Northwood Cemetery, London

Northwood Cemetery is a municipal cemetery in north-west London, in the borough of Hillingdon, in the suburb of Northwood. It opened in 1915 and covers a little over 6 hectares (about 15 acres). It is a quiet place that ties together local suburban history and the memory of airmen, many of them Polish, who served in the Second World War.

Where is Northwood Cemetery?

The cemetery sits on the north-western edge of Greater London, in Northwood, part of the London Borough of Hillingdon. Its coordinates are roughly 51.600 N, 0.418 W. The land was once part of Ruislip Common, the shared land of the old village of Ruislip, and was already in municipal ownership when the cemetery was created. From the start it served as a council cemetery for local residents.

When did it open?

Burials began in 1915, during the First World War. At just over 6 hectares it is a mid-sized cemetery, divided into sections, of which Section H, with its war graves plot, is the most notable.

War graves and Polish connections

The cemetery holds 121 Commonwealth war graves. Five date from the First World War and the rest from the Second. Most of the 1939 to 1945 graves lie in Section H. Many of those buried there were RAF airmen from nearby RAF Northolt, including 63 members of the Polish Air Force. For Polish visitors, it is one of the places in London where you can pay respects to countrymen who defended British skies.

These figures come from a write-up that is itself flagged as needing further citations, so check exact numbers against the Commonwealth War Graves Commission database.

The war memorial

Among the war graves stands a memorial to those who died in the Second World War. It is a stone cross decorated with a bronze sword, set on a polygonal base and surrounded by graves of servicemen. It is listed in the Hillingdon council war memorial register.

Is it worth visiting?

This is not a typical tourist attraction but a place of remembrance and calm. Visit respectfully, quietly, and mind any funerals in progress. It will interest anyone following Second World War history, Polish airmen in Britain, or the local story of west London. A local friends-of-the-cemetery group also documents its history and wartime connections.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Northwood Cemetery? In Northwood, in the London Borough of Hillingdon, north-west London.

When did it open? In 1915.

How big is it? A little over 6 hectares.

Are there Polish war graves? Yes. Among those buried in the war graves plot are 63 Polish Air Force personnel.

Is it the same as Northwood Cemetery in Philadelphia? No. A cemetery with the same name exists in Philadelphia, USA, and is unrelated to the London one.

Is there an entry fee? It is a municipal cemetery, but check opening hours and access details on the Hillingdon council website.