Strange Things to do in London

There is so much to do, see and discover in London. In fact, Greater London is Europe’s largest city in terms of area, covering more than a huge 1600 km2 and it is of no surprise that there is so much to do in London, England’s capital. There are of course many well known landmarks and places to visit in London, but what if you are tired of following the tourist masses? The London Eye and London Zoo are all well and good, as are the historical buildings of Buckingham Palace and the Houses of Parliament. But to be honest, I think an elephant is an elephant, no matter what zoo you see it in. Maybe you’re fed up with the tourist crowds and inflated tourist prices when you visit London? Then read on, as we’ve covered some of London’s best kept secrets. Discover some of London’s strangest landmarks and get some great ideas of what to do in London with the first in this series of strange things to do in London.

Few people realise that some of the world’s most famous and influential people are in fact buried in London. If you enjoy tours and want to explore a less-known place of interest during your visit to London, then you should definitely consider visiting the amazing Highgate Cemetery. Highgate Cemetery was built during the Victorian era and is rich with Victorian architecture and heritage. There are many bold, audacious mausoleums, vaults, catacombs, obelisks and statues. During your visit to Highgate, London, you will be sure to notice that some graves stand out more than others. They appear better kept, more prominent. As if they belonged to someone important…

And belong to important people they do. The Father of Communism, Karl Marx, is in fact buried in Highgate Cemetery. Moving to London in 1849 and dying in 1883, Marx was originally buried in a simple, ordinary grave. But, the Communist Party of Great Britain felt that such an important figure should have a much grander scale. Therefore, the bust of Marx which can today be seen during your visit to London was put in place in 1954. This decision was not popular with everyone, but perhaps not for the reasons you think. In fact, Marx’s followers believed that this grand display made at his grave went directly against his teachings. The view was so strongly held by some people that there was an attempt to blow up Marx’s grave in 1970! More details of this strange thing to do in London can be found at Highgate Cemetery so be sure to check it out when you make your visit to London.

Marx is not alone in being a world celebrity to be buried in London. In fact, Highgate Cemetery has many of the world’s most prominent figures buried there. The list is in fact pretty long, but a selection would include: Tom Sayers, Sir Leslie Stephen, Dr S.Birch, John Lobb, Christina Rossetti, J. W. Cross, C. H. Newton, George Eliot and many, many more. Charles Dickens and his family are also buried here, as well as 6 Lord Mayors of London.

If you visit Highgate Cemetery during your visit to London you will be able to find out all about its rich history. Highgate Cemetery belongs to a group of cemeteries called the Magnificent Seven. The Magnificent Seven were built around the middle of the nineteenth century, as there was huge demand for space for London to bury it’s dead. Typical of the era, these cemeteries were built in typical Victorian grandeur, incorporating many influences from across the British Empire. These cemeteries soon became infamous and highly regarded because of their architecture. Highgate Cemetery is the most beautiful and revered of all the Magnificent Seven.

Because of its stature, Highgate Cemetery quickly became the burial place of choice for many important Victorian figures. In fact, many spent huge amounts of money on the monuments that adorned their grave and a plan was actually devised to meet this demand and make it more affordable. Huge areas of the Magnificent Seven were developed based on themes. The most famous is known as Egyptian Avenue, with a breath-taking entrance leading to the famous Circle of Lebanon.

Over the years since it was first built, the importance of Highgate Cemetery has been acknowledge by successive generations of Londoner’s and governments. Highgate has been allowed to keep all of its original charm and mystery, with some areas creepily overgrown. This helps to create an unexplainable atmosphere; one of excitement, mystery, a feeling of the unknown. You will literally discover statues and monuments as you peer through the creeping vines. You really should go to Highgate Cemetery during your visit to London as you will find something very special when you discover James Selby’s grave……

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