Karl Marx's London: Walking in Marx's footsteps

 This weekend, I made my metaphorical pilgrimage to London to visit all the significant places in Marx's life, starting with his first home in London, and ending at Highgate Cemetery, where he was buried. It was through this trip that (along with having walked through three London boroughs and been introduced to parts of the city that I had never seen) I got to appreciate Marx's legacy and respect him as, once upon a time, a London resident who studied in the library, drank at pubs, and shopped in high streets like I do. The feeling gained from walking down the same streets and trying to visualise him living, working, rallying and resting offered a whole other dimension to the socialist movement and truly brought it to life. In this post, I will present photographs and provide commentary on the places I visited that hold significance for Karl Marx.

Now a restaurant, 28 Dean Street in Soho was Marx's London home. His blue plaque, erected in 1967, can be seen on the wall. He lived here with Jenny von Westphalen from 1851-1856.

Moving on from Dean Street, the Spirit of Soho mural on Broadwick Street commemorates London's history. Marx can be seen near the centre of this mural, to the left of the clock.

The Red Lion Pub shown above was the site of many socialist rallies and political activities led by Marx and Engels.

Another pub, the Dog and Duck, while not specifically associated with Marx, was frequented by Orwell and even has its own specific Orwell room.

The British Museum reading room and the Marx Memorial Library were two places in which Marx studied and wrote. The Marx Memorial Library is open to the public and sometimes has guided tours.

Finally, I visited Highgate Cemetery, where Marx (along with many other notable people) is buried. His grave was beautifully maintained and featured a bust of Marx carved in stone, and the inscriptions of "Workers of the world unite" and "The philosophers have only observed the world in various ways. The point, however, is to change things". People had left flowers, notes, and gifts for Marx, which included, amusingly, a cigarette, a pear, a can of beer, and a biscuit!