Islington

Getting Here

Public transport is particularly good with Angel Station (Northern Line) in fare zone 1, and Highbury and Islington (Victoria Line) and Essex Road (mainline), both in zone 2. Numerous bus routes serve the area, making Islington very well connected to the City and the West End.

Local Knowledge and History

From origins as a hamlet, in the 17^th Century this emerged into the Village of Islington, with the ancient Parish Church building of St Mary’s, centred between Angel and Highbury Corner. The first church building was built in the 15^th Century, and rebuilt in the 18^th Century. It suffered extensive bomb damage during the war, with only the tower and spire remaining, and was rebuilt in 1957. Upper Street and Essex Road (formerly Lower Street) are the principal thoroughfares, with Liverpool Road (formerly Back Road) which is mostly parallel with Upper Street, and joins Upper Street close to where Upper Street becomes High Street, in Angel. Angel is named from the former Angel Inn at the corner of the High Street and Pentonville Road. A statue of Sir Hugh Myddelton is atop a fountain in Islington Green, to mark his contribution to the New River bringing fresh water to London, completed in 1613, and to this day supplies around 8% of London’s water supply, via the East Reservoir in Stoke Newington, where the river head was cut short in 1946. The original head was near Sadler’s Wells Theatre, and this section is used to this day by Thames Water where a borehole in London’s aquifer is used to pump water to the East Reservoir.

Dining Out

Colloquially known by some as “Supper Street,” Islington’s Upper Street has a high concentration of restaurants from Angel to Highbury Corner. Village like pubs can be found in leafy streets and garden squares.

Shopping

Angel Shopping Centre and Upper Street contain a good retail offering. Camden Passage’s vintage and antique stalls are open Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, and there is a long established market in Chapel Market, open Tuesdays to Sundays.

Museums and Cultural Activities

The Estorick Collection of Modern Italian Art in nearby Canonbury Square, and Islington Museum is nearby in St John’s Street.

Theatre, Cinema, Live Music, and Comedy Club Venues

The Almeida Theatre, Kings Head Pub Theatre, and Little Angel Theatre, a children’s puppet theatre, provide theatrical entertainment. Union Chapel and 02 Academy are local live entertainment venues. Nearby, in Rosebery Avenue there is the Sadlers Wells Theatre performing arts venue. There are two cinemas in Islngton: Everyman’s Screen on the Green, and the Vue cinema in Angel Shopping Centre. Angel Comedy Club has two venues: Camden Head and The Bill Murray.

Sports Facilities

Highbury Leisure centre is located near to Highbury Corner, and there are other gyms. There are tennis courts in Highbury Fields.

Parks and Outdoor Recreation

Islington Green, St Mary’s Churchyard and the garden squares provide outdoor space, as well as Highbury Fields, and Barnard Park with its adventure playground and ball court (recently renovated). The park is undergoing further improvement works. There is a linear park in Duncan Terrace Gardens and Colebrook Road, and other linear parks, following the course of the New River, created where the water runs in tunnel, and canalside walks along Regents Canal.