At Young Pioneer Tours we do like a dead communist and have visited both Kim’s, Mao, Lenin, Uncle Ho, Hoxha and even Ceaucescu over the years.
One we had not managed to Pokemon catch all styles until now though was Karl Marx in his final resting place of Highgrove. This despite the fact he is probably the easiest of the lot for Brits to visit.
Well the last red frontier has now been breached, meaning we can now guide you on how to see the guy that started it all.
Table of Contents
What the Karl Marx and why is he in London
We will go out on a limb and assume that most of you know who Marx is. Just in case though here is a brief recap. Karl Marx was born in 1818 in Trier Germany. He was a philosopher economist and revolutionary who co-wrote the Communist Manifesto and authored Das Kapital laying the foundation for modern socialism and communism. Exiled multiple times from Germany France and Belgium for his radical ideas Marx settled in London in the late 1840s where he continued to write organise and agitate.
He lived in poverty but remained politically active until his death in 1883. Highgrove Cemetery in Hillingdon became his final resting place a surprisingly easy spot for Brits to visit and now serves as a quiet pilgrimage site for historians political junkies and the occasionally curious tourist wanting to see the man who shaped modern political thought.
How to see Marx grave
Visiting Marx’s grave is straightforward if you know what you are looking for. Highgrove Cemetery is public and free to enter though parking is limited so public transport is usually easier. The grave is located in the non-denominational section marked by a prominent bust of Marx and a stone slab. It is well maintained and visitors often leave flowers coins or small political leaflets which is as close as you get to revolutionary graffiti in London.
Allow 15 to 30 minutes to properly wander take photos and read inscriptions. The cemetery is quiet respectful and closes at dusk so plan daylight hours. Entry is free but donations for upkeep are welcomed. Keep in mind there are no guided tours so a map or GPS is helpful to locate the non-denominational section quickly.
Anyone else worth seeing
Marx is the headline act but Highgate Cemetery is basically Dead Famous Bingo if you know where to look. You can find Frederick Engels’ monument the man who basically co-wrote Marx’s homework and kept the whole revolutionary circus on the road. Close by is George Eliot Mary Ann Evans herself one of the greatest
Victorian novelists ever her tombstone even gives her real name as well as her pen name. Science nerds will want to tip their hat at Michael Faraday the bloke whose work on electromagnetism literally made electricity useful to the world. In a more modern corner you have Douglas Adams the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy author where fans leave pens and towels as weird little shrines.
Punk fans can pause at Malcolm McLaren’s grave the guy who managed the Sex Pistols and basically told polite society to fuck off. There is also the boxer Tom Sayers with his loyal dog statue stalwart author Patrick Caulfield and the deeply influential activist Claudia Jones a communist and civil rights champion whose gravestone calls her a valiant fighter against racism and imperialism.
This place is like a very Geeky 200 year old British version of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame if the Hall of Fame let poets scientists preachers and Red Icons all hang out in the same graveyard. If ghosts exist, this would have to be the most interesting place to look.
Highgrove Cemetery Directions and entry
Address
Highgrove Cemetery
Hillingdon London
UB8 2RL
Getting there
Take the Piccadilly Line to Uxbridge. From the station it is about a 20-minute bus or taxi ride. Driving is possible but street parking is limited and can be tricky. Allow extra time if using Google Maps because the cemetery entrance is easy to miss.
Opening hours
8am until dusk every day. Occasionally closed for maintenance check the Hillingdon Council website before you go.
Entry fee
Free. Donations are welcome for cemetery upkeep.
Tips for visiting
The cemetery is quiet and respectful. No cycling loud music or smoking. Bring a map or use GPS to find the non-denominational section. The Marx bust is visible from a small path intersection so you do not have to wander blindly. Allow 15 to 30 minutes to see the grave properly take photos and explore nearby monuments.
What to do after visiting Karl Marx
Once you have paid your respects and mentally debated whether to torch the system or just go for a pint leave the cemetery and wander into nearby Uxbridge or Hayes. The streets are grimy perfectly British and exactly the kind of place Marx would have walked if he were still alive and grumbling about capitalism. Grab a pint at a local boozer any pub will do though avoid the flashy chains.
Sit outside if possible watch people carry on with their lives and reflect on the irony that the man who wanted to overthrow the world is now a tourist attraction in suburbia. If you are feeling especially devoted check out any small bookshops in the area you might even stumble across a dusty copy of Das Kapital or some random manifesto left behind by a slightly obsessive fan.
Finish with a kebab made by an immigrant, after all it is what Marx would have wanted.
Click to read about the best Mausoleums tour.
About Post Author
