16 Best Things to Do in Highgate, London (2026)
Looking for the best things to do in Highgate? Here’s your personal guide to the North London neighbourhood — from a local.
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At the top of North London sits the lovely neighbourhood of Highgate — with steep streets, village pubs, and some of the best views in the city.
I’ve been coming here for years — sometimes for a walk through Highgate Woods, other times for a coffee and a wander past the old Georgian houses.
It feels more like a small town than part of London, but with the bonus of the Northern line nearby.
If you’re planning a visit, here’s my local guide to the best things to do in Highgate — from a Londoner.
About the Author
Hi, I’m Candace — a London-based travel writer and content creator who traded the East Coast of the US for the charm of the UK back in 2016. London’s been my home ever since.
On this blog, you’ll find hundreds of thoughtfully crafted London, UK, Europe and Worldwide travel guides alongside lots of insider London tips, honest hotel and restaurant reviews and advice for content creators.
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🗞️📺 As featured on the BBC, USA Today & Recipe.TV.
The Best Things to Do in Highgate, London
P.S. – Explore London’s neighbourhoods to the fullest with our London Explorer Guides 🏡🇬🇧
TOP HOTEL IN HIGHGATE
Looking to stay in the area? The best hotel in Highgate is La Gaffe Hotel.
✔️ House in an 18th-century Shepherd’s Cottage
✔️ 5-minute walk from Hampstead Heath
✔️ Cosy village bedrooms
1. Highgate Cemetery
If you only do one thing in Highgate, make it Highgate Cemetery.
Split into East and West, it’s a mix of overgrown paths, Victorian tombs, and stone angels slowly being claimed by the ivy.
It’s atmospheric without trying — part history, part nature reserve.
Karl Marx is buried here, along with plenty of other well-known names, but even if you’re not one for famous graves, it’s worth it for the walk alone.
P.S. – Head to Highgate Cemetery’s official website to book your visit.
2. Highgate Woods
Next you’ll want to find your way to Highgate Woods.
The woodlands here are incredibly fairytale-esque, fit with a 70-acre ancient forest that makes you feel like you’ve left London altogether.
Fabulous for a walk down its wooded trails, a woodland picnic or a swing by their Queen’s Wood Cafe.
3. Highgate Holly Village
As you’ll soon realise, Highgate in dripping in charm — especially in Holly Village.
The enclave is a handful of storybook cottages on a private street that looks straight out of a Victorian fairy tale.
Have a short pop by for a photo and tons of architectural eye candy.
4. Waterlow Park
Highgate has a bit of a green thumb, and Waterlow Park is lovely proof.
This park is an absolute favourite of mine, and a gift to us Londoners from Sir Sydney Waterlow, who called it his “garden for the gardenless”.
Laden with lush lawns, fish-filled ponds, and blooming flowerbeds, it’s incredibly picturesque. Be sure to visit Lauderdale House while you’re here, too.
P.S. – You can also visit the community cinema, Lux here, right inside the park.
5. Highgate Ponds
Tucked into the eastern side of Hampstead Heath, Highgate Ponds are a set of three freshwater swimming spots that have been drawing locals for decades — the Men’s Pond, the Ladies’ Pond, and the Mixed Pond.
Each has its own character, but all share the same leafy backdrop and feel a world away from the city.
I’ve only made it in during summer, but it’s open year-round for the brave.
6. Highgate High Street
Highgate High Street is the kind of place you always end up staying longer than you meant to.
Pop into The Highgate Bookshop, one of few independent bookshops left in London. Then there’s The Angel Inn — a proper pub with a long history and plenty of regulars, once a favourite haunt for poets.
Otherwise, you can simply lose yourself in the frenzy of Highgate cafes, bakeries and boutiques all calling your name.
7. Spot the Blue Plaques
Photo courtesy: English Heritage
Highgate is like a Hollywood Walk of Fame for historical hotshots, thanks to its plethora of blue plaques dotted around the neighbourhood.
You can bump into Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s, Sir John Betjeman’s, Mary Kingsley’s, and a little-known author called Charles Dickens ‘ homes while you’re pottering around.
P.S. – Make sure to read the plaque stories too! I
8. Upstairs at the Gatehouse
1 North Rd, Highgate Village, London N6 4BD
Upstairs at the Gatehouse is a small fringe theatre above a pub on Highgate High Street (the kind of place where you’re close enough to see every expression on stage).
The programme changes often — one week it’s a musical, the next a comedy night or concert — so you never quite know what you’ll be walking into. And I love it.
The building has history too; Dickens and Byron are said to have drunk here, long before the stage lights went in.
See what’s on for your visit!
9. Kenwood House
Hampstead Ln, London NW3 7JR
Photo courtesy: Kenwood House
When in Highgate, you’re not far from Kenwood House, which quite fairly feels like you’ve stepped into an episode of Downton Abbey.
This stately home on the edge of Hampstead Heath is part museum, part art gallery, and all parts spectacular.
Enjoy masterpieces here by the likes of Rembrandt and Turner or step outside to enjoy Kenwood’s very own gardens and stunning views of London.
10. Parkland Walk
Photo courtesy: Parkland Walk
When you’re ready for a mini adventure in Highgate, it’s time for the Parkland Walk.
London’s longest local nature reserve, runs along the old railway line between Finsbury Park and Alexandra Palace.
From Highgate, you can join the trail near the station and follow it through stretches of woodland, past crumbling brick arches and patches of graffiti.
It’s a mix of overgrown greenery and urban relics, with the occasional fox darting across the path. I like it on quieter mornings, but any time will do!
P.S. – Trainers are a must — the path can get muddy.
11. Hampstead Heath & Parliament Hill
Hampstead Heath is one of those places I never get tired of. Sprawling across 790 acres, it’s part wild woodland, part open meadow, and one of London’s ‘unofficial’ backyards.
Come here for a swim in the ponds, or a brisk walk to the views of Parliament Hill.
It’s a true London treat in any season — from Heath picnics in summer, to crunchy autumn walks or winter exploring, and very close to Highgate.
Read More: 19 Amazing Things to do in Hampstead, London: A Local’s Guide
12. Jacksons Lane
269A Archway Rd, London N6 5SS
For a dip into Highgate’s cultural scene, add Jacksons Lane to your things to do in Highgate.
Once a Gothic church, Jacksons Lane is now a buzzing arts centre right in the heart of the neighbourhood.
The programme’s always changing — one week it’s theatre or dance, the next it’s circus, spoken word, or a hands-on workshop.
It’s a proper community space, so be sure to check their events calendar before you go!
13. Red Hedgehog
255 Archway Rd, London N6 5BS
Photo courtesy: Red Hedgehog
For live music in Highgate, Red Hedgehog is a small, welcoming venue that hosts everything from classical concerts to jazz nights.
You’ll see a healthy mix of established musicians and new talent here, all performing in a space that feels more like someone’s living room than a formal stage.
There’s a bar at the back for interval drinks, and the crowd is always relaxed (very North London).
Great for a night out in Highgate!
14. Highgate Brunch & Coffee
Highgate’s brunch scene is small but well worth seeking out. Here are a few favourites.
Food Room
Hidden and independent Food Room serves fab avocado toast, artisan sandwiches, and fresh pastries — great for a late Highgate breakfast.
Cool Carrot
A quirky local café with brunch favourites and a few twists — the taco loco’s worth ordering, and the carrot cake lives up to its name.
Coffee And Bean
A tiny Highgate coffee shop inside a red phone box — perfect for a quick caffeine stop mid-walk.
Read More: The Best Highgate Brunch Spots
15. Highgate Restaurants
Highgate’s restaurants are almost exclusively independent (and delicious), here’s a few favourites:
Bistro Laz
A cosy Turkish-Mediterranean restaurant with a big menu of kebabs, grills, and sharing plates.
Fabrizio
When Italian cravings hit, this is your go-to spot. It’s a charming, authentic ristorante with some fabulous pasta and pizza.
Turkuaz Brasserie
A bustling Turkish spot with generous mezze platters and mouthwatering kebabs.
16. Highgate Pubs
One thing about London’s most historical neighbourhoods is that they’re sure to be packed with a heritage pub or two, here’s Highgate’s…
The Boogaloo
You simply can’t come to Highgate and not experience this legendary pub. With London’s longest-running musical quiz, comedy nights, DJs and drag shows, there’s truly a bit of everything.
The Flask
Rumour has it, this pub is haunted, but if you can get past that, The Flask is a beautiful North London watering hole, with a great beer garden too.
The Duke’s of Highgate
A little gem in the Highgate pub scene, their fish and chips are sure to win you over…
Map of the Best Things to Do in Highgate
FAQs on Highgate
How to Get to Highgate
To get to Highgate, just hop on the Northern line to Highgate Station. Easy-peasy!
➡️ Is Highgate worth a visit?
Absolutely, it’s quaint, brimming with character, history, and lovely London views. What’s not ot like?
➡️ What is Highgate, London famous for?
Highgate is famous for its picturesque village vibes, wonderful green spaces, and the iconic Highgate Cemetery.
➡️ What movies were filmed in the Highgate Cemetery?
The dreamy Highgate Cemetery has been a movie backdrop for films like ‘Dorian Gray’ and ‘Abomination’.
➡️ Why is Highgate Cemetery so famous?
Highgate Cemetery’s fame is thanks to its atmospheric, Gothic landscape and being the resting place for famous historical figures like Karl Marx and George Eliot.
➡️ Is Highgate a nice place to live?
Yes, Highgate is peaceful, super green and has a tight-knit community — a beautiful place to call home in London if you can afford to live here!
Thanks for reading my Things to Do in Highgate Guide. If you enjoyed it, let me know on Instagram!
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Happy Londoning,
