Tower Hamlets Cemetery

Tower Hamlets Cemetery is a 27-acre burial ground with hundreds of Victorian gravestones set among dense woodland and wild grassland. The site features two Neo-Gothic chapels and is crisscrossed by pathways that wind through groves and open meadows.

The cemetery opened in 1841 to address burial shortages in growing Victorian London and quickly became the resting place for tens of thousands. During World War II, it suffered bombing damage that destroyed some buildings and left lasting marks on the graves themselves.

The cemetery reflects the diversity of the East End, where people of different religions and social backgrounds rest side by side. The gravestones tell stories of craftspeople, laborers, and merchants whose names document waves of immigration to this London district.

Access is available from several entrances on different street sides, and exploring on foot is easiest since pathways lead through the grounds. The nearest train stations are reachable within minutes, and information boards on the cemetery help visitors find their way around.

The cemetery hosts rare wild orchids and other wildflowers that have become scarce in urban London. Few visitors realize this place functions as a refuge for plants and insects that are hard to find elsewhere in the city.

Location: London Borough of Tower Hamlets

Inception: 1841

Operator: The Friends of Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park

Website: https://fothcp.org

GPS coordinates: 51.52333,-0.02806

Latest update: December 7, 2025 19:28