London/Islington

Islington is a district of north London covering much of the London Borough of Islington. The area around The Angel, Upper Street and Essex Road is of special interest to visitors; it is home to a number of interesting shops selling antiques and collectibles as well as art galleries.

Understand
The south of the district borders the City of London and Clerkenwell and was long seen as something of a poor relation to those two areas. That all started to change in the 1990s when the typical Victorian houses of Islington became very desirable and the area went through huge gentrification to become a highly fashionable address.

Further north, the district becomes a little less grand and largely lower-end residential. Finsbury Park is an area in the north-east of the district which grew up around an important railway interchange at the junction of the London Boroughs of Islington, Haringey and Hackney. The park is a large important green space in an otherwise densely populated area.

In the north-west of the district its character changes again and Highgate takes on many characteristics of the neighbouring district of Hampstead.

Islington has long been known for its left-wing politics and in the 1980s the oft-used moniker of the Socialist Republic of Islington was not unwarranted. The legacy of that still remains: the borough's two MPs—including former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn—and Council administration are all from the Labour Party, and a number of regular festivals of a distinctly left-wing nature are hosted here.

Islington is also known for being the place where writer and explorer Mary Kingsley was born.

Local information

 * London Borough of Islington Council website

By tube
Islington is served by the following Tube stations, in fare zones 1, 2 and 3:


 * Angel (Northern line) (Zone 1)
 * Highbury & Islington (Victoria line) (Zone 2)
 * Tufnell Park (Northern line) (Zone 2)
 * Archway (Northern line) (Zones 2 and 3)
 * Highgate (Northern line) (Zone 3)
 * Finsbury Park (Victoria and Piccadilly lines) (Zone 2)
 * Holloway Road (Piccadilly line) (Zone 2)
 * Caledonian Road (Piccadilly line) (Zone 2)
 * Arsenal (Piccadilly line) (Zone 2)

National Rail
The nearest mainline stations are and  in Camden.

National Rail stations within the borough include Highbury & Islington, Essex Rd, Canonbury, Finsbury Park and Upper Holloway.

London Overground
Islington has several London Overground stations with services to Stratford, Clapham Junction, Willesden Junction, Richmond, New Cross and West Croydon. All stations are in fare zone 2.

From west to east:
 * Caledonian Road & Barnsbury
 * Highbury & Islington
 * Canonbury

By bus
Bus routes 41, N41, 134, 390, 43, 17, C11, 4 and W5 serve Archway and the surrounding area.

Routes 29, 19, 4, 259, 253 and 254 connect Finsbury Park with the centre of London.

The Angel, Islington is served by the following routes: 19, 30, 38, 43, 56, 73, 153, 205, 214, 274 and 341.

Buy

 * Stroud Green Farmers Market is every Sunday north of Finsbury Park station.
 * Stroud Green Farmers Market is every Sunday north of Finsbury Park station.
 * Stroud Green Farmers Market is every Sunday north of Finsbury Park station.
 * Stroud Green Farmers Market is every Sunday north of Finsbury Park station.
 * Stroud Green Farmers Market is every Sunday north of Finsbury Park station.

Eat
Diners are spoiled for choice in Islington, especially the Upper Street area between Angel and Highbury & Islington tube stations. A wide variety of cuisine and price ranges are available. Mediterranean food dominates but with options like Indian, Afghan, Italian, French, Thai, and South American there is food for all tastes.

A few minutes' walk from Archway station up Highgate Hill will lead you to Highgate, the upmarket end of Archway. There are a selection of nice cafes, restaurants and pubs to choose from. Swain's Lane, five to ten minutes walk from Archway station just near Hampstead Heath, has a few nice places to eat.

Angel to Upper Street can be a diner's paradise if you know where to go. Close to Angel places are geared towards the daytime sandwich eaters and coffee drinkers. From Islington Green on you will generally find nicer restaurants at better value. As a rule, the further towards Highbury & Islington the cheaper the restaurants, although the quality does not necessarily decline. Take a walk down the side-streets too as they hold some of the best restaurants, pubs, and bars.

In Archway, coming out of the Tube station you will see two kebab houses on Junction Road, neither of which are anything special, but rather comically one carries the slogan "best kebabs in UK" while the other says "best kebab in world"; these are not to be believed. You may find other interesting little restaurants down Holloway Road.

The Finsbury Park area is home to many minority groups such as Algerians, Greeks, Turks, and sub-Saharan Africans and as such has some of the most diverse range of restaurants available in London. Down Blackstock Road, a locals' favourite is Sim Sim. Just outside the station on Seven Sisters Road, The Red Zone offers cheap but good food.

Archway
There are plenty of pubs in the area, some of them managing to be slightly more lively or more stylish than the typical local boozer.



Finsbury Park
There are many pubs in the area.



Media

 * Islington Gazette
 * Islington Tribune

Go next

 * East to Hackney
 * South to Holborn
 * West to Camden