Streatham Cemetery, London

Streatham Cemetery, London

Visited June 2019

Streatham Cemetery isn't actually in Streatham, but a short walk from Tooting Broadway tube station. It's a late Victorian cemetery, with two lovely chapels which mirror each other near the entrance. A lot of clearance was done in the second half of the 20th century, especially in areas away from the entrance and chapels so there are large stretches of grass with only a few monuments left in them. However, this is left uncut in summer, except around the Commonwealth War Graves, so it's a haven for wildlife, and the cemetery is managed for wildlife (and people!) by the Friends of Streatham Cemetery.

There are very few large, impressive monuments here - most are quite small-scale gravestones rather than imposing mausoleums and suchlike. There's also quite a few traces of vandalism, including headless angels and toppled stones. Despite this, it's well worth a visit - quiet, full of wildlife, and with lots of accessible paths to make wandering round a joy. All this and clean toilets too!

Westminster Abbey Cloisters

Westminster Abbey Cloisters, London

Visited June 2018

Did you know that there's a little part of Westminster Abbey that you can enter for free, any time during public opening hours? It's not advertised on the website, but go to the small entrance away from the crowds, in Dean's Yard, and say to the gate staff that you're there to visit the cloisters. And in you go! As you can see, it wasn't that busy even on a Saturday in June. 

With no ticket, you can't get into the main Abbey, but you'll see the 13th-15th century cloisters, the 11th century pyx chamber (the oldest part of the Abbey), the 13th century chapter house with some magnificent wall paintings, and the oldest door in Britain. During the week the college garden is open too. And of course you can get into the shop and cafe, just in case you do want to part with cash.

Of course the most magnificent memorials are in the main Abbey, but there's plenty to see in the cloisters, in particular the memorials to staff and supporters of the Abbey who weren't quite great or good enough to be inside! You'll also see the remains of stone coffins from some of the Medieval monks who worshipped here.

You can access this area as part of a general admission ticket, but this is one way of saving your pennies, and still seeing history!