Islington

Islington is a thriving village in the heart of London. It combines beautiful architecture with a seemingly endless choice of shops, cafés, restaurants and bars, a flourishing fringe theatre and entertainment scene, plenty of green space and excellent transport links.

The area has managed to retain its local feel, and its vibrant street markets and quirky shopping alleys are a reminder that Islington remains a community at heart.

Types of residential property in Islington

The area is probably best known for its wealth of period homes including its Georgian terraced houses and Victorian villas, many of which have private gardens.

But that tells only part of the story. Islington has benefitted from several modern additions in recent years including warehouse conversions and new-build apartments, a number of which overlook Regent’s Canal. These new residential properties in Islington have brought young professionals and creatives to the area and means buyers have a variety of types of property to choose from.

Location and transport links

One of Islington’s best features is its central location close to the City, Shoreditch, King’s Cross and the West End. With stations at either end of Upper Street (Angel on the Northern Line) and Highbury & Islington (on the Victoria line and Overground), as well as several bus routes, Islington offers easy access across the capital.

Eating out and entertainment

Upper Street runs through the centre of Islington and is very much the hub of the area. Here you will find restaurants serving virtually every type of food you can think of from almost every country – no wonder the Evening Standard once dubbed it ‘Supper Street’.

There are several quirky independent restaurants, cafés and coffee houses, plus plenty of watering holes. These range from your traditional spit and sawdust boozer to swanky cocktail and rooftop bars – there’s something for everyone.

Culture lovers will enjoy Islington’s renowned fringe theatre including the King’s Head (England’s first pub theatre since Shakespearean times), the Almeida and the Pleasance, which hosts stand-up comedy. The deliberately old-school Screen on the Green is a much-loved local cinema, and nearby Sadler’s Wells is one of the world’s most famous and prestigious dance theatres.

Shopping

Few areas in London offer such a comprehensive and vibrant mix of independent and mainstream shops and flourishing street markets. Angel Central opposite Angel underground station has the usual high street retailers and supermarkets. Dotted around the area, you will also find no end of independent shops, including designer and vintage clothes stores, as well as furniture and antique shops, most notably in Camden Passage. A wander around the area’s streets, lanes and alleyways won’t leave you disappointed.

Green space and activities

Despite being so close to central London, Islington has loads of green spaces to enjoy. Highbury Fields is the largest of these and includes tennis courts and an award-winning children’s playground.

Islington Green is as close to the heart of Islington as you can get and is a popular lunchtime spot for locals and office workers alike, especially when the sun is shining. There’s also a nature reserve in Gillespie Park, which is hugely popular with children, as is the large adventure playground in Barnard Park.

Last but not least is Regent’s Canal, which as well as providing opportunities for cycling, walking and watching the world go by from one its waterside cafés or pubs, is also enjoyed by canoeists and paddleboarders.

Schools

Islington has several high-quality primary schools, secondary schools and academies. All told, there are 47 primary schools and 10 secondary schools and academies in the area with many rated as ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted and several rated as ‘good’.