[2] Born in Breslau, Germany (now Wrocław, Poland), Ernst Honigmann arrived in England in 1935, age 7, as a jewish refugee from Nazi Germany, together with his father, the zoologist Dr Hans D. S. Honigmann (who was removed from his job as head of zoology due to his religion) (Director of Breslau Zoo), mother, Ursula, and brothers, Friederich and Paul.

He gained his BLitt working on a study of the chronology of Shakespeare's plays, under the supervision of J. C. Maxwell, at Merton College, Oxford 1948-50.

He gained his Doctor of Letters after returning to the University of Glasgow from 1954 to 1967, where he was lecturer in English alongside Peter Alexander, his former teacher.

In 1968 Honigmann became reader and two years later Joseph Cowen Professor of English Literature at Newcastle University (also holding the position of leader of the English Department for 20 years), until his retirement from active University life in 1989, whereupon he was appointed emeritus professor.

In retirement he worked both independently and on several collaborations in Shakespeare studies, created a new edition of Othello for the Arden Shakespeare,[7] wrote a personal memoir Togetherness: Episodes from the Life of a Refugee,[8] and created poetry and short stories (the latter mainly for the amusement of his grandchildren).