Tours of Kensal Green

Regular Sunday afternoon guided tours:

Tours provide an introduction to the cemetery, its history, architecture and development, and to some of the many famous (and infamous) figures buried within this great necropolis.

• Every Sunday, March to the end of October 
• The first and third Sunday in November to February

Tours begin at 14.00 on the steps of the Anglican Chapel, at the centre of the cemetery (allow at least ten minutes to walk from either of the two gates). 

Tours cost:

• £12 per person - standard admission,
• £10 concessions (students, over 65 and English Heritage members).
• Free for members of the Friends of Kensal Green Cemetery (advance booking required) 

Generally these are small groups of a maximum of twenty people. If you are bringing a group any larger, you may wish to consider a private tour.

Booking is essential - if there are no advance bookings, the tour may not run. It is possible to pay on the day, but you still need to let us know if you intend to come.

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For tours and events enquiries, please contact Irina Porter (Trustee, Tours and Events) via: tours@kensalgreen.co.uk

Tour Length & Guides

Tours last for about two hours and usually conclude at the Dissenters' Chapel.

Tours are offered in all weathers, so please wear appropriate outdoor clothing and walking shoes. Tours proceed at a leisurely pace, and keep to the safest paths, but visitors who have difficulty walking on uneven ground are advised to use their discretion.

All tours are led by volunteers from The Friends of Kensal Green Cemetery, many of whom are professional guides and lecturers. There is no standard tour, so no two visits are ever quite the same. 

Depending on the availability, a visit to the catacombs in the Dissenters' Chapel and tea and biscuits may be offered at the end of the tour.

Cancellation Policy

If you booked a tour and cannot come on the day, please let us know in advance to arrange a refund or change the date.

If you did not come to the tour and did not let us know in advance, refunds are not available.

If the tour is cancelled due to issues from the Friends of Kensal Green Cemetery, you will be notified in advance and will receive a full refund. 

Group / Themed Tours

Private Group Tours

Private tours typically cost £12 per person (minimum £50) for a two-hour tour concluding with light refreshments in the Dissenters' Chapel.

Only the Friends' own trained guides are authorised to lead tours in the cemetery; private groups wishing to bring their own guide must ask permission from the Friends.

For further information and all tours and events enquiries, please contact Irina Porter (Trustee, Tours and Events) via: tours@kensalgreen.co.uk

Themed Tours

The Friends also offer a range of special tours for societies, clubs and schools, on themes including:

• Ne’er-do-wells
• Aristocrats & Royals
• Great & Notorious Women
• Explorers & Adventurers
• Science, Medicine & The Law
• Chartists & Reformers
• Brunel, Engineers & Railways
• Immigrants & Achievers
• 19th Century Writers
• The Friends of Charles Dickens
• Victorian Artists
• Music Hall & The Edwardian Stage
• Winners of the Victoria Cross
• The Crimean War
• World War I Fighters & Flyers
• Funerary Monuments

We can also put together a tour specially for your group to your own interests and requirements, - please contact Irina Porter (Trustee, Tours and Events) via: tours@kensalgreen.co.uk

Photography, Filming and Audio recording

Still photography is permitted throughout the cemetery provided photographers behave respectfully.  Formal permission from the General Cemetery Company is required for commercial photography, filming and recording of any kind (including social media, podcasting and Webcasting), and photography or filming with models, amateur or professional.

Please contact the General Cemetery Company directly for information.

GCC Contact Page here