With its hilltop location, Highgate gives a sense of exclusivity unlike anywhere else in the capital. Those fortunate enough to live here enjoy all the comforts of village life without sacrificing city centre convenience. Even visitors are charmed by the area, with its 18th century architecture, the famed Highgate Cemetery, and its many historic pubs.
Highgate High street
Residents can enjoy the wide open spaces that are dotted throughout the area. From Hampstead Heath to the picturesque Queen’s Wood, this greenery provides a tranquil setting for leisurely strolls and other outdoor pursuits. The active individual can also make use of the impressive sports and gym facilities at Archway Leisure Centre, and play the 18-hole course at Highgate Golf Club.
Thanks to ongoing conservation efforts, Highgate High Street has managed to preserve its old world charm. Independent boutiques give a sense of village community, while the great choice of eateries ranges from laid-back delis to gastronomic cuisine.
Cultural attractions are never far away in Highgate. Concerts and plays are held at both The Red Hedgehog and Jacksons Lane. For art fanatics, impressive works are showcased at Highgate Contemporary Art Gallery and Highgate Gallery.
Finally, the top-performing schools of Highgate are a major draw for families. With exceptional state and private schools, it’s one more reason to join this friendly village community on the hill.
Transportation in Highgate
Despite being worlds away from the hustle and bustle of central London, Highgate Underground station is situated in Zone 3. As such, it takes as little as 20 minutes to reach Bank via the Northern line. Alternatively, some residents prefer to commute from the nearby Archway Underground, which is in Zone 2.
Those travelling by car have convenient access to the A1. This connects to the M1 in the north, providing a link to other major cities in the UK. It’s also a short drive to Islington in the south, while frequent flyers can reach London Luton Airport in under 43 minutes.
Things to do in Highgate
The residents of Highgate enjoy an exciting mix of attractions, from sporting facilities to arts and cultural entertainment. Here are some of the highlights:
- The Phoenix Cinema
- Highgate Golf Club
- Jacksons Lane
- Lauderdale House
- Highgate Library
- Waterloo Park
- The Duke’s Head
- Queen’s Wood
- Highgate Cemetery
- Archway Leisure Centre
- Highgate Wood
- Highgate Tennis Club
What is Highgate Like?
Despite being in Zone 3, Highgate has retained a traditional charm that makes it feel a world away from the busy city life. If you want somewhere with community village vibes that’s close to the heart of London, Highgate is the perfect choice.
Just 20 minutes from Bank and 16 from Leicester Square, Highgate is perfect for anyone who works in the City or simply wants ready access to everything the centre of London has to offer.
There’s plenty to find within Highgate itself, too. Art lovers will appreciate the works on show at Highgate Contemporary Art Gallery and Highgate Gallery. Jackson Lane theatre is a home for experimental arts that has performances from famous faces such as David Walliams and Matt Lucas.
History buffs will adore Highgate too. There’s plenty of imposing Victorian architecture on show, and the famous residents both past and resident mean that you can go hunting blue plaques.
Families, walkers, and runners alike will love the green spaces of Hampstead Heath, Waterlow Park, and Highgate Wood. There’s plenty for foodies too, with a variety of restaurants, cafes, and delis to explore, and with a number of traditional pubs there’s plenty of places to go for a relaxed evening.
Some of the most popular areas in Highgate include:
- Highgate Cemetery is the most famous part of Highgate, both the final resting place of some famous faces and home to beautiful architecture.
- Hampstead Heath is a wild park of woodland and meadows, 800 acres of green space right on Highgate’s doorstep.
- Waterlow Park is a 20-acre green space neighbouring Highgate Cemetery features three beautiful ponds and the historic Lauderdale House.
- Highgate Wood is a 28 hectare area of ancient woodland, a haven for walkers and runners, while also offering sports spaces and a children’s playground.
Transport Links
Highgate might feel like it’s far from the bustle of central London, but its Zone 3 underground station means residents are just 20 minutes to reach Bank via the Northern line. Savvy travellers often walk a little further to Archway Underground, which is in Zone 2 and so reduces the cost of your travel into London.
For drivers, Highgate offers easy access to the M1 and the north of the UK. Looking to go further afield? London Luton Airport is just 43 minutes away for short-haul flights across the globe.
Schools in the Area
Highgate attracts plenty of families due to its top-performing schools.
Parents can benefit from sitting within plenty of catchment areas, with access to a number of primary schools rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted such as St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School and St Michael’s School.
Families with older kids will be attracted to secondary schools such as Mount Carmel for girls and St Aloysius College for boys, both rated ‘good’.
Attractions in Highgate
Highgate is best known for the Victorian Highgate Cemetery. First opened in 1839, Highgate cemetery is one of seven large cemeteries now informally known as the ‘Magnificent Seven’ and is home to plenty of famous names and some stunning architecture.
Highgate Cemetery has attracted a lot of media attention due to its supposed links with the occult, including the ‘Highgate Vampire’. But its true claim to fame comes from its residents, including: novelist George Eliot, physicist Michael Faraday, actor Bob Hoskins, singer George Michael, poet Christina Rossetti, novelist Douglas Adams, philosopher Karl Marx. The list goes on.
Londoners have been escaping into Hampstead Heath for over 200 years. Having 800 acres of woodland and meadows on your doorstep gives you that same chance whenever you like. A relaxing walk, a bracing dip in one of the swimming ponds, a picnic on the grass or a pint in one of the many pubs. Whatever your fancy, you can probably find your escape in Hampstead Heath.
The green spaces aren’t limited to Hampstead Heath. Waterlow Park is a 20-acre green space neighbouring Highgate Cemetery and features three beautiful ponds and the historic Lauderdale House. Highgate Wood offers beautiful walking paths and a children’s playground. It’s especially beautiful during bluebell season; the area near Cranley Gate is just stunning.
Bars, Restaurants and Nightlife
Despite its community village feel, Highgate is still in London and therefore it’s no surprise that there are plenty of ways to enjoy your spare time.
The Phoenix Cinema is one of the UK’s oldest purpose-built cinemas, and has been showing films beneath its vaulted ceilings since 1910. Today, it screens both big budget and smaller films, making it perfect for a unique night out.
If you’re looking for entertainment without a screen, Jacksons Lane is a renowned theatre for experimental arts that has seen a number of luminaries cross its boards, including Eddie Izzard, Matt Lucas and David Walliams. Making its home in an old church, the theatre seats 160 and offers a cafe and a bar, along with four spaces available to hire.
Those looking for somewhere to drink will enjoy the plethora of pubs in the area. The warren of rooms in the Flask Pub resembles a Dickens novel, and it’s supposedly haunted by the ghost of a Spanish barmaid. The Gatehouse is an independent pub that serves a mix of Spanish cuisine and traditional pub food next to a range of beers and wine. And the Boogaloo Pub is a legendary music venue, making it a great spot for a drink or catching a gig. It’s also where the Libertines reunited.
Speaking of music, you might enjoy Caipirinha Jazz Bar. A bar with a difference, it offers an atmospheric night of cocktails and live jazz until the early hours.
And if you’re hungry in Highgate, you’re spoilt for choice. Alongside familiar names like Pizza Express and Cote Brasserie, you’ll find Rosella, a traditional family-run Trattoria a stone’s throw from Highgate Cemetery. Crudough specialises in sourdough pizza with enough variety that there’s something for everyone, and the Village Deli offers delicious food at an affordable price.
Leisure Centres and Outdoor Activities
Highgate offers plenty of ways to stay fit and enjoy your hobbies.
The Archway Leisure Centre features a two-storey gym with 254 square metres of fitness space and a weekly fitness class programme including everything from HIIT to Aqua Aerobics. The latter makes full use of the leisure pool, which also features a flume, wave machine, and two spa pools, making it perfect for adults and families alike. Adults looking for a more relaxing visit will enjoy the sauna suite, which runs different sessions including men-only days on Monday and Wednesday, women-only days on Tuesday and Thursday, and mixed sessions on all other days.
If you’re looking for a more relaxed leisure activity, Highgate Golf Club features an 18-hole course encompassing an undulating parkland layout that rewards creativity and challenges golfers of all abilities. The course usually takes around three hours, but the compact layout also means you can enjoy a few holes before work!
And if you’re looking to break a sweat, Coolhurst Lawn Tennis & Squash Racket Club offers 14 tennis courts and 7 squash courts. You can also enjoy a gym, fitness classes including yoga, dance, and pilates, and there are holiday camps on offer for kids.
History of Highgate
With an active conservation body, many of the historic sights of Highgate have been well-preserved. Visitors and residents alike can still admire the beautiful architecture from its towering Georgian properties and red-brick Victorian houses. For history buffs, few places in London give such a sense of heritage.
Long before its status as a sought-after destination, Highgate was predominantly woodland. Some of this can still be explored today, in areas such as Waterlow Park and Highgate Bowl. Early records suggest the area was used for hunting grounds and adjoined the Bishop of London’s estate, before transitioning into a quaint village.
The onset of the Victorian era brought development, as many of London’s affluent relocated to these picturesque surroundings. It was during this time that the famed Highgate Cemetery was opened. The capital’s most impressive graveyard is the final resting place for historic figures such as Michael Faraday and Karl Marx. This is now a major tourist attraction, along with the historic pubs and coaching inns that line the high street.