Fears for ‘ theme park’ cemetery

A London cemetery that draws tourists from around the world to visit the final resting place of Marxist philosopher Karl Marx and writer George Eliot is in danger of becoming a “Disneyland of Death.” A group of volunteers fears the Highgate Cemetery is relying too heavily on its draw as a visitor attraction and is at risk of becoming a “theme park.” The issue has come to a head with some trustees claiming corporate interests are trumping community sentiment. “It wouldn’t surprise me if, in the future, the cemetery ends up a Disneyland of Death,” former guide Sam Perrin said. The cemetery is increasingly reliant on money from tourists as more people choose to be cremated instead of having pricier burials.