Living in Islington

Area Guides Dec 12, 2019

Islington is an area of North London, sitting north of Clerkenwell, and west of Haggerston. Though the borough of Islington itself stretches over a large area, Islington is centred on a stretch of Upper Street, ending around Highbury and Islington station. The area has been inhabited since the Saxon period and served for a time as a stopping point for travellers on the Great North Road. Eventually people stopped there altogether, not bothering with the rest of their journey, and by the Victorian period it was a heaving London suburb. This lively, thriving neighbourhood has long been a hotspot for executives working in the city.

The residential architecture is made up of long streets of high rising Georgian terraces, providing a picture-perfect London scene. There are several local spots for the performing arts, making for a dynamic centre that’s not just an exciting place to live, but visit as well. The transport links are fantastic for people working in the city, as well as those who need to take regular trips further afield (since it’s only a short distance north of Kings Cross St Pancras station).

Transport

Tube:

Highbury and Islington to Kings Cross: 6 minutes, Victoria line

Highbury and Islington to Victoria: 13 minutes, Victoria line

Highbury and Islington to Westminster: 16 minutes, Victoria and Jubilee lines.

Highbury and Islington to Cannon Street: 23 Victoria and central lines.

Bus:

Highbury and Islington to Kings cross: 30 minutes, route 30.

Train:

Highbury and Islington station offers Overground services to the south east of London towards Crystal palace, via Dalston and Shoreditch High Street. There are also Great Northern services from this station, which travel out of London as far as Watton-at-Stone.

Schools

Schools in the area are all at a good standard, catering well for local families. A popular, state funded, primary school in the area is William Tyndale Primary, which has received an ‘Outstanding’ in its most recent Ofsted report, having been praised for its excellent standards of teaching, behaviour, and SEND provisions. A good state funded high school in the area is Highbury fields, a girls’ school which has received an ‘Outstanding’ in all categories of its most recent Ofsted inspection. For private education, North Bridge House Senior and Sixth Form has a sterling reputation and a high student success rate.

Average Rental Price

One bed: £2,314 pcm

Two bed: £3,138 pcm

Three bed: £4,148 pcm

Four bed: £5.286 pcm

Home.co.uk as of 21/11/2019

Council Tax

To be paid to London Borough of Islington County Council, find more information here.

Life in

Islington has long housed a great host of celebrities, politicians and artists, and so much of the local businesses and places of leisure cater for high earners with high expectations. But that isn’t to say that it’s closed off, in fact with its multiple venues and hang out spots, the area is a centre of culture that welcomes everyone in.

Culture and Leisure

Performing Arts Venues

Many world class centres of the performing arts are housed in Islington, giving locals door-step access to a treasure trove of the best new and classic theatre, dance, comedy and music. Take Sadler’s Wells, a world leading theatre and institution dedicated to dance. Or the Union Chapel, a stunning, gothic revival, working chapel that also hosts world class acts of comedy and music.

Highbury Fields

A beautiful green space for the locals, surrounded by Georgian and Victorian town houses. Whether you’re passing through on your commute, or taking a stroll, its well-maintained gardens are a pleasure for the senses all year round. There are also a range of facilities in the park, such as a pool and fitness centre, tennis courts, and a children’s playground.

Upper street

Islington’s high-street caters for day and night wanderings, accommodating a wide variety of both essential and luxury retailers. Designer brands of menswear, womenswear, homeware and jewellery make upper street a place of sophisticated shopping. It also houses a few high street classics of clothing and eating.

Food and Drink

Ottolenghi

One of world-famous chef Yotam Ottolenghi’s culinary ventures, Ottolenghi serves elegant and creative Mediterranean cuisine. It is made up of a deli selling delicious food to takeaway, and a restaurant, which serves from breakfast until dinner. The desserts are a particular favourite, which can be seen decorating the window, tempting passers by in. The celebrity status of the restaurant makes for high expectations, and delivers every time.

The Old Queens Head

A spectacular pub decorated wall to ceiling with chandeliers, intricate wooden panelling, and red leather, it’s exactly what you’d expect a Victorian nightclub to look like. The Old Queens Head is the place to go on a Saturday in Islington, but also has a toned down side, serving as a great midweek pub with a tasty menu of British pub classics and Sunday roasts.

Fig tree Café

A local gem with an affordable menu of fresh, healthy, Mediterranean food. The Fig Tree is an independently run café with owners that clearly love what they do. It has come to be a much-loved member of the community, serving breakfast, lunch, or just a coffee stop-off.

Is Islington for you?

It isn’t much wonder that Islington is known as one of the most quintessentially ‘London’ suburbs. The area is very much a part of the inner city, but has its own thriving centre and a rich cultural heritage, and as such the locals are proud of their borough. It’s a highly sought-after area for people moving to the city to get that authentic London experience.

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