See more from: Heritage Weekend
Discover fascinating stories from Highgate's past and the diverse history of the communities that make up North London.
Come and chat to organisations who are interested in and knowledgeable about the history of our area, including representatives from local museums, historic houses, history societies and more at this FREE fair!
Confirmed attendees for this year's Heritage fair include:
Camden History Society
Founded in 1970, CHS researches and celebrates the history of a borough that stretches from King's Cross to Hampstead. We publish an annual journal, a bi-monthly Newsletter, and run an extensive programme of talks and events.
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The Coleridge Trust
The Trust aims to raise funds to refurbish the poet’s, and his family’s tomb in St Michael’s’ Church Highgate, to give them a memorial worthy of his greatness.
Friends of Highgate Library, Chester Road
The Friends of Highgate Library were founded in 1995 and have many times fought to keep our library open. Last year, they celebrated 30 years of success. Now the Friends organise a monthly talk, produce a newsletter and, through their charitable arm, oversee a group of volunteers to jointly manage and staff the library and its programme of community activities.
Friends of Kenwood
Formed in 1977, the Friends of Kenwood provide a voice for supporters and work to promote and preserve the special qualities of Kenwood House, its collections and estate for visitors of today and tomorrow.
The Friends publish a bi-annual Newsletter, fortnightly email news, and run an extensive programme of talks, visits and events. In 2025, the Friends of Kenwood were heavily involved in the first ticketed exhibition at Kenwood for over 25 years, Heiress: Sargent’s American Portraits, and also in the small display which closed on 12 January 2026, Double Vision: Vermeer at Kenwood
Heritage Guides
Heritage Guides are a group of historians and tour guides who specialise in exploring the sites and stories of Britain’s built heritage. As guides, we provide storytelling, tours and talks for all ages in London and beyond. This spring and summer, we are leading a monthly tour, exploring the history and architecture of Highgate.
Highgate Literary & Scientific Institution
Since its foundation in 1839, the Highgate Literary & Scientific Institution has offered lectures, a lending library and archive. Today’s members also enjoy debates, a science group, opera circle, the Highgate Gallery, a film society, several reading groups and occasional concerts. We also offer a wide range of popular courses. Many HLSI activities are open to non-members, however members benefit from reduced rates for classes and activities. At HLSI we believe that discussion, debate and life-long learning enrich lives, connect people and support community. Together, our staff and a large body of volunteers develop and support activities for the enjoyment and benefit of the people of Highgate and beyond.
Highgate School Museum and Archive
Highgate School Museum tells the story of Highgate School though documents, artefacts, photographs and paintings. It opens a window on the past, showing school life though the centuries, our relationship with Highgate Village, and how we endured two world wars. Housed in The Highgate Tabernacle on Southwood Lane and open by appointment, exhibits include a Royal Charter of Queen Elizabeth I, an 1860s slate used by Head Master John Dyne for taking the register of attendance, World War I letters, photographs documenting the School’s evacuation to Devon during World War II, shrapnel from the V-1 flying bomb which landed on the school field in 1944 and art by Sir Kyffin Williams RA and Anthony Green RA.
Highgate Society
The Highgate Society was founded in 1966 by local people who had successfully fought Government plans to route heavy traffic through the heart of Highgate. We aim to make Highgate a better place to live and work. Among our objectives, we aim to share information widely on the geography, history, natural history and architecture of the area, and secure the preservation, protection and enhancement of features of historic or public interest.
Lady Gould's Charity
For over 300 hundred years Lady Gould’s Charity has been helping to support people and organisations in the Highgate area who, for a variety of reasons, require financial assistance. The grant-giving charity was founded in 1691 by Elizabeth Gould, who was a resident of Highgate in North London, and first came into operation on the death of her husband in 1728. Every year since then, the Trust’s income has been distributed as grants to “inhabitants of the town and village of Highgate” who are in need.
Lauderdale House
Come and check out the Victorian bottle we found during the renovations harking back to our time as a convalescence home to St Bartholomew’s Hospital and collection of 1950’s milk bottles discovered in the courtyard excavations. We are also creating social history archives of the wide range of people who have visited over the years. If you have any anecdotes, photographs, objects, letters or other memories regarding Lauderdale House, stop on by and share your stories with us.
London Geodiversity Partnership
Founded in 2008, the London Geodiversity Partnership aims to identify, conserve and interpret London’s geology as well as influencing policy. LGP will display images, rocks samples and fossils to illustrate how geology has shaped the building of London. Don't miss the examples of the different rock types and fossils underlying Waterlow Park which feed into our local heritage. The London Geodiversity Partnership will also host a free geotrail around the park - click here to learn more and reserve your spot.
LYRIC: Lauderdale's Young Research & Interpretation Collective
Discover the research of our latest cohort of LYRIC, Lauderdale's Young Research & Interpretation Collective, a brilliant group of Year 12 scholars who looked at various local history topics including the Victorian railway expansion and political change in Camden to Brutalism, true-crime cases, and stories of Irish immigration.
The North London U3A & Shape of London group
North London U3A is your local branch of a movement devoted to lifelong learning. They have over 70 currently active interest groups covering a wide range of interests. The Shape of London group meets regularly at Lauderdale House and studies London in all its aspects e.g., built environment, architecture, history, and green spaces, from the earliest times to the present day. Many of the members volunteer to give talks and lead walks on London related topics.
Check back to see the other amazing groups that will be joining our Heritage Fair, and discover more about our Heritage Weekend programme here
