Islington - at a glance
If there is one feature that typifies Islington, it is its diversity - in terms of its people, its
places and its character. Islington’s location has much to do with this. It is an inner city
area in a capital city, and this has led to cultural diversity and to a mix of deprivation and
affluence. Physically, the outward growth of London created a changing character from
south to north - medieval street patterns still exist in parts of the Finsbury city fringe. To
the north of Finsbury respectable suburbs, such as Barnsbury and Canonbury grew up
near the village of Islington; but later these were overtaken by the Victorian terraces of
Holloway and north Islington. This pattern was overlaid by post-war development -
including extensive areas of council housing, and later on commercial development and
even more recently, private flats and apartments.
The A1 runs through the centre of the borough from north to south, linking important
commercial and shopping centres - including the Archway, Nag’s Head Town Centre,
Highbury Corner and the Angel Town Centre. This is an important corridor and the
council is keen to improve the quality of the environment along the road. Interventions
are planned in key locations along the A1 to create new places that will stitch together
the communities and places on either side.
The southern third of the borough - Finsbury and Clerkenwell - borders the City and
contains a mix of businesses and homes. It is now within the congestion charge zone.
The Angel, on the border of the zone, is a successful town centre. Nearby, the King’s
Cross area straddles the Islington/Camden border. One of the biggest development
schemes in London is about to get underway here. This is mostly on the Camden side
but will have important impacts on Islington. The Channel Tunnel rail link crosses
Islington (mostly underground) to join the new terminal being constructed at St Pancras.
Barnsbury and Canonbury both provide high quality and much sought after housing.
Other residential districts include Highbury, Holloway and Tufnell Park - all with their own
character and interest. Finsbury Park is on the border of three boroughs (Hackney,
Haringey and Islington) and has excellent public transport. Generally the network of
public transport in Islington is very good, and the borough has one of the lowest car
ownership rates in the country.
The borough has relatively good access to the jobs and services available in the West
End, the City and east London. Development of the Thames Gateway and the 2012
Olympics will provide further opportunities for Islington residents.
Islington has a long history as a centre of entertainment, education, leisure, culture and
politics. The leisure industry continues today with many bars, restaurants and clubs; with
Upper Street a destination in its own right. The borough contains two universities, the
City University and the London Metropolitan. Islington is also, of course, the home of
Arsenal Football Club - part of Islington’s way of life since 1913. The club recently built a
new 60,000 seat stadium in the borough, at Ashburton Grove. The old stadium at
Highbury is now being converted to residential use.
The Arsenal development is perhaps the most visible major change taking place in
Islington. However it is one of many regeneration schemes in the borough. Islington is
changing rapidly, reflecting the council’s ambitions (set out in its ‘One Islington’ strategy)
to encourage regeneration as well as achieving a sustainable future for the borough.
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