Highgate Cemetery Walk With Older Kids: A Hill Outing

Older kids can be hard to get out of the house. Parks are “babyish”, walks are “boring”, and the phone is always more interesting. One outing that genuinely grabs a curious 10 to 15-year-old is a Highgate Cemetery walk. It is atmospheric, full of history and stories, and it sits on one of the steepest hills in North London. Done properly, it is a respectful visit, a history lesson and a decent leg workout all in one afternoon. Here is how I would plan it with older children.

A quick word on respect first

Highgate Cemetery is a working cemetery. Funerals still happen there and families visit graves. That shapes everything about how you visit with kids. Before you go, talk to your children about it: quiet voices, no running, no climbing on anything, and give space to anyone who is clearly visiting a loved one.

The cemetery’s visitor information is clear about the rules. Visitors should stay on the paths, not climb on or under monuments, and there are no picnics, no sports and no cycling. Photography is for personal use only. So the “training” part of this outing happens outside the gates, on the hill around it, not inside.

Planning your Highgate Cemetery walk

• Address: Swain’s Lane, London N6 6PJ.
• Opening hours: March to October, 10am to 5pm (last entry 4.30pm). November to February, 10am to 4pm (last entry 3.30pm). Closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, and access can be restricted during funerals or bad weather.
• Tickets: one admission ticket covers both the East and West sides. Check current prices on the cemetery website before you go.
• Parking: there is no visitor parking, so walk, cycle or use public transport.
• Dogs: only assistance dogs are allowed.

East side or West side?

The cemetery describes the East side as a gentler slope with no steps and mostly tarmac paths, which makes it easier for wheelchairs and tired legs. The West side has steep, winding paths and most of the famous monuments, with very limited seating. With older kids who like a challenge, the West side is the more memorable walk. Wear sturdy shoes either way.

Guided tours run on set dates and last about 75 minutes. The content is designed for adults, so they suit teenagers better than younger children.

Getting there from Archway: the hill is the workout

This is where the fitness part comes in. From Archway station, walk up Highgate Hill towards Highgate Village. It is a long, steady climb, one of the steepest roads in the area. Waterlow Park sits beside Highgate Hill, and Swain’s Lane runs down its far side. The cemetery entrances are on Swain’s Lane.

Swain’s Lane is so steep that cyclists have used it for urban hill-climb races. Walking up it at a brisk pace is hard work, in a good way. It is a public road and narrow in places, so stay on the pavement, walk in single file and watch for cars and cyclists coming down fast.

A 75-minute hill session around the cemetery

Here is a simple plan that turns the walk into training without any running past graves.

Part 1: Highgate Hill climb (15 minutes)

Walk up Highgate Hill from Archway at a pace where you can talk, but only in short sentences. Kids lead, you follow.

Part 2: Waterlow Park station (15 minutes)

Waterlow Park is a perfect stop before the cemetery. Find a bench and do 3 rounds of:

• 10 step-ups each leg
• 10 incline push-ups on the bench
• 10 squats
• 30 seconds rest while you look at the view

Teens can do the same or race you. My Waterlow Park outdoor workout has a fuller version.

Part 3: The cemetery visit (30 to 45 minutes)

Walk slowly and quietly. This part is about history, not heart rate. Give the kids a mission: find the oldest date they can, spot different symbols on the graves (anchors, broken columns, ivy), or look up one person buried there before you go and find them.

Part 4: Swain’s Lane repeats (optional, 10 minutes)

Once you leave, if the pavement is quiet, walk briskly up a short section of the lane for 30 to 45 seconds, then walk back down. 3 to 5 rounds. Stop if the pavement gets busy. Then head back down Highgate Hill home.

Going down steep hills is hard on knees. Take shorter steps, keep your knees soft and do not rush. If you have knee, hip or heart problems, check with your GP or physio before tackling steep hill work.

Why older kids benefit

The NHS recommends children and young people aged 5 to 18 get an average of at least 60 minutes of moderate or vigorous activity a day, across the week (see the NHS guidelines for children and young people). Teenagers often fall well short. An outing where the exercise is hidden inside something interesting is one of the easiest ways to close that gap. For more ideas, see my post on workouts for parents and teens.

Where a bootcamp class fits

If Highgate Hill leaves you puffing, you are not alone. It is the climb almost every new client mentions. Steep hills test your legs, hips and lungs at the same time. My SYP Unlock hip and back mobility class and our strength sessions build exactly that, just down the road in Archway. A few weeks in, parents tell me the walk to Highgate Village stops being a chore.

FAQs

Can children visit Highgate Cemetery?

Yes. Children are welcome, but the cemetery is a place of mourning, so they need to stay on paths, keep quiet and not climb on monuments. Tours are designed for adults, so they suit older children best.

Which side of Highgate Cemetery is easier to walk?

The East side, with its gentler slope, mostly tarmac paths and no steps. The West side is steeper and more winding.

How long does a Highgate Cemetery walk take?

Allow 45 minutes to an hour inside, and more if you are doing both sides or a tour. Last entry is 30 minutes before closing.

Can you exercise in Highgate Cemetery?

No. Sports, picnics and cycling are not allowed inside. Use Waterlow Park or the hills outside for any exercise.

Book your first class

Want Highgate Hill to feel easy? SYP Bootcamp runs 45-minute small-group classes indoors in a church hall in Archway N19, max 10 people, £15 a class, with an easier and harder option for every exercise. Book your £15 class here or call or WhatsApp me on 07301 512215. If you live up the hill and want a 1-1 plan, see my personal training in Highgate.

About the author

Artem Olekhnovych is a personal trainer in Archway and the founder of SYP Fitness and SYP Bootcamp. He has coached clients in Archway, Highgate and across North London for over 10 years, and runs small-group bootcamp classes for busy mums and dads. Read reviews from his 1-1 clients.