Islington: Historically blessed with water sources and fertile soil, Islington was an area for growing produce for London in the 17th and 18th centuries. Its attractive rural environment made it a good place for pubs and inns and tea and pleasure gardens. As it grew in popularity, along with the Victorian desire for amusements, it was a place for games, fireworks, and dancing. Music halls and theatres followed, and it is possible to trace these origins in modern Islington today. A vibrant place with top-class culture, plus excellent restaurants, and cafes, all of which retain a sense of everyday urban joie de vivre. If you are considering moving to Islington here are five things to consider in your favour.
1-ISLINGTON’s Transport LINKS
Highbury and Islington station connects you with the London Overground and can take you down onto the Victoria Underground line. At the other end of Upper Street is Angel Underground, which is on the Bank branch of the Northern Line. On the upper level of that corner, there are 19 different bus routes. With Kings Cross within walking distance, you can even access international connections. The Circle, Hammersmith and City lines, Northern, Piccadilly and Metropolitan lines are all clustered there. Plus, the Eurostar, Thames link, Southeastern trains, and East Midlands trains. The 38 bus from Angel can take you to Victoria via Bloomsbury, Piccadilly Circus and Green Park. It’s a classic London bus route for seeing the sights. Many destinations for nightlife are accessible by foot if you want to walk to the Southbank, Shoreditch or the West End.
2-Green spaces In ISLINGTON
Covering the most ground in Islington is the largest open space Highbury Fields, which is great fun for kids and adults alike. With play zones with water activities, sand, and playgrounds it is a great mecca for young ones to enjoy. On the edge of the park is Highbury Leisure Centre which takes all this a bit further with two swimming pools and a fitness center and gym. Caledonian Park, affectionately known as Callypark, offers panoramic views of the city from its clock tower. Its scenic and botanical features make it an ideal place for a picnic or a get-together. With flower gardens and orchards, it hearkens back to the time when Islington produced most of the food resources for London. Tripadvisor lists 10 popular parks to try in the area, and many of them offer historical insight into the city. For example, Islington Green was once a place of free grazing rights and was thought to be the heart of the area. Now it is home to the popular and eclectic Everyman cinema The Screen on the Green and seasonal fairgrounds. Edging onto the Regents Canal, the Canal and Rivers Trust is setting up eco moorings for houseboats along the Angel to Kings Cross stretch. There is an abundance of green space and parks considering the central location of this London area.
3-Culture
With Sadler’s Wells Dance Theatre and the Almeida, Islington is on the West End map for theatre. For live music, the O2 Academy Islington, The Garage, and the Union Chapel also provide memorable nights out in the city. The IconicScreen on the Green is a venue not only for cinema but also for National Theatre Live and has its own bar next to the screen. Whether you want to take a life drawing class or check out the galleries there is a huge range of options, including a local graffiti pilgrimage. A variety of eclectic restuarants and coffee shops keeps the pulse of the place well and truly beating. With several co-working spaces thriving in its midst, it has historical legacy and innovation within its urban atmosphere.
4-Food in Islington
For those that delight in good food, Islington has fine purveyors of. For ethically raised meat and fine butchery Turner and George on St John’s St have a superb range. Curating the best from British native breeds and independent farmers, they make their own sausages and burgers. With a click and collect services and gifts aplenty they are a great local resource for many residents. With a similarly fresh ethos, Moxon’s Fishmongers bring fresh British and Scottish fish right into the city. From Cornwall to the Shetland Islands, you can guarantee that the fish is fresh and local – to this island anyway. From just across the channel, the finest of French wine, Made in Little France finds its way to this London postcode. Islington was the first area in London to have a farmers’ market. This Sunday gathering at Chapel market is an absolute mecca for artisan producers and customers, ranging from meat, honey, eggs, mushrooms to gin and beer. Filling the streets with camaraderie and the countryside it is enjoyed by locals, families, and visitors alike.
5-House prices in Islington
- Detached House £1,051,500
- Semidetached house £1,901,206
- Terraced house £1,657,225
- Flats £610,721
These recent figures from Zoopla offer a glance at the price range. In terms of atmosphere and architecture sought after Colebrook Row is lined with Georgian and Victorian housing in a tranquil residential area. There are also council estates and tower blocks within Islington with more affordable housing options, which Islington council has vowed to expand and improve on in forthcoming years. Examples of Regency and Georgian architecture crop up throughout Islington, including the various residential squares and their gardens. Having a walk around the place is going to give you the best feel of where you would most like to be. Housing prices in Islington are on the increase currently, with mainly flats sold in the last year. The average sold price was £876,466 across all categories.
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