Islington neighbourhood guide: top spots to discover in North London
by Sasha Mills
Linking together central and leafy North London, Islington is a peaceful corner in an often chaotic city. Sitting somewhere between a stomping ground for the hipsters of the capital that aren’t in East and young families settling down, Islington is one of the capital’s best spots to spend a peaceful Sunday but equally a great Friday night. While it’s not exactly a secret, it’s remained in the hands of the locals. Walking down Upper Street, the thoroughfare through the middle of Islington, you’ll find well-known names mixed in amongst quaint independents and delicious local eateries.
There’s a few ways to head to Islington, but both the Highbury & Islington station and the Angel tube stop will take you right into the heart of the action. If you want to start your day like the stars, head down to exercise studio Barrecore on Upper Street. While it looks inconspicuous on the outside, it’s been a favourite spot for models and celebrities over the years thanks to their challenging Barre classes. If you haven’t tried it before, Barre combines traditional ballet movements with weights and resistance to make sure that you get a serious sweat on. Their classes are focused on form and regular stretching, and I’ve yet to leave a workout there where I haven’t got the famous ‘shakes’ (where your muscles start to move without your control — it’s just as weird as it sounds).
If you’re feeling peckish after your workout, your next stop is Euphorium. There’s two of these bakeries along the same street in Islington, so don’t be surprised if you catch more than one glimpse of their bright green exterior. Euphorium serves a huge range of croissants and coffee, but my personal recommendation has to be their porridges. It might not sound particularly exciting, but Euphorium knows how to take a simple dish to the next level. My top pick is the Raspberry & Cacao but if porridge isn’t your thing, they also offer a full selection of classic options, all well-priced for a sometimes expensive area. Euphorium’s a good bet for brunch.
Next up is a spot of shopping. You’ll spot plenty of recognisable brands in Islington, which tend to sit on the higher end of the price spectrum, but the charity shop scene in this part of the city is absolutely unmissable. Walking down Upper Street, be sure to duck into the Crisis and Cancer Research stores — there’s always hidden gems amongst the racks and rails, everything from your basics to some special designer finds. If you’re looking for perfectly fitted underwear to compliment your new outfit, head to the tucked away The Pantry Underwear. They stock a huge range of underwear brands, including lots of independent ones, and their fitting focuses on giving you advice that you can take away into your future underwear forays.
Heading into the evening, there’s no shortage of great places to visit in Islington. If you want to get a taste for London’s arts and cultural scene, The Screen on the Green is one of the oldest cinemas in the UK, and their neon façade is difficult to miss. Beyond current flicks, they also show old movies and 35mm films, so there’s always something to fill a cosy evening with. If you’re lucky enough to bag some tickets, the Almeida Theatre is also located right in the heart of Islington, and there’s always a unique new piece of drama to be found on their stage. This September the brand new play The Clinic is debuting, and they’re offering £5 tickets for under 25s in its first week. Finally, the Victoria Miro art gallery shows the work of up and coming contemporary artists. If you want to be the first to discover the next David Hockney, it’s a must-visit.
Once you’ve soaked up a taste of the arts, it’s time to head to one of Islington’s many pubs and bars. There’s so many great places to try, and that’s one of the best things about the area — Islington has the 3rd most pubs of any borough in London! Every time I visit, I try to head somewhere new. If you want to head a little off the beaten track and into true North London suburbia, The Albion is a gorgeous spot surrounded by some of the most beautiful period properties in the area. They’ve got not one, but two real log fires, so once the winter nights start to draw in you can curl up with a pint in one of their comfy chairs. Beyond the usual beers and ciders, they’re particularly big on their wines, and you can even get speciality dessert wines along your pub roast.
Want to take your evening a little further? Head back to Upper Street and try one of the themed bars along the road. For indie and classic rock music, Slim Jim’s Liquor Store isn’t one to miss. They’ve got live music nights several times a month, so look ahead and see which niche local band you can catch. Slim Jim’s fills a little indie hole in my heart that not a lot of bars and clubs in the capital cater to.
Having lived in London on and off for the past year, Islington remains one of my favourite spots to spend my time — and I’ve yet to have a bad night out there. It’s the perfect blend of culture and delicious food, far away enough from the centre to feel truly peaceful but also just close enough to be within a short tube ride to classic London central.
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