A Walk Through Islington
Mixing The Old With The New
Slightly north of Westminster lies the fascinating area of London called Islington. There is plenty to see and do here but visitors will have to know where to look. Lucy, our intrepid adventurer planned a day’s walk within the Victorian homes and quiet backstreets so very popular with families, liberal politicos and Labour politicians. Explorers can find Upper Street's indie stores and Camden Passage antiques market during the hours of daylight. By nightfall, the trendy pubs and restaurants ply their trade. Lovers of performing art can find dance performances at Sadlers Wells , theatre at the the Almeida , and lively performances at the Union Chapel . Scratch the surface and there is a lot more Islington to consume. These are our favourite bits.
Percy Circus
Once you have looked around Islington for a while you might appreciate a little respite in the little postage stamp of green called Percy Circus. It is a little piece of Victoriana in the budget-end of Islington that was created in 1841 in its current polygonal shape. It got some nice looking mature trees and plenty of bench space for those looking for a breather. For history buffs, look out for the blue plaque on the far side of the square where Vladimir Lenin lived at number 16 in 1905.
The Sphinxes
London has its fair share of Egyptian history. Without looking too fay visitors will always come across pyramids, pharaohs and even sphinxes. There are several of the latter to be found along Richmond Avenue where you can see these mythical beasts. Legend has it that after Wellington defeated in the 1798 Battle of the Nile Egypt-mania broke out. Go to Richmond Avenue in Islington and you'll find many of the mid-19th century villas guarded by the mythical beast and obelisks. Joseph Kay added these Egyptian touches in 1841.
Chapel Market
Although situated in the spiritual home of London’s champagne socialists Chapel Market remains a mostly down-to-earth affair. It runs along the road of the same name and is a two-minute walk from Angel tube. Visitors will find stalls selling the normal unpretentious fayre of fruit and veg, cost-effective household goods, and standard market clothing. A few street food stands pop-ups have crept in, but they in the minority.
Chapel Market is open for business from Tuesday to Saturday from 9 am-5 pm. On Sundays, it welcomes Islington Farmers’ Market where visitors can expect organic kale, home-made sourdough and all manner of wholesome vittals.
Angel Central
In direct comparison to Chapel market, the (other) best place to shop in Islington is Angel Central. It is a large shopping mall located just after the Chapel Market, off the ever-hip Upper Street. The Centre (formerly known at The N1 Centre) has a nice collection of shops, cafes, restaurants, cinemas and music venues under its roof. Visitors can watch the latest movies or dine out in some decent restaurants.
The Church of St.John the Evangelist
This historic Catholic church was commissioned in 1839 only 10 years after parliament passed the Act of Catholic Emancipation. Bishop Griffiths laid the foundation stone on 2nd October 1841 and the Reverand Peter O’Loughlin opened the church on 26th June 1843, at a landmark ceremony attended by all the leading Roman Catholics of the day. The church is located in the south of Islington, below the "Angel" shopping centre.
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