Soho Flat

The famous names and quiet walks of Highgate Cemetery

It's one of London's most offbeat - and popular - attractions and is one of the many reasons that make a Highgate flatshare so appealing. Even if you have never visited Highgate Cemetery, hidden away in a pleasant and affluent suburb of North London, the cemetery may be familiar to you from the many horror films that have been filmed there over the years. Highgate cemetery is famous not only for its many notable residents, but also its distinctive funereal architecture. It also boasts connections with the occult, being the site of the so-called Highgate Vampire.

Highgate is the most famous of several cemeteries that were constructed on what were then the outskirts of London during the 19th century. London's wealthy residents needed not only space to live - but also a suitable final resting place. Highgate was opened in 1839 and soon proved to be a popular choice for London's wealthy and privileged. Along with London's other Victorian cemeteries, Highgate provides a lasting reminder of the splendor of Victorian England.

Many famous names can be found among the tombs of Highgate Cemetery, including the eminent scientist Michael Faraday, the poet Christina Rossetti and the actor Sir Ralph Richardson. A more recent arrival at Highgate is the writer Douglas Adams, writer of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy; and arguably the most poignant and moving memorial in the entire cemetery is to the animal trainer George Wombwell, whose tomb features a sleeping stone lion.

But Highgate's most famous permanent resident is probably the founder of modern communism Karl Marx. Marx moved to London in 1849 and remained there until his death in 1883. He is buried in an imposing tomb which bears the inscription "Workers of all Lands Unite". Some older area residents can still remember an unsuccessful attempt to bomb Marx's grave in 1970.

Part of the appeal of Highgate is not just its famous inhabitants, but the rather eerie and creepy atmosphere, which exists as parts of the cemetery are still overgrown and unkempt. One of the highlights of any visit to Highgate is the collection of tombs known as the Egyptian Avenue and the Circle of Lebanon, set dramatically into the hillside at the cemetery's highest point. The peaceful grounds of Highgate are also a haven for small animals and birds - just a few miles from the centre of London.

Highgate Cemetery is divided into two parts - East and West. Karl Marx is buried in the East section, which can be visited alone. The more popular West section can only be visited by means of a guided tour - book early for these, especially during the summer. The cemetery is open every day except for a couple of days over Christmas; it is also occasionally closed when burials are taking place. By Underground, the cemetery is a few minutes' walk from Archway station on the Northern Line.

• Free things to do in London