Visitors will have a rare opportunity to peek inside some of Brookwood Cemetery's historic mausoleums on Saturday 12 September as the site takes part in the Heritage Open Days 2026 campaign.

Usually closed to the public, the mausoleums offer a fascinating glimpse into Victorian funerary architecture and the stories of those commemorated within them.

Alongside the open mausoleums, visitors can enjoy self-guided trails of notable graves, a free guided walk, refreshments, picnics among the cemetery's wildlife and wildflowers, and entry to the cemetery's iconic Columbarium.

Avril Kirby, Brookwood Cemetery Manager, said:

“Brookwood Cemetery is open to visitors every day, but opportunities to see inside our historic mausoleums are much rarer.

“Thanks to the work of The Brookwood Cemetery Society, these remarkable structures are being carefully restored, and visitors can now appreciate their architecture and history without compromising their preservation.

“The Columbarium, the largest of our historic structures, will be open for people to step inside, with a volunteer guide on hand to tell you about its history and architectural features.”

The theme of this year’s Heritage Open Day campaign is ‘everyday histories’ so in addition to exploring the cemetery’s mausoleums, the society will lead a free, guided walk starting at midday from the society lodge (south cemetery).

Kim Lowe, Chair of The Brookwood Cemetery Society, explains:

“There are many notable people buried in Brookwood Cemetery. Our guided walk will highlight the graves of individuals associated with brands, inventions and sporting traditions familiar to millions.

“Individuals such as sugar refiner, Henry Tate, British racing motorist, journalist and clubman, Sydney Charles Houghton "Sammy" Davis, and members of Huntly and Palmers biscuit empire.”

The activities on Saturday 12 September take place between 10am and 3pm. Admission is free and no booking is required.

Brookwood Cemetery has been awarded the coveted Green Flag Award as it is officially recognised as one of the best parks in the country.

Brookwood Cemetery is one of a record-breaking 2,391 sites in the UK to achieve the award this year – a fantastic testament to the hard work, passion and dedication of the team who care for this green space, ensuring it is maintained to a high standard for visitors and residents to enjoy.

Brookwood Cemetery has also achieved the Green Heritage Site Accreditation for the management and promotion of its historic features.

Paul Todd MBE, Green Flag Award Manager at Keep Britain Tidy, said:

“Parks are essential public spaces that support our wellbeing, our communities and our economy.

“Brookwood Cemetery has shown what can be achieved when our parks are properly supported and managed. As we celebrate 30 years of the Green Flag Award, we want every community to have access to green spaces like this that are safe, welcoming and maintained to a high standard.

"Congratulations to everyone involved."

The Green Flag Award scheme, managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under contract from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark standard for the management of green spaces across the UK and around the world.

Brookwood Cemetery has received both the Green Flag Award and the Green Heritage Site Accreditation twice before, in 2022 and 2024 (judging is carried out every two years). 

Brookwood Cemetery Manager, Avril Kirby, said:

“It’s a privilege to manage this site and I’m thrilled to receive both the Green Flag Award and the Green Heritage Site Accreditation for a third time.

“Brookwood Cemetery is unlike any other cemetery or graveyard you’ll come across. It comprises 220 acres of historic parkland and woodland and is home to several rare and internationally important plant species. I’m enormously grateful and proud of the team involved in maintaining Brookwood Cemetery’s natural beauty, while also balancing and caring for the needs of the bereaved, who we continue to serve daily.

“The cemetery is open seven days a week from 8am to 5pm and everyone is welcome to benefit from the peace and tranquillity of our award-winning site.”

On Sunday 5 July 2026, the Bagh-E-Zehra Trust is hosting an event in the Bagh-e-Zehra burial ground in the South Cemetery.

This is a large community event featuring worship and amplified sound starting at 10am.

Participants are encouraged to park at Brookwood train station and walk through the North Cemetery to access the burial ground.

Cemetery Pales will be closed from 11 May for three days, 8am to 5pm. The cemetery will be open as normal. Please ask for access.

Surrey Highways has advised us that it plans to carry out highway works on Cemetery Pales from the 11 May for three days. The works involve the installations of signs, posts and road lines as part of its Rural Road Speed Reduction Scheme.

> Read more about the planned works of the Surrey Highways website

Cemetery Pales will be closed from the junction with Bagshot Road to the borough boundary (where the cemetery walls end). The cemetery will be open as normal. Please ask the highway staff to allow you access.

The work is weather dependent, which may cause delays to either the start or completion dates. Please check the highway information signs for latest information. We will also update this page.

Thank you for your cooperation.

This Surrey Day (9 May), spend the day discovering what hidden treasures lie behind the walls of Brookwood’s military and civilian cemeteries.

Established in 1852, Brookwood Cemetery is one of Surrey’s most fascinating yet overlooked heritage sites. Within its grounds there are literally thousands of remarkable stories, acres of green space and years of history just waiting to be discovered.

Surrey Day aims to inspire people to explore the wealth of culture and heritage on their doorstep. At Brookwood Cemetery on 9 May, visitors can join a free guided walk, take a self-guided tour of notable graves, picnic in the beautiful grounds and enjoy refreshments provided by The Brookwood Cemetery Society (10am to 3pm).

Avril Kirby, Brookwood Cemetery Manager, said: “By taking part in this countywide initiative we hope to encourage people of all ages to see the cemetery not only as a place of remembrance, but also as a unique green space, a wildlife haven and an important part of Surrey’s story.

“Many people are surprised by just how peaceful, beautiful and full of history the cemetery is. Visitors will be able to wander through our historic grounds, look inside some of our older mausoleums and discover the resting places of notable figures from across centuries.

“We’re very proud to highlight our ongoing conservation work, and the role Brookwood Cemetery continues to play in the life of the county today so we look forward to seeing lots of visitors, new and returning, on Saturday 9 May.”

Programme of activity to celebrate Surrey Day:

• 10am, free guided walk of the military cemetery (requires booking). Meet at the Canada Building.
• 1pm, free guided walk of the civilian cemetery (south side). Meet at The Brookwood Cemetery Society lodge.
• Refreshments at The Brookwood Cemetery Society lodge from 10am to 3pm.
• Self-guided trails.
• Designated grass picnic areas near The Brookwood Cemetery Society lodge.
• A rare peek inside some of our historic mausoleums. Their doors will be open allowing you to see what lies beyond their protective gates.

For International Women’s Day (Sunday 8 March 2026), we spotlight five extraordinary women buried in the cemetery whose legacies continue to inspire.

Use our Notable Grave markers to discover their final resting place and learn more about their individual achievements.

Magdalena Cecilia Colledge (1920 to 2008)

Magdalena transformed the world of figure skating through innovation, discipline and boundary breaking talent. A London born prodigy, she became the youngest competitor at the 1932 Winter Olympics at just 11 years old and went on to win Olympic silver in 1936, the World Championship in 1937, and three consecutive European titles from 1937 to 1939. She is credited with inventing iconic elements such as the camel spin and layback spin, and was the first woman to perform a double jump in competition.

Buried in Plot 84, South Cemetery

Joyce Pearce (1915 to 1985)

Joyce was a visionary educator and humanitarian who co founded the Ockenden Venture, one of the earliest UK charities dedicated to supporting refugee children. The initiative began in 1951 when Pearce arranged a holiday for 17 displaced teenagers from post war Europe at her family home in Woking. This small act of compassion blossomed into a major international charity offering education, housing, and welfare support to displaced children worldwide.

Buried in Plot 44, South Cemetery, Woking Ground

Lady Henry Somerset (1851 to 1921)

Lady Henry was a pioneering women’s rights advocate, philanthropist, and leader of the British Women’s Temperance Association. Born into an influential family, she used her position to campaign passionately for women’s welfare, temperance reform, improved social conditions, and later, suffrage.

Buried in Plot 46, South Cemetery

Dame Alicia Frances Jane Lloyd Still

(1869 to 1944)

Dame Alicia was one of Britain’s most influential nursing leaders. A matron at major London hospitals, including St. Thomas’ Hospital, where she also led the Nightingale Training School, she championed professionalism in nursing. Lloyd Still played a crucial role in securing state registration for nurses through the Nurses Registration Act of 1919 and helped establish the first national nursing examination standards.

Her service during World War I as Principal Matron of the No. 5 London General Hospital earned her the Royal Red Cross and later honours such as DBE and CBE. She also co founded the Florence Nightingale Museum and held numerous prominent leadership roles in nursing organisations. Lloyd Still elevated nursing from vocation to respected profession, leaving a legacy that shaped modern healthcare.

Buried in Plot 46, South Cemetery

Dame Rebecca West (1892 to 1983)

Dame Rebecca was a brilliant and versatile writer whose work spanned journalism, fiction, criticism, and political commentary. She first gained attention writing under the pseudonym “Rebecca West” for The Freewoman, and her early biography Henry James (1916) secured her literary reputation.

Throughout her long career, she produced influential novels such as The Return of the Soldier and non-fiction works including Black Lamb and Grey Falcon and A Train of Powder. A passionate supporter of women’s suffrage and an outspoken critic of authoritarianism, West was described by Time magazine in 1947 as “the world’s number one woman writer.” She was honoured with both CBE (1949) and DBE (1959) for her contributions to literature.

Buried in Plot 81, South Cemetery