Line Walks London: The Magnificent Seven Part V: Highgate to Abney Park Cemetery (9km or 5.6mi)

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Download Map and Directions (PDF)

Introduction

Church in Abney Park Cemetery

The Magnificent Seven are seven beautiful landscaped cemeteries built between 1832 and 1840 to respond to the overcrowded local parish cemeteries and to move the associated health hazards further away from the city centre. The cemeteries are not only burial grounds but also beautiful gardens, some of them are classified as nature reserves. This walk is the fifth in a series of seven magnificent walks, connecting the magnificent seven cemeteries. For an overview of the seven walks, highlights an tips, please visit the overview page.

This walk starts at Highgate Cemetery and ends at Abney Park Cemetery. The walk mainly follows the Capital Ring Walk via Parkland Walk and the New River Path. There are not many food opportunities along the way except at the beginning and the end of the walk.

Highgate West Cemetery is only accessible via a guided tour but it is the most beautiful of them all and definitely worth a visit. If you gather around the gate at the hour, a guide will be waiting for you to take you on a one hour tour for around £7. This walk is rather short and should give you enough time to visit the West Cemetery before the walk. Those who would like to admire the grave of Karl Marx, need to head to Highgate East Cemetery, accessible for an entrance fee of £3.

Getting There

Start:
bus 210 to Lauderdale House/Waterlow Parkor about 1mi walk towards Highgate Underground Station (Northern Line)

Transport along the way:

Finsbury Park (Piccadilly and Victoria Line)

End:

bus 106 to Finsbury Park from the Northern exit of Abney Park Cemetery/Stoke Newington High St or Stoke Newington Station

Download Map and Directions (PDF)

From Waterlow Park, follow Hornsey Lane and turn left at Stanhope Road. Than follow the Capital Ring Walk towards Parkland Walk leading to Finsbury Park. Parkland Walk used to be a railway track between Muswell Hill and Finsbury Park but is nowadays a tranquil and beautiful nature reserve. From Finsbury Park, keep following the Capital Ring Walk, leading onto the new river path. Follow the new river path past the water reservoirs and the Climbing Castle. Walk through Clissold Park and follow Church Street in Stoke Newington to find Abney Park Cemetery on your left.