Radclyffe Hall's Grave — Highgate Cemetery
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Radclyffe Hall's Grave — Highgate Cemetery

Historic Site 1943

Grave of Radclyffe Hall — author of The Well of Loneliness (1928), Britain's first mainstream lesbian novel banned in the year of publication.

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Highgate Cemetery West, Swains Lane, London N6 6PJ, UK

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About this place Radclyffe Hall's Grave — Highgate Cemetery

Radclyffe Hall (1880-1943), author of *The Well of Loneliness* (1928) — Britain's first mainstream lesbian novel, banned as obscene the year of its publication and cited on both sides of the Wolfenden Report thirty years later — is buried at Highgate Cemetery's Victorian west side, in a mausoleum shared with her first partner Mabel Batten (1857-1916). The mausoleum is a chest-tomb bearing the inscription *"And, if God choose, I shall but love thee better after death"* — from Elizabeth Barrett Browning's *Sonnets from the Portuguese*. Hall's second partner Una Troubridge, with whom she lived for 26 years, is not buried here; Troubridge died in Rome in 1963 and is buried at the Verano cemetery. Hall's decision to be interred with Batten rather than Troubridge is one of the more discussed aesthetic decisions in queer literary history. Highgate West is the older and more Gothic of the two cemetery halves; access is by guided tour only (weekly on Saturdays; book at highgatecemetery.org). Radclyffe Hall's mausoleum is on the visitor route and pointed out by tour guides. Highgate East, across the road, holds Karl Marx and other named tombs and is accessible on any weekday to ticket-holders. Guided tour £14, currently ~90 minutes. The nearest station is Archway (Northern line), 15 minutes' walk uphill. Combine with a walk south to Waterlow Park or with the Karl Marx grave in Highgate East. Not the most casual queer heritage stop in London, but Radclyffe Hall's literary importance makes it worth the pilgrimage for readers of *The Well of Loneliness*.

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Fiona Brianese
Fiona Brianese Jul 2026
Jessica Murphy
Jessica Murphy Jul 2026

A hidden gem that I couldn't recommend enough. We've done all the typical 'tourist-y' London landmarks - Tower of London, Tower Bridge, V&A, Natural History Museum, British Museum - and we both agreed that Highgate easily topped the list. A serene, history-filled space on the outskirts of the city, where, despite the possibly macabre nature of the setting, you could easily spend all day. Would highly recommend doing the Highlights Tour - Margaret, our guide, was so informative and engaging to listen to. From Highgate's first grave, to Egyptian Avenue, to the Catacombs, and every single grave in between - you truly felt the history of the place come to life through Margaret's words. We left with a real sense of the story and importance of Highgate. It was lovely to just wander around afterwards too - both in the West and East cemetery. I've recommended a visit to Highgate to everyone I've spoken to since coming home. It's an absolute credit to everyone involved in it's upkeep and in keeping it's stories alive.

Airclassicc
Airclassicc Jul 2026

Impressive! Full of art. I spent the whole morning there. Both the east and west sections are breathtaking. I love cemeteries, and Highgate exceeded my expectations. As a Gothic cemetery, it's a splendid place to spend the day in silence, meditating or admiring the gravestones, the vegetation, the sculptures, tombs, and small museums. The Egyptian Avenue and the Lebanon Ring are magnificent. A place full of history, romance, and nostalgia. Definitely recommended. Please respect those resting in peace, be clean and respectful, do not alter or remove anything from the cemetery, let us respect and honor the dead. Within the grounds, you'll find a fountain, restrooms, and a chapel. There's an entrance fee, almost 9 pounds. There's a lovely park nearby.

Lisa H
Lisa H Jul 2026

Can’t say enough good things about this beautiful place. I took the guided tour and it was fabulous. I’m sorry I don’t remember his name, but he was a history professor.

August Winsjansen
August Winsjansen Jul 2026

Highgate Cemetery is a marvellous place, with so many fascinating stories behind each stone. It is like a fantasy landscape - so well buult with all the majestic details - not just like any cemetery. It is definitely worth a visit, perhaps even some volunteering. Also take an extra look at Karl Marx's grave.

Clair Powell
Clair Powell Jul 2026

Had the second visit today East section with the fantastic Richard as our guide. So enjoyable and great stories which were so interesting to hear thankyou so much for a great visit

Bruce Garley (A darkened lens)
Bruce Garley (A darkened lens) Jul 2026

Did the west side last year and east side this year. Well worth booking on to an organised tour as you will learn a lot more than walking round yourself. The east side is particularly beautiful and enthralling.

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Last updated on 21 August 2026

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