Highbury

Highbury

Guide to Homes, Schools, Restaurants & Transport In Highbury

Islington’s quieter neighbour, Highbury is very much a London village, with a strong community spirit, leafy streets, classic period properties and beautiful green space. The heart of the area is Highbury Barn, with its array of independent shops including a Godfreys a family butchers founded back in 1905, the well renowned cheese shop La Fromagerie and The Fishmongers Bourne's which is a fishmongers by day and a seafood bar by night.

It is believed that the name Highbury came from a Manor how which was built in 1271 by the Priory of St John of Jerusalem (the Knights Hospitallers). To distinguish it from the older, decayed manor and as it sat high up on a hill overlooking lower lying areas like Barnsbury and Canonbury; it became known as "Highbury" (meaning a high fort or high manor on a hill).

From the 1700’s, people would come out from the City of London for the cleaner air, great views and cream teas. In the 1770’s, the first houses with a rural view were developed on the east side of Highbury Fields at Highbury Place. The substantial and elegant houses were built for wealthier people escaping the crowded, dirty City of London. Housing developed throughout the 1800’s and in particular throughout the Victorian and Edwardian era, with transportation developing allowing people to travel further to work. 

Highbury is situated just three miles north of central London, with Islington to the south, Finsbury Park to the north, Hackney to the east and Holloway to the west

Types of residential property in Highbury

Architecturally, Highbury is quite different from Islington and features mainly Victorian and Edwardian red-brick properties, especially in and around Highbury Fields. Some of the most exclusive homes in Highbury offer delightful views over Highbury Fields. Highbury also consists of some fine family homes set upon some beautiful quiet tree lined streets such as Northolme Road and Highbury Hill. There are also a handful of sublime grand design homes such Aberdeen Lane which Neilson & Bauer sold.

An external shot of a large property on Aberdeen Lane

Location and transport links

Highbury is located close to Islington and within easy reach of Crouch End, Camden and Highgate so there are no end of places to go for eating out and entertainment.

The area has outstanding transports links with Highbury & Islington station (on the Victoria line and London Overground), Arsenal and Holloway Road stations (on the Piccadilly line) and Drayton Park station (providing direct links to Moorgate) all close by. All the stations are in Zone 2. There are also several bus routes, including night buses providing easy access into Central London. Plus, Angel tube station, providing access to the Northern Line, is a short walk away.

In addition, with King’s Cross so easy to get to being one stop away, Highbury is one of the capital’s best connected places.

Shopping, eating out and entertainment

One of the delights of Highbury is its many independent shops and boutiques, particularly around Highbury Barn. Steeped in history, Highbury Barn was originally the barn of Highbury manor farm. It was opened as a tea and ale house in 1740 after the manor was demolished, and many additions were made over the years, including in 1858 the addition of the 'Leviathan', a 4,000 foot square open-air dancing platform, lit by gas globes. The Barn finally closed in 1871, but The Highbury Barn Tavern was built on part of its site in 1885 and is still open today and they do a great pint!

Highbury offers a vast selection of great local favourites such as Primeur, Farang, La Maison, Lupa, Kissa Wa and Westerns Laundry to name just a few. Also, just south of Highbury Fields on the very cusp of N5 and N1 is St Pauls Road where you will find some real gems including Trullo, Fantail, Yield and Urban Café & Bistro. For entertainment, The Garage is renowned concert venue which hosts a multitude of artists.

Green space and activities

Highbury Fields is the largest park in Islington, measuring 11.75 hectares (29 acres) in size and is an excellent place for exercise, sunbathing, dog walking or running around or picnicking with children. Smaller children will enjoy the popular adventure playground, sandpit and water play feature. There is also a café, tennis courts and a bandstand. Clissold Park and Finsbury Park are also close by.

A picturesque path with light post in Highbury Fields

Football fans will be delighted that they are so close to Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium (unless they are Spurs fans, of course!) especially having won the Premier League in 2026.

Schools

All the primary schools in Highbury have Ofsted ratings of “good’ or better and St Paul’s Steiner in St Paul’s Road is a highly regarded fee paying school. Secondary schools in the area include Highbury Fields School for Girls and City and Islington College along with London Screen Academy.

Explore Highbury by Map

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Highbury a nice place to live?

Highbury is a remarkably popular choice for families, offering the perfect balance of convenience and accessibility while retaining a wonderful village feel. Its many tree lined streets are home to long standing residents, helping to create a genuine sense of community.

Highbury Barn is a particular highlight, with an excellent selection of independent local favourites, including Godfrey’s, a family butcher established in 1905, the renowned cheese shop La Fromagerie and Bourne’s Fishmongers, which operates as a traditional fishmonger by day and a seafood bar by night, Mrs Lovell's Kitchen and Da Mario. There are also several fabulous restaurants, including the team’s favourite, Thai Farang.

What is Highbury known for?

Highbury is known for Highbury Fields, Islington's largest park, and the Georgian houses of Highbury Place that overlook it, built from the 1770s. It's also known for its closeness to Arsenal's Emirates Stadium, its independent shops around Highbury Barn, and its red-brick Victorian and Edwardian family streets.

How did Highbury get its name?

Highbury is believed to take its name from a manor house built in 1271 by the Knights Hospitallers (the Priory of St John of Jerusalem). It stood on high ground above Barnsbury and Canonbury, and the name is generally taken to mean "high fort" or "high manor on a hill".

What is Highbury Barn?

Highbury Barn is the shopping parade at the centre of Highbury, named after the barn of the old manor farm. The barn became a tea and ale house in 1740 and later a Victorian pleasure garden, which added a 4,000-square-foot open-air dancing platform in 1858 and closed in 1871. Today it's home to independent shops including Godfreys butchers (founded 1905), La Fromagerie and Bourne's fishmongers, plus the Highbury Barn Tavern.

What are the best shops, restaurants and pubs in Highbury?

Local favourites include Farang, Lupa, Kissa Wa and Westerns Laundry, with independent food shops around Highbury Barn and the Highbury Barn Tavern for a pint. St Paul's Road, on the border of N5 and N1, adds Trullo, Fantail and Yield, and The Garage on Highbury Corner is a well-known live music venue.

What schools are near Highbury?

Highbury has a number of well-regarded primary schools, plus St Paul's Steiner School, a fee-paying school on St Paul's Road. Highbury Fields School is a local secondary, and sixth-form options include City and Islington College and London Screen Academy.

How do you get from Highbury into central London?

Highbury & Islington station (Victoria line and London Overground) puts King's Cross one stop away. Arsenal and Holloway Road (Piccadilly line) and Drayton Park (direct to Moorgate) are also nearby, all in Zone 2, and Angel (Northern line) is a short walk. Several bus routes, including night buses, serve the area.

What green spaces are near Highbury?

Highbury Fields, at 11.75 hectares (29 acres), is the largest park in Islington, with open lawns, an adventure playground, sandpit, water play area, tennis courts, café and bandstand. Clissold Park and Finsbury Park are both close by.

Is Highbury in Islington, and what postcode is it in?

Highbury is in the London Borough of Islington, about three miles north of central London. Most of it falls in N5, with the streets just south of Highbury Fields around St Paul's Road sitting on the border of N5 and N1.

Why do buyers want to live in Highbury?

A big part of the appeal is the park. Highbury Fields became public parkland in 1885, and the streets facing it, from the 1770s houses on Highbury Place to the later red-brick terraces, are among the few in London with a permanent open outlook. It's also a rare combination of quiet residential streets, Zone 2 stations on three different lines, and a proper high street at Highbury Barn, which means buyers aren't trading convenience for calm.

Is Highbury a conservation area?

Parts of it are, and which one depends on the address. Highbury Fields Conservation Area was designated in 1969 and Highbury New Park Conservation Area in 1975. Highbury Fields itself is also Metropolitan Open Land, a planning designation that gives it strong protection from development, so the outlook enjoyed by the houses around it is unlikely to change.

What type of buyer is Highbury popular with?

Highbury tends to attract buyers who want a more residential feel than Upper Street offers: families looking for a red-brick Victorian or Edwardian house near a large park, and professionals who value Zone 2 transport and a quieter street. Its mix of Georgian townhouses, family houses and flats means it appeals at several stages of life, from first-time buyers to those trading up for more space.

Buying a Property Selling a Property Book a Call