifteen minutes walk from the station, heading south through the Wood. The mixed bathing pond is open in summer.
• The Parkland Walk, a nature reserve on a disused railway, passes near Highgate and is one of north London's best walking routes.
• Kenwood House (free gallery with Rembrandt, Vermeer) is accessible by walking north across Hampstead Heath from Highgate Woods.

Nearby Attractions

Highgate Cemetery - ten minutes walk. East Cemetery (free, Karl Marx) and West Cemetery (guided tours). One of the world's great Victorian garden cemeteries. Booking for West Cemetery tours advised.

Highgate village - five minutes walk uphill. Georgian streets, the Highgate Electric Cinema, excellent restaurants and one of north London's best village-feel high streets.

Hampstead Heath ponds - fifteen minutes walk south. Open water swimming in the mixed and single-sex ponds on Hampstead Heath. Open year-round.

Timings and Best Time to Travel

Northern line services at Highgate run from approximately 05:30 to midnight Monday to Saturday and 07:00 to 23:30 on Sundays. Night Tube operates on the Northern line on Friday and Saturday nights. The cemetery is best visited on weekday mornings when it is quiet. Highgate village is busiest on Saturday afternoons.