Searching for the Most Famous People Buried in London (Highgate Cemetery)

It's our last full day in London before we set out on our UK road trip and today we are spending it looking for celebrities buried in London and finding the most unique and notable graves at one of London's most famous (or infamous) cemeteries: Highgate Cemetery. We visit both Highgate North and Highgate South in search of the most famous people buried here like George Michael, Karl Marx, Douglas Adams, and more. What makes it even more special is that we are joined by our friends Jason and Josh of JJ Extra.
Check out the JJ Extra channel: / jjextra
Our UK travels are just getting started! Check out this playlist for more UK food and travel videos including our upcoming road trip: • TRAVEL DAY to London E...
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[@TheMagicGeekdom]

This was our last full day in London. It's such an amazing city. Let us know what we missed for next visit. This is the 5th video in our UK travel series. If you've missed the others, check out the full playlist: kzbin.info/www/bejne/o5LOh3p3lN6AqLM

[@neilgayleard3842]

You might be in for a shock when you leave London, in a good way. Because London is so different from the rest of the country. So much so I think London is not a British city anymore.

[@John76125]

@@neilgayleard3842 the rest of the country is a shit hole. Apart from Liverpool and a few other places.

[@RawTopShot]

Check this out for some graves you may have missed. The guys a treasure trove of knowledge. kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZoCre4F7ntx5pLs

[@ethelmini]

That was interesting. In a similar vein to how Highgate came in to being, you should check out the Necropolis Railway.

[@jimmyuk007]

Go to Chester, Knutsford and Manchester

[@thadtuiol1717]

I can't believe the great sci-fi comedic writer Douglas Adams was only 49 when he died. Having just turned 50 myself, it feels weirdly poignant that I have lived longer than him. I loved The Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy so much as a kid.

[@bobbybigboyyes]

George Michael came to my wedding. A cousin Shirlie Holliman, was his friend and a singer in WHAM. : )

[@no-oneinparticular7264]

My parents are buried together and a weeping willow tree cascades over and around headstone. It's lovely to see, and still lovely after 38 years.

[@TheMagicGeekdom]

Oh wow. Thank you for sharing. ❤

[@melissahodgson1958]

I was there in 2006, and had to make reservations for a tour. So it's wild to see people wandering around in Highgate.

[@Toboldlygo721]

Before there were public parks people are used to go to cemeteries to be with their love ones and have a picnic with the whole family . Then they made the first parks like Central Park and major park in Brooklyn ❤

[@ricmac954]

Buried in Highgate Cemetery : Karl Marx, there's scientists Jacob Bronowski (author and presenter of The Ascent of Man) and Michael Faraday, authors Douglas Adams, Beryl Bainbridge, George Elliot (Mary Ann Evans), John Galsworthy, as well as many of Charles Dickens’ family, the artist William Henry Hunt, many of the Pre-Raphaelite arts family Rosetti (including the poet Christina), Expressionist Feliks Topolski, Lucien Freud, and LP album cover designer and founder of Hipgnosis, Storm Thorgerson. Actors Bob Hoskins, Roger Lloyd Pack, Tim Piggott-Smith, Ralph Richardson, Jean Simmons and Max Wall are all buried at Highgate, as are playwright Peter Shaffer, guitarist and folk music granddaddy, Bert Jansch, Tom Smith (inventor of the Christmas cracker), Adam Worth (the criminal thought to be the inspiration for Arthur Conan Doyle’s character, Moriarty), and Alexander Litvinenko, murdered by Vladimir Putin, and a victim of assassination by radioactive isotope.

[@anthonyglee1710]

Glad you’re having a good time here in the UK. My Grandpa rests in Highgate, god bless his soul. Enjoy!

[@xxxamesxxx9687]

Omg I think I've hit the jackpot here with your channel. Came for the food tasting but when I found that you show locations for movies etc. I lost it lol. Amazing!!!

[@davidrenton]

Highgate West has also been the setting for a large number of Horror Movies, esp from Hammer

[@charlienewbold9809]

I live near Highgate - but haven't been to the cemetery since I was a kid. I'd definitely appreciate it more now - thanks for the tour.

[@TheMagicGeekdom]

Oh neat. Thanks for watching!

[@afc358]

Interesting fact (or maybe not): The pub on the right at the end of the video is the Archway Tavern, which used to be quite notorious in the 70's as a rough Irish Republican pub. Also, the interior is the front cover of The Kinks album, Muswell Hillbillies.

[@TheMagicGeekdom]

Oh interesting. Thank you for the info!

[@davidrenton]

the Archway Tavern , i went to school on the top of Highgate Hill, right next to 'Suicide Bridge', and the Tavern we would go down during lunch break, get a pint, play snooker upstairs. Also the Gresham nearby. This was during the 80's

[@busybee844]

I live very near London, I'm saddened to say, living here I seem to take it for granted. Watching your video's has reminded me that there are some really lovely places to visit. I hope you are enjoying your visit :)

[@TheMagicGeekdom]

Thank you! It's certainly easier to be a tourist in another place than where you live though, right?

[@georgeprout42]

You're right. I can be in central London (Paddington anyway) within an hour of leaving home and haven't been for several years, even before the event. We really do take it for granted.

[@MarieWinton]

What a beautiful cemetery, wow! I want to see this, totally adding to my bucket list.

[@TheMagicGeekdom]

Definitely recommend checking it out! It's so big that I'd still like to go back and wander around again.

[@pauldavis6390]

I am sure you won't be disappointed, if you can go on a guided look. We did and the guides were able to take us to the graves of people we were interested in. We saw graves of people involved with the arts and also scientists. Our guided look was only on one side of the cemetery not the side with Karl Marx's statue and grave.

[@lyndacarter9131]

This has been on my list to visit for a while now living in the 🇬🇧 should really take a look. Thanks for the video

[@vincecoxon1632]

Hi, just stumbled across your channel and love it, your both so watchable and I love your content. 👌

[@TheMagicGeekdom]

Thanks so much! 😊

[@pauldavies7746]

This is a fascinating place. I live not too far but have never been. I will have to go now.

[@raven-1963]

You are getting very close to my little part of London try Kenwood house it was where the Hugh Grant film ..Notting hill was filmed ..very beautiful old building 😉

[@ChurchyardsandCemetery]

Wow this is my ultimate go to must visit place

[@deadgoodwalks]

Enjoyed the video guys, thanks for sharing

[@TheMagicGeekdom]

Thank you for watching!

[@Ligerpride]

One thing that I find curious is the graves with the raised blocks that look like they could contain the bodies but above the ground within that block. I still don't know if they are underground or not.

[@RawTopShot]

You should watch some John Rogers videos... You'll get a lot of information from them as he walks around giving you a constant flow of information and anecdotes relating to where he's at at any given moment.

[@ablowman]

If you go to or go back to Liverpool. I can’t remember the church but if you get time go and check our Eleanor Rigbys grave. It’s what gave Paul the inspiration to write the song. Well worth it especially if you’re a Beatles fan

[@WhileMyGuineaPigGentlyWheeks]

Yes! I was thinking the same thing.

[@Wally-H]

Another interesting fact about Malcolm McLaren that most people forget is that he played a vital role in bringing hip hop to the UK. He went to the Bronx Park one day in the early 1980's and was introduced to the four elements of hip hop (breaking, DJ'ing, rapping and graffiti). He loved what he saw and ever the opportunist, he employed the World Famous Supreme Team to make a record called 'Buffalo Gals' which was released under McLaren's name. It reached number 2 on the UK chart and was the first really big hip hop record over here. Jeremy Beadle was a prankster. He rose to fame on a show called Game for a Laugh, where elaborate practical jokes would be played on people - later, he had a similar show called 'Beadle's About.' They actually stitched up my neighbour on that one, which was hilarious. Less people know that Beadle was a serious crime nut - he had a huge collection of books on the subject. I seem to remember he had a documentary series about crime before he died - that might have been the last thing he did.

[@thrupence2125]

Jeremy Beadle was also a founding member of "The Fortean Times" Magazine.

[@lemming9984]

@@thrupence2125 Jeremy way more relevant than MM!

[@NailHeavenAshford]

Malcolm also took Adam Ants original band that formed Bow Wow Wow.

[@marcuswardle3180]

By the 1860's even Highgate was becoming crowded so they built a brand new vast cemetery outside of London. This is now Brookwood. Problem was that just as it started cremations started so the new vast cemetery was not needed. Though the first cremation was carried out at the Brookwood Cemetery!

[@TheMagicGeekdom]

Oh interesting. Thanks!

[@davidrenton]

also had it's own train station, necropolis railway to take bodies and the funeral party to brookwood from london

[@adkcampadventures]

Appreciate you whispering as to not wake the dead!

[@TheMagicGeekdom]

We tried not to. 😆

[@pauldavis6390]

Highgate has a lot of famous people there. The area where the mausoleeums are have featured in several films including one of the Robert Downey Sherlock Holmes films. These constructions would have cost several times more than the price of building a 4 bedroom house back when they were built. Just think of the stone masons needed to do it, so such a relatively small building would cost the equivalent of a lottery win. I have been round highgate and found it quite interesting.

[@asylumgamingcartel6137]

think cooling medway kent st james church(The Church of Great Expectations) location of the graves off the 2 parents and 13 kid graves was written about in great expectations

[@annother3350]

How weird that you're not allowed to photograph a grave?! whats the worst that can happen? George michael rises and says 'no paparazzi please'?!

[@TheMagicGeekdom]

Lol I find it a bit odd, but it's probably at his family's request.

[@jakehall4493]

Only just found out bob hoskins is dead. Gutted

[@Joelthegeek]

Oh wow! I would love to pay my repesict where George Michael is buried! He was one of my fav singers from the 80’s! I saw him in concert to years before his passing!

[@TheMagicGeekdom]

Oh that's so neat that you saw him in concert! He was one of my favorites growing up, but I never actually saw him live. -Cara

[@melissahodgson1958]

This cemetery was similar to Pere La Chaise, where it was highly publicized as THE place to be buried. Pere La Chaise did it one step further, and had famous people (I'm sure with family consent) to be moved into the cemetery once opened.

[@raymondadams7570]

i am in the uk i did not know you had to pay to visit a cemetry

[@neilmorrison7356]

It was Polonium not palladium guys from where I worked at the time were involved in checking and decontamination of the area.

[@neilmorrison7356]

Polonium 210 to be exact a radionuclide

[@TheMagicGeekdom]

Thank you! I am no chemist, so I clearly didn't remember which one.

[@neilmorrison7356]

@@TheMagicGeekdom sorry to be a picky geek. Really enjoying the London videos💙🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿💙🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@andyonions7864]

Great stuff. Highgate cemetery looks like any cemetery in the UK. Overgrown and random. Pere la Chaise in Paris has an incredible collection of 'stiffs' and they give you a map to find the graves. Jim Morrison is graffitied to oblivion and has a couple of gendarmes (cops) stopping further adoration.

[@thadtuiol1717]

Yeah, that's a good one. Another one is the Protestant cemetry in Rome, which has many famous non-Italians buried there.

[@AnvilAirsoftTV]

My primary school (first proper school in the UK) was right by Highgate cemetery

[@TheMagicGeekdom]

Oh that's neat!

[@cazziefores2183]

I love the look of the cemetery.. I think it would make an amazing film set xxx 👌🇬🇧☠️👻👻👻👻

[@pooooornopigeon]

It has been a location for some Hammer House of Horrors before you were born.😊

[@ENGLISHISBEST]

It's a great day out reading loads of information on some graves. I do have photos of George Michaels family area as no one said we couldnt. It leaves a mark on your memory, now my daughter wants me to take her & her friend (she is in her 30s) but she also assists in another relatives hobby of detecting sites for ghost stories & has loads of gadgets. I have seen stuff & also on 3 occasions had then verified by friends, family & neighbours. You were watched very closely in highgate by many not visible to you.

[@mattpaiul8250]

Love Highgate

[@dazzanomas9418]

Am i the only one who seen the dark shadow pass behind him at 4:16, that was really spooky. Creeped me right out.

[@littledinoboy]

George Michaels head stone has his birth name Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou on it, if you'd of known this at the time then maybe you'd have found it

[@FjIrwin]

I love cemeteries so much 🥰

[@annother3350]

If you like this, Nunhead cemetery is also good but with less famous people

[@TheMagicGeekdom]

We love visiting them too!

[@ricmac954]

There is a "Magnificent Seven" of Victorian cemeteries around London. They are listed on Wikipedia. The one I know best is Kensal Green cemetery in W10 which, again, is the resting place of many people celebrated in life for their artistic or scientific achievements, including many members of the Royal Society like the inventor of an early mechanical ancestor of the computer, Charles Babbage.

[@davidrenton]

one of them Abney Park, was my childhood playground, serious, it very dense, with bamboo forest, overgrown paths, and forest. As kids we used to go over there instead of the local park a lot of the times

[@PaulFMillen]

I'm surprised you weren't allowed to film George Michael's grave, certain I saw someone else on KZbin film it

[@racheldicker5611]

Surely famous is only whom you've only personally heard of

[@GrubStLodger]

What about the Highgate vampire?

[@keza92]

This cemetery always has such an eerie vibe! and its full of stories of ghosts and vampires 🧛 lol. i would like to visit George Michaels grave.

[@TheMagicGeekdom]

Such a neat cemetery and yes, spooky vibes. I wonder if any of the stories are true. 🤔

[@downsman1]

It's such a shame that so much of it has been allowed to "go wild", but it's still so interesting and atmospheric.

[@TheMagicGeekdom]

The way that it has gone wild has really given it a very unique vibe though.

[@dgse83]

They're deliberately left that way - the majority of Victorian London cemeteries are also nature reserves.

[@cleverclogs2244]

I lived right next to the cemetery for 5 years and never actually walked around it! Doh!

[@TheMagicGeekdom]

Oh that's neat! And did you ever experience anything spooky while living next to it?

[@cleverclogs2244]

@@TheMagicGeekdom I lived in a flat 4 floors up in a Victorian mansion block - that flat was haunted: footsteps, a child's legs materialised near a window, and a door flew open and I was shouted at to "shut up", even tho I wasn't speaking. A few weeks after moving in, the old neighbour asked me with a knowing look if "everything was alright in there?"... She later told me it was haunted by a little girl. I think the girl was trying to tell me her story, but I either block, or am not receptive enough. Best place I ever lived tho - so much access to green spaces! 😊 x

[@kevinpowers9024]

When you were at the gate at 3:52, I believe Sir Ian Holm is buried there. Did you see his grave? We are coming from the USA in September 2024 and I would like to see his gravesite.

[@wayneandvon]

You guys should see a some graveyards in York. Crazy old

[@TheMagicGeekdom]

Thank you for the suggestion!

[@wayneandvon]

@@TheMagicGeekdom no problem and I'm proud you're enjoying our country so much.

[@verodemicheli1971]

I could feel you when you said you'd found George Michael's grave. Is there any way you can explain where to find it? I mean, did you walk long from the main entrance, for example? Did you turn left of right? There must be so many paths and I don't want to miss it. Thanks in advance! Verónica

[@TheMagicGeekdom]

When we went in, we went to the right and up and around, but found it on our way back down on the left/middle. I think if you google a map of the cemetery, there are images where his grave is marked.

[@TheMagicGeekdom]

If I recall, it is not too far from Alexander Litvinenko's grave, who is marked on the map they give you for Highgate West.

[@verodemicheli1971]

@@TheMagicGeekdom thanks a lot!! Regards from Buenos Aires

[@KopCole]

I’ve been to George’s grave and you can take pix and vids. If you’ve paid the entrance fee you’re free to do as you will

[@TheMagicGeekdom]

There was a sign at it asking not to take photos, probably at the family's request.

[@KopCole]

@@TheMagicGeekdom that was not there when I visited his grave. But it’s a public graveyard in a public space and no law can stop you from taking a pic. The family’s dealing with George’s death and very secret burial and hiding the toxicology reports from the public has angered a lot of his fans. Now, they’re trying to control the public from taking a pic of his final resting place. They’ve forgotten it was his fans who made him what he was. I respect your decision to not film it but you would’ve not been wrong if you had have .

[@wolfiesmith1966]

@@KopCole It's not a public space it's a private graveyard. The clue is the fact that you have to pay to enter. If the family don't want people taking photos of his grave, thats their right. I personally don't see the problem, and it wouldn't amount to breaking the law, but it would be disrespectful.

[@KopCole]

@@wolfiesmith1966 Even if a cemetery is privately owned, if it's open to the general public as a place to bury the dead, it can be considered a public cemetery. Private cemeteries, on the other hand, may be a place where no lots are sold to the public-this is usually ground such as a private family burial ground. Highgate Cemetery is a public space . The admission fee has no bearing on anything.

[@kimmaddison8686]

the high gate vampire story is good

[@malcomflibbleghast8140]

why didnt you go at midnight. just bring the garlic...

[@kimbrown6307]

I wouldn't like to be there after dark .

[@ianstobie]

The longest you have survived without food 🍔🌮🌭 in any video!

[@kevingrant7098]

I have seen lots of famous people out in London Freddie Mercury Boy George Kenny Everett Andy Bell Jimmy Somerville and most recently Sam Smith lots of times

[@ronjohnson3177]

If you want to see Highgate cemetery properly look at a You Tube channel called Hollywood Graveyard they did a special video on Highgate cemetery.

[@d.martin7692]

I remember what likely was a homeless guy asking me for a donation as I entered in 1987.

[@KopCole]

It really is the most unkempt graveyard in London especially after you pay a fee to enter a certain part of it . God knows what they spend the fee on ..certainly ain’t the upkeep

[@elliotvernon7971]

Nunhead cemetery in South London is even more unkempt - it looks like something out of a horror film. No exceptionally famous people buried there though.

[@TheMagicGeekdom]

I think it makes it more creepy and interesting though!

[@markbarker6739]

Golders green is full of famous people from rock stars to train robbers

[@TheMagicGeekdom]

Oh interesting!

[@WatchingDude]

Victorians were also fascinated with everything to do with the dead.

[@Zooumberg]

An interesting fact about Highgate, a man got back to his car and he saw someone sitting in said car, but the guy in the car had been decapitated.

[@Zooumberg]

If you go to Scotland, go to Grey Friars, an amazing place.

[@Zooumberg]

I'm pleased they restored Karl Marx's monument, not because he was a great man. But to show that we as English are tolerant people.

[@TheMagicGeekdom]

Oh that's interesting!

[@halloweenville1]

Try not to Wake George Michael up before you Go Go, or he might have a careless whisper in your ear.

[@TheMagicGeekdom]

Lol indeed.

[@winstonoiu6614]

You can hear the indian ringneck parakeets in the background. Noisy things

[@drsteele]

Watch out Beadles About!

[@marksip01234]

I thought you were going to say "The most famous person, the reason I cam here was for " ... Karl Marx ... No George Michael? LOL

[@no-oneinparticular7264]

I'd haunt just for fun 😆 🤣🇬🇧

[@TheMagicGeekdom]

Lol fair

[@kevingrant7098]

George Michael is a legend I’m not religious but say a prayer for me I love you George

[@MrMagigreen]

did you see the vampire?

[@TheMagicGeekdom]

We did not, which I'm not sure I am glad or sad about. 😂

[@markhart4922]

Never pay

[@gilldymock]

How can I contact you, please?

[@TheMagicGeekdom]

You can email us here [e-mail]

[@leematthews6812]

A curious choice for your first trip to London🙂 Well, Karl Marx will haunt you forever now.

[@uspatriot7484]

Why am I watching all these cemetery crypt videos?

[@richt71]

Hi Guys, Did you find George Michael's grave? It's marked under g=his real name! Also his former London home is also located in Highgate. I remember walking past his townhouse years ago and 2 japanese ladies were sitting on his range rover bonet and taking pictures...well until a big burly guy came and told them off!

[@TheMagicGeekdom]

We did find it, but there was a sign not to take photos/video. We'll have to check out his home next time. Thanks!

[@richt71]

@@TheMagicGeekdom they must have put that sign there recently as there was definitely no sign when I saw the grave. It was unmarked till recently and now a lot of photo's and video's have popped up. Maybe the reason for the sign.

[@JET_60]

Who on earth told you that about not being able to take photos of George Michael's grave? Other people have. Should of videod it like many others have. 💁‍♀️

[@halloweenville1]

Isn't Cilla Black buried there. Come on, it doesn't get much bigger than that.

[@eloise1713]

No she is buried in Liverpool so is Ken Dodd

[@TheMagicGeekdom]

Oh that's cool I don't remember seeing her on the map, but that would have been neat to see.

[@eloise1713]

@@TheMagicGeekdom What map , she is not buried at Highgate but a Liverpool graveyard

[@halloweenville1]

@@eloise1713 It was my mistake. Don't blame Magic Geekdom, whinypants.

[@halloweenville1]

@@eloise1713 What about Roger Rabbit

[@kevingrant7098]

And lots of others but it is NAFF to namedrop LOL

[@beanybun6110]

There is actually and entire communist section at Highgate!

[@ianstobie]

This is all a bit shocking. You keep discovering graves of people I thought were still alive!

[@cosmicsman666]

lets go mincing around the cemetary.

[@martinkulkarni3569]

What is with the terrible music?!

[@patrickholt2270]

Techically You've Been Framed is the format Ashton Kutcher ripped off for Punked!

[@duncanmit5307]

👍💜👍💜👻👻👻👻👻👻

[@TheMagicGeekdom]

❤

[@peterwoodhouse3239]

How did you miss Karl Marx? The most famous grave there.

[@joepryan4424]

They didn't go to 6:40 in and you can see Karl Marx is mentioned.

[@pieterniemandt1098]

Carl Marx? Now l know where to place a black rose for the creator of the most facist regime ever😅

[@ianstobie]

It was bombed twice in 1970 and has been vandalized often. But bear in mind it's a lucrative tourist attraction in capitalist Britain, and now a Grade 1 Listed Monument. This gives it equivalent legal protection to Tower Bridge or the Cutty Sark (a particularly beautiful ship from the end of the commercial sailing era). Marx's grave has up-to-date security protection.

[@1957Dirogo]

Funny that Karl Marx lived in England instead of in one of his communist countries. I guess he didn't practice what he preached.

[@KopCole]

Expelled by the Belgian government for his radicalism, Marx moved back to Cologne, where he became editor of the Neue Rheinische Zeitung in June 1848. Less than a year later, in May 1849, the paper was suppressed by the Prussian government, and Marx himself was exiled. He became stateless and England was the only place that would let him live at the time

[@TheRevWillNotBeTelevised]

Hilariously dumb comment. Firstly Marx was German. Secondly he was made stateless for his political views. Which is why he lived in London. Thirdly Marx died 40 odd years before there were any communist countries. 🤣

[@annother3350]

He was no doubt trying to pedal his ideologies over here

[@tonywackett326]

This really is one of the stupidest comments I've ever read.

[@simond5387]

@@TheRevWillNotBeTelevised Hilariously dumb is now usual behaviour for most people, sadly.

[@siobhanstrauss8492]

This is the coolest thing I have ever seen 😎🪦 I’m there dude