London's Cemeteries

by Darren Beach

This pocket guide gives you all the information you will need to explore over 50 cemeteries in the Capital. It gives detailed reviews for each cemetery, including where all the most notable people are buried, from Sid James to Karl Marx. The book also reveals some of the fascinating history surrounding London's cemeteries including the Victorian railway line dedicated to transporting the dead, with first and second class tickets for the deceased.

Genres: History, London, Nonfiction, British Literature, Travel, Death, Art

231 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2006

Reviews

[Loren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite its pocket size, this is more of an armchair travel book than a take-along guide to cemeteries. It only includes maps to the largest graveyards and most cemeteries rate only a page or two to cover their history, architecture, and celebrity graves. That being said, it is still a worthy addition to your cemetery library.

And it's great fun. The author describes the "tree that killed Marc Bolan" outside Barnes Common Cemetery. He encourages that respects be paid at the most tenuous celebrities. He gushes when a cemetery is particularly beautiful and snipes when one isn't up to standard. He seems to have actually visited each of the 50 cemeteries listed herein. He is honest in his assessments: some cemeteries "could have been beautiful," some deserve visits only by completists, others suffer from "anodyne" (a word he uses repeatedly) chapels or crematory rose gardens.

Of course, the book could have more photographs. Not every cemetery gets one, but some of those includes are spectacular. My favorite is of the statue of an aviator killed in 1938 and buried in Eltham Cemetery. As the author points out, he looks he's wearing a "post-apocalyptic anti-radioactivity suit." I wouldn't have known about him without this book.

I did find a few errors, which of course call into question all the stuff I don't know cold. For instance, in the entry on Old Mortlake Cemetery, the author states in an aside that Charles Dickens is buried in Highgate West. Dickens is buried at Westminster Abbey, against his wishes. His family lies at Highgate. Later, in the entry on Greenwich Cemetery, Beach compares its views of London to the views of Paris from Montmartre's Pere Lachaise. I'm not even sure which Parisian cemetery he means here (it might be Montmartre itself or St. Denis), but Pere Lachaise is in the east of Paris and Montmartre is in the north. He's mixing metaphors.

Even so, I give this book four stars. It's added a bunch of cemeteries to my must-see list. I will just be careful to cross-reference the author's enthusiasm with other books on London cemeteries before I take what he writes as gospel.

[Suvi · Rating 4 out of 5]

"[C]emeteries offer us an accurate reflection of London's social, economic and ethnic history, as well as being a treasury of fascinating stories, courtesy of their permanent residents. - - - Some cemeteries, such as Nunhead, offer spectacular views of the city and their grounds are home to the kind of wildlife and plants you don't see in the course of a normal urban day."

So far, I've only visited Highgate (gorgeous, especially when sunbeams sift through the trees), but this cute little guidebook convinced me there are so many other cemeteries worthy of visiting. Beach gives a short description of each, famous "residents", and practical information. I especially loved the explanations of memorial symbols; they will help decipher the tombstones. Another reviewer spotted a few errors, though, so do a bit of research beforehand and double-check whatever info you need, and you should be good to go.

[Leonardo · Rating 4 out of 5]

A handy, pocket-sized book for travellers who are passionate about the funerary art and architecture that can be found throughout London, London Cemeteries. Althought it Focuses on the "Magnificent Seven Cementeries" started during the Victorian era, it does not neglect lesser known cemeteries and crematories. Each cemetery is described with care and love and, whenever possible or worthwhile, a list of personalities (both famous and infamous) that can be found buried there. These descriptions are accompanied by pictures and maps, as well as websites, contact information, and means of transport (particulary useful, for those cemeteries located farther away from downtown London).

[Dittar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and nicely-written guide to the boneyards of the Big Smoke. Lots of fascinating little facts hidden inside a sympathetic and useful gazetteer. I have visited several of these cemeteries in the past and they offer a humbling, thought-provoking and peaceful day out.

[Valeria G. · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a nice little guide to a lot of London cemeteries, albeit short.

[Pamela Chacón · Rating 4 out of 5]

An amazing and complete guide to London's cemeteries. London has many lovely cemeteries and this book is going to be your guide to all the important cemeteries there, their history and even their schedules. You can also find a guide of famous people buried in each cemetery.

[Kdunbier]

my nightstand book. is that weird?

[Jimmie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great little reference book to the cemeteries in and around London.