Nunhead Cemetery

What a wonderful place. We visited to try and find a grave of a relative (no luck) but wandered around for about 2 hours. Nature has reclaimed this incredible space, it is clearly a haven for wildlife, with an abundance of bird song. There are some really ornate gravestones and memorials. There are a number of benches where you can just sit and soak up the peace. It seems a reasonably popular area for dog walkers and walkers alike. There is some parking outside the cemetery

What can one say? A perfect cemetery: restful, quiet, it is commendably overgrown and unkempt: there is a feeling of surrender to nature, in which it beautifully reflects the primary function of a cemetery - the inevitable return of our physical bodies back to nature, ashes to ashes etc... In my view, I'd take this anyday over those ultra-neat, clipped grass cemeteries.

Part of the magnificent 7 and in my opinion it is number 7 of the list. Having said that, the cemetery is still beautiful with its winding paths and some interesting stones but it feels very samey and lacking the gorgeous character that the other 7 really shine with. The architecture of the temple on the way is is beautiful but it’s under construction as is a lot of the cemetery right now. It has great views over London on a clear day...not on a cold and snowy one. It’s lovely and overgrown in parts, but very unkept on some paths which are horrifically prone to flooding, which is not great at all but does make for some interesting flooded graves. Has many many broken and scattered grabs which I’ve not really seen else where. Overall I’ll be back on a sunny day but otherwise it barely scrapes into the magnificent 7 in my opinion.

Having heard so much about this cemetery, I finally decided to visit. It would be difficult to explain just how beautiful it is! I can say, if you haven't yet been it is well worth visiting! One of the 'Magnificent 7' cemeteries which were originally private,( established in what was then the outskirts of Central London) A Victorian cemetery filled with gothic features, enormous tombstones, a beautiful Chapel and pathways leading off to smaller ones scattered amongst the wooded areas where you will find numerous graves (with many in total disrepair.) Eventually abandoned and vandalised, it closed in 1969. Southwark bought this cemetery for £1 and it reopened in 2001, with parts being restored by Friends of Nunhead Cemetery and help with a lottery grant. It is a haven for wildlife, with acres for exploring, walking and taking in the architecture. Best to check closing times as I'd say it would take on a whole new dimension after dark! 👻✨

What a nice place it is. Seems it’s abandoned for so long that there’s a lot of overgrown shrubbery which gives it a unique look different to a lot of other cemeteries. It’s a good place for quiet and disconnected walk. Even though not far from centre London but still this place seems very remote with only the sounds of the birds disrupting the silence. I adore cemeteries and I have the goal of visiting every one in London, however out of all of them Nunhead is different. I adore the wild woodland peppered with gorgeous graves dating back centuries. It’s truly amazing place for a walking trails. A lot of runners, bicycle riders & dog walkers around.

An incredibly beautiful landmark. We were fortunate to arrive just in time for the general tour. We learnt so much! Keith, the walk leader, was great and so well-informed. Some parts still serve as active burial sites but most of the cemetery is now standing still. Please do ask after Mr Jenkins, the resident ghost. He was a former clerk of the Bank of England. Thankfully, the cemetery closes by 4 in winters! Great stories to be discovered here.