Directions to resting place of Guardian

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Directions to the U.K. National Bahá.í Centre

Directions to the Resting Place of Shoghi Effendi,
Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith

Take the tube (subway/metro) to Arnos Grove underground station (on the Piccadilly Line - marked in blue on most maps). The journey takes about 40 minutes from the centre of London. This is the same line as serves Heathrow Airport (which unfortunately is at the opposite end).

On leaving the station, turn right along Bowes Road and continue to the roundabout which is at its end - about a third of a mile. Take the third exit (clockwise) from the roundabout - Brunswick Park Road - and you will find the New Southgate Cemetery about half a mile along, on the right.

Map to the resting place of shoghi effendi

Walk to the centre of the cemetery (which is in the shape of a wheel with radiating spokes). There is a building (with bathroom facilities) and car park in the centre - with your back to that building and facing the car park, walk along one of the paths on the left - you will see Shoghi Effendi's Resting Place a few yards/metres away.

Visitors are requested to follow any guidance from the custodians who are usually in attendance. Photographs should not be taken of people inside the inner court, as this is not appropriate to a holy place.

The cemetery closes in the early evening. It is quite safe to walk in this part of the city and certainly during the daylight hours.

IMPORTANT NOTICE - OPENING HOURS

The eagle from the Guardian's Resting Place was stolen and the monument damaged in the process. Its replacement was accompanied by an understandably stricter measure of security. The following notice was issued by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United Kingdom in November 2000 CE:

Now that the eagle has been reinstated at the resting place of the Beloved Guardian and now that the stonework has been beautifully cleaned, the new security arrangements are in operation to protect this most important Holy Place against any further depredations by thieves or other intruders.

This means that the gates to the enclosure around the monument will have to be locked at the time the Custodians complete their day's work and will not be unlocked until they start their next day's work. Anyone who enters the enclosure once the security system has been set for the night will trigger the alarm and call out the security company. Such call outs incur a cost, which would be met by the Funds of the Faith.

Please note that the enclosure around the Guardian's Resting Place will be open for the friends to visit and pray from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. Those friends who wish to visit the Holy Place outside these hours, while the cemetery is still open, will be most welcome to pray there but are asked most earnestly to remain outside the enclosure while they do so. We feel sure that you will understand why this is so important.

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