Highgate can be explored from two different perspectives: as the site of an ancient woodland in north London and as a place with tangible school and architectural history. If you’re looking for a hotel in Highgate, this themed selection can help you plan your stay. Highgate Wood offers a direct connection to the landscape; the school museum and historic buildings lead to different chapters in the area’s history. It’s also worth keeping the different visitor arrangements in mind: some visits must be arranged in advance, and access to the West Cemetery is restricted to guided tours.
Highgate Wood: Woodland and Roman History
Highgate Wood is an ancient woodland covering 70 acres in north London. It is designated as both a Green Flag Site and a Green Heritage Site. Its history also includes the remains of at least ten Roman pottery kilns. The woodland thus brings together the landscape and tangible evidence of past activity, without the significance of the place being limited to a single period.
There is a specific detail to help you find your way to this destination: Highgate Wood is a five-minute walk from Highgate station on the Northern line.
School History at the Highgate School Museum
The Highgate School Museum displays documents, artefacts, photographs and paintings relating to the history of Highgate School. The museum’s listed items also include Queen Elizabeth I’s Royal Charter, dated 29 January 1565. The collection offers a different perspective on Highgate from the woodland: here, the focus is on the history of a school and the records associated with it.
Museum visits are free and led by the school’s archivists. You need to get in touch to arrange a visit. So don’t plan your museum visit as a spontaneous stop without prior arrangements; contact the school in advance to make arrangements.
Historic Houses, a Church and the Village Centre
Lauderdale House is a Tudor house in Waterlow Park, Highgate. St Michael’s Church combines a specific construction period with a listed status: the church dates from 1830 to 1832 and is listed Grade II*. Shepherd’s Cottage is at 36a Highgate High Street and is a Grade II listed cottage. It probably dates from the early 18th century; this date is explicitly uncertain.
The boundary wall of the former Highgate Chapel’s burial ground also makes a striking contribution to the centre of Highgate village. The buildings and features mentioned can therefore be identified by their respective roles: Lauderdale House is described as a Tudor house, St Michael’s by its construction period and listing, and Shepherd’s Cottage by its address and probable date. The wall, in turn, is described in terms of its contribution to the village centre.
Highgate Cemetery: Opening and Access
Highgate Cemetery opened on 20 May 1839. A special access rule applies to the West Cemetery: it can only be visited as part of the guided Highlights Tour. As visitor arrangements may change, check the cemetery’s current information before visiting.
Different arrangements apply when planning your visit: for the Highgate School Museum, you need to get in touch to arrange a free visit led by archivists; the West Cemetery can only be accessed on the guided Highlights Tour. If you’re looking for a hotel in Highgate, you can first decide whether woodland, school history or historic buildings will be the focus of your stay. The area’s history stretches from the charter of 1565 to the cemetery’s opening in 1839.
Discover more destinations: Kilburn, Cricklewood, Camden Town
For the broader travel overview: Camden.
