Seven Magnificent Walks: Overview

Introduction

Highgate West Cemetery

When I moved to London, I got charmed by the organic growth of Highgate Cemetery. I only know cemeteries organised in dam patterns where there is no room for old graves or natural development. Walking past the old graves, you wonder about the stories behind them and what London life in the 19th century must have been like. As walking is my passion, I got inspired to create a walk connecting the Magnificent Seven Cemeteries.

The Magnificent Seven are seven beautiful Victorian landscaped cemeteries built between 1832 and 1840 to respond to the overcrowding of local parish cemeteries. The cemeteries are not only burial grounds but also beautiful hidden gardens, some of them are classified nature reserves.

The seven walks span a total of 82 kilometres or 51 miles and partially follow other trails such as the Capital Ring Walk and the New River Path. The walks are available via the MapMyRun tool on my blog or you can download the PDF on your phone, so you can access the routes even when offline.

The Magnificent Seven Part VII: Tower Hamlets to Nunhead Cemetery (14km or 9mi)

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Map and Directions (Download the PDF to your phone to access the map offline)

Introduction

Wapping

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 seventh and last 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.

The walk start at Tower Hamlets Cemetery and ends at Nunhead, following the Lea Navigation to Limehouse Basin and following the Thames Path across the Tower Bridge. Tower Hamlets Cemetery is a nature reserve, described as an ‘urban woodland’. Nunhead cemetery has its own charm, located on a hill it offers panoramic views of the city. Walk Westwards to the top of the hill to sit down and take in the view of St Paul’s Cathedral.

The Magnificent Seven Part VI: Abney Park Cemetery to Tower Hamlets Cemetery (11km or 7mi)

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Introduction

Mile End

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 sixth 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 Abney Park Cemetery and follows the new River Path and Regents Canal to Tower Hamlets Cemetery. There are many cosy cafes along Church Street in Stoke Newington and along Regent’s Canal. Toilet facilities can be found in Clissold Park and Victoria Park. For more info about the New River Path, please check out my blog about the New River Path.

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

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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. 

The Magnificent Seven Part IV: Kensal Green to Highgate Cemetery (14km or 8.7mi)

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Introduction

Highgate West 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 fourth 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 Kensal Green Cemetery and ends at Highgate Cemetery. The walk mainly follows the tow paths of Paddington Branch and Regent’s Canal and diverts to Primrose Hill and Hampstead just before passing the London Zoo on Regent’s Canal. I really enjoyed walking through Hampstead. Just like Highgate and Muswell Hill, it feels like being out of the city, in a cosy little town.

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. The next walk, Highgate to Abney Park is considerably shorter (9km or 5.6mi) 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.

The Magnificent Seven Part III: Brompton to Kensal Green (11km or 7mi)

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Introduction

Frederick Leyland was one of the largest ship 

owners at the end of the 19th century, 

Brompton 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 third 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 is the third part in a series of seven, an ambitious plan to connect the Magnificent Seven. The walk starts at Brompton Cemetery and ends at Kensal Green Cemetery. Mainly following the roads, it leads you from West London to North West London and shows the transformation of West London from a very affluent area with parks only accessible to local residents into a rather industrial in which we will find the Paddington Branch.

The Magnificent Seven Part II: West Norwood to Brompton (16km or 10mi)

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Introduction

Albert Bridge: I was lucky as the lights just turned on at 4pm

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 second 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 West Norwood Cemetery and ends at Brompton Cemetery. This is a rather lengthy walk and in autumn and winter times, it might be muddy, so appropriate shoes are required. For me, the best parts of this walk were West Norwood Cemetery, Battersea Park and Albert Bridge. A rather lengthy part of this walk is on the streets. If you want to avoid the road part of this route and shortcut the route to a 5km walk, I would recommend visiting the cemetery at West Norwood and taking the train from West Norwood to Battersea Park Rail Station.

The Magnificent Seven Part I: Nunhead to West Norwood (12.6km or 6.2mi)

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Introduction

Horniman Gardens

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 first 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. The walk starts at Nunhead Cemetery and mainly follows the Green Chain Walk up until Dulwich Woods to then divert towards West Norwood Cemetery. Nunhead Cemetery has good sign postage along the way. On its website, you can also find an overview of common Victorian grave symbols.