Bunhill Fields Burial Ground

Bunhill Fields Burial Ground is a historic cemetery in the London Borough of Islington covering roughly 1.6 hectares with more than 2,000 stone monuments. The memorials stand in organized sections separated by grassy spaces where visitors can walk and rest.

The burial ground opened in 1665 during the Great Plague as a resting place for London's Protestant nonconformist community. It remained active until 1854 and holds around 123,000 burials before being preserved as a public garden.

The name stems from "Bone Hill," referring to its earlier use as a deposit site for human remains moved from St Paul's charnel house. This origin connects the ground to medieval London's handling of burial overflow.

The site sits near Old Street and Moorgate underground stations and opens daily from early morning until dusk. Wheelchair-friendly paths run through the main sections and allow visitors to move easily around the grounds.

Writers John Bunyan, Daniel Defoe and William Blake rest here, drawing readers and scholars interested in English literature. Their gravestones attract visitors who want to pay respects to these authors and see where they were laid to rest.

Location: London Borough of Islington

Inception: 1665

GPS coordinates: 51.52361,-0.08889

Latest update: December 20, 2025 01:06