| Islington Town Hall (London) | |
 | |
Location  | |
| State | UK |
|---|---|
| Website | http://www.islington.gov.uk/ |
The town hall of Islington is a district of the city of London.
To know
The south of the district borders the City of London is Clerkenwell. Since the 1990s there has been a gentrification after classic Victorian homes became highly desirable and became a fashionable area. The area around The Angel, Upper street and Essex Road is of special interest to visitors as it houses many interesting antique shops as well as various art galleries.
Further north, the district is less pompous and more of a residential area for the less well-to-do classes. Finsbury Park is an area in the north-east of the district, which grew up around a major railroad interchange at the intersection of the boroughs of Islington, Haringey and Hackney. The park is an important green area for a densely populated area.
In the north-west of the district its character changes again and Highgate absorbs many of the characteristics of the neighboring district of Hampstead.
Islington has long been known for being involved with leftist politics to the point that in the 1980s it was called "the Socialist Republic of Islington". Traces of that period still remain today: the two members of parliament who run the town hall are both from the Labor Party and various festivals of a liberal nature are based here.
Islington is also known as the area where writer Mary Kingsley was born.
How to orient yourself
Islington Town Hall: full screen map.How to get
By subway
Islington is served by the following tube stations:
1 Angel (lines: Northern line). Zone 1- 2 Highbury & Islington (lines: Victoria line). Zone 2
- 3 Tufnell Park (lines: Northern line). Zone 2
- 4 Archway (lines: Northern line). Zone 2 and 3
- 5 Highgate (lines: Northern line). Zone 3
- 6 Finsbury Park (lines: Victoria and Piccadilly). Zone 2
- 7 Holloway Road (lines: Piccadilly). Zone 2
- 8 Caledonian Road (lines: Piccadilly). Zone 2
- 9 Arsenal (lines: Piccadilly). Zone 2
The Overground stations featured here are: Highbury & Islington, Essex Road, Canonbury, Finsbury Park and Upper Holloway.
| Metro lines running through Islington |
| Terminus ← North London ← Mill Hill East and High Barnet side ← | No.  S. | → Mill Hill East and High Barnet side → Camden → Bloomsbury |
| North London ← Bloomsbury ← Bank side ← | No. S. | → Bank side → Holborn and Clerkenwell → City_of_London |
| Bloomsbury ← Camden ← | S.  No. | → North London → Terminus |
| Bloomsbury ← Camden ← | S.  No. | → North London → East London |
| Terminus ← East London Line ← | No.  S. | → East London Line → Hackney → East End |
| Richmond and Kew ← Camden ← North London Line ← | OR IS | → North London Line → Hackney → East London |
| Terminus ← Hampstead ← Gospel Oak Line for Barking ← | OR IS | → Gospel Oak Line for Barking → North London → East London |
By car
| Streets passing through Islington Town Hall |
| Watford ← Highgate ← | NO  SELF | → Holborn and Clerkenwell → City_of_London |
By bus
Lines 41, N41, 134, 390, 43, 17, C11, 4 and W5 serve Archway and the surrounding areas.
Lines 29, 19, 4, 259, 253 and 254 connect Finsbury Park with central London.
Angel is served with lines 19, 30, 38, 43, 56, 73, 153, 205, 214, 274 and 341.
How to get around
What see
- 1 Arsenal Museum (The Arsenal Museum), Emirates Stadium, Highbury House, 75 Drayton Park, N5 1BU (metro stop: Arsenal), ☎ 44 20 7619 5003.
£7. 
Mon-Sat 10: 30-18: 00; Sun 10: 30-16: 30; closed on match days. Beautiful museum dedicated to the history of the football club. 
- 2 City Road Basin Plaza (just off City Road, close to McDonalds and Texaco. Metro stop: Angel), ☎ 44 20 7253 6512. Old industrial site that fell into decline in the 1950s and 1960s. Closed and inaccessible to the public for many years, it was redeveloped thanks to a multimillion-dollar project that created public access to the water supply with the addition of a redesigned public park overlooking the canal.
- 3 Crafts Council, 44a Pentonville Road, N1 9BY (metro stop: Angel), ☎ 44 20 7278 7700, fax: 44 20 7837 6891. Free. Tue-Sat 11: 00-17: 45; Sun 14: 00-17: 45. This gallery promotes artisans who work with materials such as metal, glass, pottery and textiles, resulting in contemporary art. The little shop inside sells unique pieces.
- 4 Gillespie Park Ecological Center (Gillespie Park Ecology Center), 191 Drayton Park, N5 1PH (metro stop: Arsenal), ☎ 44 20 7527 4374, @[email protected]. Free. Open every day except for Arsenal. Award winning educational center located within this small park within a densely built area. The habitats present are: a wood, a lake area and ponds.
- 5 Highgate Forest (Highgate Wood) (metro stop: Highgate), ☎ 44 20 8444 6129, @[email protected]. 28 hectares are what remains of the great Middlesex forest that stretched north of London. Inside there is a supervised children's playground, a café and an information center.
- 6 Parasol Unit, 14 Wharf Road, N1 7RW (metro stop: Angel. Next to Victoria Miro), ☎ 44 20 7490 7373. Free. Tue-Sat 10: 00-18: 00, Sun 12: 00-17: 00. Contemporary art gallery that at first glance seems closed but just press the bell to open it.
- 7 Victoria Miro Gallery (Victoria Miro Gallery), 16 Wharf Road, N1 7RW (metro stop: Angel), ☎ 44 20 7336 8109. Free. Tue-Sat 10 am-6pm. Excellent contemporary art gallery in a converted Victorian factory. You have to press the bell to open it.
£7. 
Mon-Sat 10: 30-18: 00; Sun 10: 30-16: 30; closed on match days. Beautiful museum dedicated to the history of the football club.
What to do
- 1 Almeida Theater (Almeida Theater), Almeida Street, N1 1TA (tube station: Highbury & Islington; just off Upper Street), ☎ 44 20 7359 4404. Theater that has made a reputation for daring to stage innovative productions.
- 2 Arsenal FC, Emirates Stadium, Hornsey Road, N7 7AJ (metro stop: Arsenal), ☎ 44 20 7619 5000 (customer care). The famous Premier League football club that plays in the Emirates stadium, north of the district. If you manage to get a ticket, you are very lucky. Their direct rival is neighboring Tottenham Hotspur with whom they clash in the derby a couple of times a year. .
- 3 Everyman Screen on the Green, 83 Upper Street, N1 0NU (subway stop: Angel, then walk 5 minutes on Upper Street). One of London's essay cinemas.
- 4 Vue Islington, 36 Parkfield Street, N1 0PS (metro stop: Angel, on the first floor of the N1 shopping center), ☎ 44 8712 240 240. Multiplex cinema.
Shopping
- 1 Camden Passage Antiques Center, Camden Passage, N1 8ED (metro stop: Angel). One of the major centers for antiques and collecting. The complex hosts vendors specializing in different fields and is a must for visitors.
- 2 Get Stuffed, 105 Essex Road, N1 2SL (metro stop: Angel; train: Essex Road), ☎ 44 20 7226 1364, fax: 44 20 7359 8253, @[email protected]. Open by appointment. Taxidermy shop offering a collection of stuffed animals and bones.
- 3 Map, 93 Junction Road, Upper Holloway, N19 5QX (metro stop: Archway). Mon-Sat 10 am-6pm. Gift shop.
How to have fun
Angel and Highbury
- 1 The Angel, Pentonville Road, N1 9LQ (metro stop: Angel).
- 2 The Nag's Head, 12 Upper Street, N1 0PQ (metro stop: Angel), ☎ 44 8721 077 077.
- 3 'Round Midnight, 13 Liverpool Road, N1 0RW. Mon 15: 30-23: 30; Tue-Thu 15: 30-00: 30; Fri 16: 00-01: 30; Sat 15: 00-01: 30; Sun 15: 00-23: 30. Bar with jazz and blues music.
- 4 69 Colebrook Row (The Bar With No Name), 69 Colebrook Row N1 8AA (walk 5 minutes north from Angel Station), @[email protected]. Sun-Wed 17: 00-00: 00; Thu 17: 00-01: 00; Fri-Sat 17: 00-02: 00. Quiet environment and exceptional seasonal cocktails produced by Tony Conigliaro. You must book in advance.
- 5 The York, 82 Islington High Street, N1 8EQ (metro stop: Angel), ☎ 44 20 7713 1835.
Archway
There are many pubs in the area, some of which are a little busier or more stylish than average.
- 6 The Archway Tavern, Archway Close, Archway Road, N19 3TD (metro stop: Archway), ☎ 44 8721 077 077. Pub with a Republican history. Some evenings they play live.
- 7 Siorai Bar, 114 Junction Road, N19 5LB (metro stop: Archway), ☎ 44 20 7561 0779. Good pub and bar. Good pizzas and drinks during happy hours. The staff can be a bit surly.
- 8 The Landseer, 37 Landseer Road, N19 4JU (walk 10 minutes on Holloway Road from Archway Station then turn left onto Landseer Road), ☎ 44 20 7263 4658. Good pub with classy food.
- 9 Tufnell Park Tavern, 162 Tufnell Park Road, N7 0EE (metro stop: Tufnell Park), ☎ 44 20 7272 2078.
- 10 The Charlotte Despard, 17-19 Archway Road, ☎ 44 20 7272 7872, @[email protected]. 17:00-01:00. Nice place with a relaxed atmosphere.
Finsbury Park
There are many pubs in this area.
- 11 The Twelve Pins, 263 Seven Sisters Road, N4 2DE (tube stop: Finsbury Park), ☎ 44 20 7880 9019. Very popular Irish pub when Arsenal play.
- 12 The Faultering Fullback, 19 Perth Road, N4 3HB (tube stop: Finsbury Park), ☎ 44 207 272 5834. Nice pub very popular with locals who love to watch football matches and eat Thai. A back garden with a mezzanine level.
- 13 The Kings Head, 26 Blackstock Road, N4 2DR (tube stop: Finsbury Park), ☎ 44 871 258 6247, @[email protected]. Mon-Mar 11: 00-23: 00; Wed 11: 00-00: 00; Thu 11: 00-01: 00; Fri-Sat 11: 00-02: 00; Sun 12: 00-00: 00. Irish pub.
- 14 The T-Bird, 132 Blackstock Road, N4 2DX (tube stop: Finsbury Park), ☎ 44 207 503 6202. Tue-Thu 17: 00-00: 00; Fri-Sat 17: 00-01: 00. Open mic nights on Thursdays and free jukebox on Mondays.
Holloway
- 15 The Coronet, 338-346 Holloway Road, N7 6NJ (tube stop: Holloway Road), ☎ 44 20 7609 5014. Mon-Sun 08: 00-00: 00. A great Wetherspoon pub with lots of cheap drinks and reasonably priced food. Very popular when Arsenal plays.
- 16 Big Red, 385 Holloway Road, N7 0RY (tube stop: Holloway Road), ☎ 44 20 7609 6662. Theme pub for motorcycle lovers, with lots of billiards and live music some evenings. Generally quite busy on Fridays and Saturdays.
Where to eat
There are tons of places to eat in Islington, especially in the area of Upper Street between Angel and Highbury & Islington stations. Varied cuisine, various prices. Mediterranean cuisine dominates but there are other options: Indian, Afghan, Thai and South American.
A few minutes walk from Archway Station on Highgate Hill, you will arrive at Highgate where you will find a selection of cafes, restaurants and pubs to choose from. Swain's Lane, about a ten minute walk from Archway station just off Hampstead Heath, has somewhere to eat.
Between Angel and Upper Street it's heaven for anyone who loves to eat, if you know where to go. Near Angel the seats are more organized for lunch than sandwiches and coffee. From Islington Green there are nice restaurants at a good price. As a general rule, the further you get from Highbury & Islington the cheaper the restaurants are without losing quality. It is advisable to take the side streets where you can find the best restaurants, pubs and bars.
To Archway upon exiting the tube station you will see two kebab shops on Junction Road. I'm not that great even one claims to be the best kebab in the UK, while the other claims to be the best in the world. More interesting restaurants can be found on Holloway Road.
There Finsbury Park area it hosts ethnic minorities: Algerians, Greeks, Turks and sub Saharanians. Consequently, the choice here is very varied. On Blackstock Road the favorite is Sim Sim. Just outside Seven Sisters station, The Red Zone offers good and cheap food.
Moderate prices
- 1 The Afghan Kitchen, 35 Islington Green, N1 8DU (metro stop: Angel), ☎ 44 20 7359 8019. One of the best inexpensive restaurants in London. Authentic afghan food that is much better than the restaurant look.
- 2 Mangal Ockabasi, 139 Upper Street, N1 1QP (tube station: Highbury & Islington), ☎ 44 20 7359 7777. Excellent Turkish cuisine.
- 3 Gallipoli Bistro, 102 Upper Street, N1 1QP (tube stop: Angel, tube: Highbury & Islington), ☎ 44 20 7359 1578. Very well known and serves Turkish cuisine at reasonable prices. It has another location nearby.
- 4 The Mercury, 140a Upper Street, N1 1QY (tube station: Highbury & Islington), ☎ 44 20 7354 4088. Main courses around £ 6. Romantic French restaurant on three floors. Typical French cuisine at a good price.
- 5 Little Bay, 171 Farringdon Road, EC1R 3AL (tube station: Highbury & Islington), ☎ 44 20 7278 1234. Three course meal from £ 10-16. Opulent Bohemian restaurant serving upscale European cuisine at great prices.
- 6 Tortilla, 13 Islington High Street, N1 9LQ (metro stop: Angel, in front of the station), ☎ 44 20 7833 3103. £5. Californian and Mexican takeout food serving fajitas, burritos and Mexican beer. The food is fresh and mostly organic. Good prices and very friendly waiters. Few benches to eat inside.
Average prices
- 7 Kalendar, 15A Swain's Lane, N6 6QX (Metro stop: Archway then you walk 20 minutes), ☎ 44 20 8348 8300. It stands out as a café and grocery with good, though not cheap, food. Great for breakfast and lunch. Rustic decor, chalkboard daily specials, and free newspapers. Organized to accommodate children.
- 8 Masala Zone, 80-82 Upper Street, N1 0NU (metro stop: Angel), ☎ 44 20 7359 3399. Main courses around £ 8. Angel home of this trendy chain. Decent Indian food.
- 9 Mem & Laz, 8 Therberton Street, N1 0QX (metro stop: Angel), ☎ 44 20 7704 9089. Large Mediterranean menu, friendly waiters and reasonable prices. Their £ 7 special two course menu is available from 7pm and is a great option for early dinners.
- 10 St. John's Tavern, 91 Junction Road, N19 5QU (metro stop: Tufnell Park), ☎ 44 20 7272 1587. Very expensive but pleasant gastro-pub.
- 11 Sunderban, 50 Blackstock Road, N4 2DW (tube stop: Finsbury Park), ☎ 44 20 7359 9243. Starters £ 1.75-4.45, Main courses £ 3.25-11.50. Sun-Thu 18: 00-00: 00; Fri-Sat 18: 00-00: 30. When Arsenal plays in the afternoon 12: 00-14: 00; in the evening 17: 30-00: 00. Indian and Bangladeshi restaurant at a good price. One of the best curries in London.
Where stay
Moderate prices
- 1 London City Apartments, 104 Offord Road, N1 1PF (tube station: Highbury & Islington), ☎ 44 7510 062 715. From £ 44. Studio apartments with kitchen at affordable prices. They can accommodate up to 2 people.
- 2 Pembury Hotel, 326-328 Seven Sisters Road, N4 2AP (tube stop: Finsbury Park). From £ 50. Budget hotel opposite Finsbury Park station. Very popular with football fans as it is close to the Emirates stadium. Cheap, clean and noisy.
Average prices
- 3 Hilton London Angel Islington, 53 Upper Street, Islington, N1 0UY (metro stop: Angel), ☎ 44 20 7354 7700. From £ 125. Next to the Business Design Center.
How to keep in touch
Other projects
Wikipedia contains an entry concerning Islington Town Hall
Commons contains images or other files on Islington Town Hall
