London’s Oldest Tree Has Seen Over 2,000 Years of History
Wait… London Has a 2,000-Year-Old Tree?
Yes. And it’s not in Kew Gardens, or the Queen’s private estate, or hidden behind palace gates.
It’s just… standing there.
In a quiet graveyard in Totteridge, North London, surrounded by tombstones and hedges.
Unfazed by centuries of weather, war, and wandering foxes.
This is London’s oldest tree — a mighty yew that’s been here since the Roman era.
And the wildest part? Hardly anyone knows it exists.
Meet the Totteridge Yew
Location: St. Andrew’s Churchyard, Totteridge, N20 (Zone 4)
Estimated Age: Over 2,000 years old
Species: Yew tree (Taxus baccata)
Girth: Around 26 feet (8 metres) in circumference
Status: Designated one of the “Great Trees of London”
Why Is This Tree So Special?
The Totteridge Yew isn’t just old — it’s ancient.
Botanists and historians estimate it was already rooted here before London was even called Londinium.
Let that sink in.
This tree was growing:
Before the Tower of London was built
Before Westminster Abbey was founded
Before there were any double-decker buses, black cabs, or tube lines
It has survived:
Roman occupation
Viking raids
The Great Fire
Both World Wars
And every generation of Londoner in between
It’s the ultimate silent witness to London’s transformation — from forest to empire to megacity.
Why Yew Trees Live So Long
Yews are slow-growing, incredibly resilient evergreens found all over the UK — especially in churchyards.
Why?
In Celtic and Druidic belief, yew trees symbolised death, rebirth, and eternal life.
Later, churches were often built near existing yew groves to “absorb” local pagan customs.
But scientifically:
Yews can regenerate from the inside out
Hollow trunks aren’t a death sentence — they keep growing
Their wood is rot-resistant, and their toxins deter pests
This means some yews can live 3,000 years or more, and still appear healthy.
The Churchyard Setting
The Totteridge Yew stands in the grounds of St Andrew’s Church, parts of which date back to the 13th century.
The tree itself predates the church by over a millennium.
Its massive trunk is now propped and fenced for safety, but visitors can still admire it up close.
The surrounding graveyard is peaceful, atmospheric, and surprisingly green for Zone 4.
It’s the kind of place where time slows down.
You can sit under the yew’s dark canopy and honestly feel like you’ve stepped out of the 21st century.
How to Visit
Nearest Station:
Totteridge & Whetstone (Northern Line – High Barnet branch)
Short walk:
7–10 minutes to St. Andrew’s Church
Address: St Andrew’s, Totteridge Lane, N20 8PR
Best Time to Visit:
Daylight hours (churchyard is generally open to the public)
Spring and autumn are beautiful — dappled light through the yew’s branches
➡️ It’s free, open to all, and totally off the tourist trail.
What This Tree Has “Seen”
The Totteridge Yew has silently stood through the rise and fall of empires, watching London transform over two entire millennia. It first took root around 25 AD, back when the Romans were arriving in Britain and Londinium was just beginning to take shape.
A few decades later, in 60 AD, it would have “witnessed” Queen Boudicca’s rebellion, as her forces burned the early Roman city to the ground.
By 1066, it had already stood for over a thousand years as William the Conqueror changed the course of British history at the Battle of Hastings.
In 1348, while the Black Death swept through London killing nearly half the population, the yew remained rooted, untouched by the chaos.
Centuries passed, and in 1666, it lived through the Great Fire of London — a disaster that wiped out most of the medieval city but spared the countryside where the yew stood.
By the 1890s, the London Underground was being built and stretched out toward the suburbs — bringing trains not far from Totteridge for the first time.
In 1940, bombs rained down on London during the Blitz, but the Totteridge Yew still stood firm as the city fought to survive the Second World War.
By 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the entire city locked down — something even this ancient tree had never “seen” before in quite the same way.
And now, in 2025, you’re reading about it — maybe even planning a visit — while it keeps growing quietly, as it has for 2,000 years.
Can You Photograph It?
Yes — and you should!
But fair warning:
It’s hard to capture its scale in a photo.
The branches create a deep natural shadow, giving it a moody, almost gothic appearance.
Use wide-angle or pano mode if you want to get the full shape in.
Bonus: the surrounding graveyard makes for very aesthetic, low-key spooky shots.
Why Haven’t You Heard of It Before?
That’s the magic.
London is full of iconic landmarks — but sometimes the best treasures are:
Quiet
Local
Hidden in plain sight
There are older yew trees across the UK (like in Fortingall, Scotland) — but the Totteridge Yew is the oldest tree within Greater London.
It’s not on bus tours.
It’s not trending on TikTok.
And it’s not covered in hashtags.
Yet it has more stories in its bark than most history books.
Final Thoughts
We often think of London as fast-moving — always growing, changing, developing. But just outside Zone 3, there's a living time capsule that’s been rooted here for two millennia.
So next time you feel overwhelmed by the noise of the city, hop on the Northern Line and pay a visit to London’s quietest elder.
It won’t say a word — but if you listen closely, it might just whisper 2,000 years of London’s soul.
Before You Go
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Share it with a fellow history lover or urban explorer
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