Grab a lantern and explore the graves of the East End dead!

Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park is the final resting place of 350,000 people - that's more or less the same as the current living population of the London Borough of Newham, according to the 2021 census. This All Hallows Eve, step through the gates and experience the East End as it was by meeting some of the characters who called the East End 'home'. Animal importers, almost/possibly Hollywood stars and formidable battleaxes are some of the remarkable characters who will be briefly and respectfully resurrected by tour guides and historians Sheldon K. Goodman and Sacha Coward of the Cemetery Club, in their highly popular yearly tour of this magnificent Victorian cemetery.

With a choice of times, the tours will start at the War Memorial, by the Soanes Centre - which is just a short walk from the main gate. Please wear suitable footwear and wrap up warm!

Please note the Soanes Centre won't be open for general visiting or toilet facilities.

Before you decide to book: -

Do not attend if you or a member of your household have COVID-19. Please check your symptoms and whether it’s suitable for you to attend.

If you travel by bike, we can’t offer indoor storage. You are able to lock up your bike outside on the Soanes Centre railings.

This walk contains adult themes and isn't recommended for under 16's.

On the day

Please arrive on time and go to the meeting area: the War Memorial in front of the Soanes Centre (on the right as you enter via the main gates on Southern Grove). You will not be required to wear a mask but please do so if you will feel more comfortable.

You may wish to bring a torch as it will be dark throughout this tour.

Access statement

• This is an accessible, inclusive Cemetery Club Tour. The maximum number of participants is 30.

• We will cover a distance of less than 2km. The paths are approx 1-2m wide. The surface is crushed concrete fines, a type of hard-packed fine gravel (which doesn't turn to mud in rain) or earth although we may head into some areas off the paths where access is more limited by uneven walkways. A circular route around the Cemetery Park is approx 1km with one steeper slope and some shallow slopes. There are 2 areas with steps, but these are avoidable. If arranged in advance, a motorised vehicle could also drive onto the site. There are benches with backs at regular distances around the Cemetery Park. Some of the site is shaded. There is on-street parking in the area.

• Please contact us with at least 2 weeks’ notice if you’d like BSL or other interpretation/translation and we will do our best to accommodate. Sadly we have no-one in house who is able to offer this service.

• Toilets will not be available at this event and we are not able to offer baby changing facilities.

• We aim to make our events as accessible as possible, and are learning constantly how to do this better. If you would like to let us know about any specific requirements or access needs that you would like us to meet, or offer feedback on our accessibility arrangements, please email contact@fothcp.org. We want you to feel safe in nature.

Contact us for more info - 0208 983 1277 or email us on contact@fothcp.org

What do we do with your data? Read our GDPR Policy

Further information about Covid-19 and the Cemetery Park here

Refund policy: If you tell us that you want to cancel your ticket, we will only give you a refund if you request one, and if you give a minimum of 48 hours notice before the start of the event.