Not the oldest cemetery in London, but certainly this is the most celebrated. Such was its popularity that the acreage increased across the other side of the road, and this additional east side contains probably the most visited grave, of Karl Marx, where you also find George Eliot, among other famous names. The older west side was once part of a mansion owned by Sir William Ashurst, Lord Mayor of London in 1693. When the cemetery was consecrated in 1839, Victorians came from miles around to enjoy the architecture and the view. Both are impressive, from the moment you enter the grand wrought-iron gateway into a sweeping courtyard for horses and carriages. The highlight of the 20-acre site is the colonnaded Egyptian Avenue leading to the Circle of Lebanon, built around an ancient cypress tree -- a legacy of Ashurst's garden -- with catacombs skirting the edges. By the 1970s, it was unkempt and neglected until a group of volunteers, the Friends of Highgate Cemetery, undertook the huge upkeep. Tours are arranged by the Friends, and among the numerous beautiful stone angels and beloved animals -- memorials once hidden by wild brambles -- they will show you the most notable graves, which include Michael Faraday and Christina Rossetti, each with their own, sometimes quirky, history. Children under eight are not admitted; nor are cell phones and video cameras. COST: Prices on request. Tube: Archway, then bus 210 to Highgate Village.