Unique Places to Visit in London
With the city of Greater London being the largest city in Europe it is little wonder that you will find an incredible number of fascinating tourist attractions. Some, such as Big Ben and Buckingham Palace, are amongst the most well known landmarks in the world but if you are looking for something a little out of the ordinary then London has a few hidden surprises.
One of the most incredible places in London to visit that is not too widely known is the eerie Highgate Cemetery. The cemetery would fit the bill perfectly as a location for the shooting of a Hollywood gothic horror story with it’s Victorian splendor now aged beautifully and rather overgrown. Covering an area of around 37 acres Highgate Cemetery has a number of noteworthy graves with amazing obelisks, vaults, mausoleums and catacombs. Amongst the most famous grave monuments is that of Karl Marx.
Known as the ‘Father of Communism’ Karl Marx is one of the most highly respected persons in the communist movement. He had moved to London in 1849 and when he died, in 1883, he was buried in the family plot which was a pretty simple affair. In celebration of his importance the Communist Party of Great Britain commissioned an incredible monument which was presented to the public in 1954. Although many were pleased some folk felt that his original was more suitable and some radicals even tried to blow it up in 1970.
Of course you will also find many other graves belonging to famous people of the past including that of a once famous bare knuckle fighter called Tom Sayers. Charles Dickens’ family grave can also be found at Highgate and other famous graves include those of; George Eliot, J. W. Cross, C. H. Newton, Michael Faraday, Julius Beer, Christina Rossetti, G. Wombwell, Dr S.Birch, James Selby, John Lobb and six former Lord Mayors of London.
Due to the rapid increases in the population of London during the Victorian period the disposal of the dead became something of a problem. In response seven cemeteries were created which are known as the “Magnificent Seven” due to their typical Victorian design and over indulgence which can be seen in the many public buildings which remain today. Of the seven graveyards the one at Highgate is the most decorated and it is considered the finest.
To meet the demands of the successful Victorians Highgate had their mausoleums built together in a most amazing fashion. The entrance to the Egyptian Avenue is one of the most spectacular. The avenue itself has mausoleums on either side and it leads on to the famous group of mausoleums known as the “Circle of Lebanon” which is one of the most photographed parts of the cemetery.
Although there are many people who tend to the cemetery much of the character has been allowed to remain and many areas are rather overgrown. This adds to the excitement of discovering the different statues and monuments. There is something really special about peering through creeping vines to find a splendid weeping angel, life sized animals or, in the case of the grave of James Selby, something altogether more spectacular.
You may think that I have forgotten to tell you exactly what to expect at the grave of James Selby but I have purposely avoided a full description as I feel that it is actually so spectacular that you really need to see it with your own eyes. If I tell you too much it will spoil the impact, let’s compare it to telling somebody the ending of a movie before they watch it.
