Overview

An excellent place, with many beauties, easy access, a good café, and lots of squirrels. Strongly recommended.

Transport & Parking

Earl's Court Station is the nearest fully step-free station. West Brompton Station is partly step-free: wheelchair users can roll straight onto the train on the eastbound District Line, but the westbound District Line is, perversely, totally NOT step-free. West Brompton Station is step-free for Overground services and you will need ramp assistance from staff (who are generally friendly at this station). Be sure to check with TfL before you travel, TfL's station lifts are VERY unreliable and can ruin your day.

Access

The cemetery has a north entrance in Old Brompton Road and a south entrance in Fulham Road. Both entrances are totally step-free. Beware of awkward kerbs at the north entrance. It's better to use the small quiet slip-road in front of the cemetery to approach the entrance. There is a magnificent domed chapel near the south entrance. This is a must-see, and it has fully step-free access to get inside, via a stone ramp. See my photos below.

Toilets

There is a new café at the north entrance, fully step free. There are two toilets attached, one is fully accessible to wheelchair users and would get five stars but for the fact that the red emergency cord is too short. It should reach all the way to the floor so that it can be reached if someone falls over, for example in the often precarious transfer from wheelchair to toilet and back. The cord in this toilet is so short that someone lying on the floor may not be able to summon help. In the event of serious injury sustained during a fall, being unable to summon help can have very dangerous consequences. A longer cord is needed, reaching all the way to the floor. See below for a photo of the toilet cubicle.

Staff

I've so far only met the café staff, who were delightful, friendly and helpful. Passing tractor and truck drivers, who work to maintain the cemetery, are always courteous and tactful.

Anything else you wish to tell us?

The cemetery is Victorian, and many graves are ramshackle and in terrible condition. But the cemetery is still in use and contains many brand new graves. There are also several graves of interesting and/or famous people, for example Richard Tauber, Henry Cole, Samuel Cunard, Brian Glover, Bernard Levin and Constant Lambert. There are a lot of squirrels and they are very tame. Make sure you take some nuts with you. Some of the squirrels are really bold and will come close to beg for treats. They seem to have a secret signalling system: as soon as you've given one squirrel a nut, half a dozen other squirrels may trot over at speed to beg for treats. Sometimes a small group of squirrels will follow me when I move away, hoping for yet more treats. See my video link below for cute squirrel fun. If you're lucky you may also spot a fox in the cemetery. Be sure to visit the domed chapel, a really handsome building with a beautiful interior. It has easy ramped access. The café is excellent, accessible, and with plenty of seating both inside and outside. The cake I had was a kind of tasteless long-life thing - it looked great but didn't taste great.

Photos

Video