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INDEPENDENT ISLINGTON: AREA GUIDE

Islington Area Guide

Islington’s independent heart beats loudly.

This is an area guide with a difference – giving you the inside track on the best way to experience this vibrant borough like a local. There’s so much on offer here that your time could be happily occupied without visiting a single big-chain business.

Rising rents and business rates mean conditions are tough for many traders – they need your support more than ever and, if our experience is anything to go by, the quality of the local offering here is phenomenal.

Life is so much tastier, more characterful and less magnolia when you choose local!

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LOCAL EXPERIENCES

Eddie Izzard, Frank Skinner, Russell Brand and Rob Delaney are just some of the names to have tested out new material here. And this is the place to come to see some of the nation’s newest talent. Gigs take place every night at the Camden head and at the Bill Murray on Queen’s Head St. This place is run by comedians dedicated to the local community - they run regular projects with care homes, schools and charities and courses for those interested in giving stand-up a try. Shows are mostly free, with a voluntary contribution.

THE UNION CHAPEL is one of London’s most beautiful, atmospheric venues – from ukulele orchestras and reggae choirs to classical concerts and film nights – this place caters for all tastes. The acoustics are wonderful, and the building is a fantastic example of Victorian Gothic architecture. The Margins Café serves food on gig days and nights and all the money they make helps the Chapel run The Margins Project, helping the homeless.

This 325-seat theatre started life in 1837 as a library, museum, laboratory and lecture theatre for Islington Literary and Scientific Society. It opened as a theatre in 1980. All Harold Pinter’s plays premiered here. This small theatre is a launch pad for some of the UK’s most talented directors and actors and the program is designed to inspire, provoke and entertain.

The woman behind this brilliant local business is full of fun, energy and knowledge. She is revolutionising the wine-tasting industry with fun and science-based classes which demonstrate how factors like music and other flavours can impact our taste buds. Headquarters is in Oakley Road or she can come to your house. Check the website for course dates.

Singing is literally good for your soul – studies show it reduces pain and improves breathing, speech and posture. It has been used since the dawn of time as a way of marking community life and bringing people together. We’ve had some very big, very fun nights in Lucky Voice. The rooms have touch-screen technology, access to over 9,000 songs, a prop box and a ‘Thirsty’ button for food and drink service.

From hip-hop, and flamenco to ballet and contemporary, the world’s most talented dancers and choreographers have been enthralling audiences here since the theatre’s construction in 1998. The venue, which replaced an earlier 17th century theatre of the same name, was built on the site of a well, constructed by Richard Sadler, which was said to offer water with health-giving properties. You can still look down the well today!

This distinctive building with an iconic neon sign is one of the oldest continually-running cinemas in the UK. It opened in Upper Street in 1913. Today, you can enjoy a drink, hot food and snacks from a comfy seat or sofa. Everyman, which runs this cinema, choose a fabulous line-up of films and it hosts special events like National Theatre Live.

 

FABULOUS OUTSIDE SPACES

Islington might have less green space than any other borough, but what they do have is brimming with wildlife, buzzing with community and full of beauty.

THE NEW RIVER WALK

This river may be man-made but the nature and wildlife that’s sprung up here is stunning. This short, tree-lined river walk from St Paul’s Road to Canonbury Road, has weeping willows, ducks, coots, moorhens and frequently herons. It’s very pretty and peaceful and there are benches dotted about so you can sit and take in the beauty. The New River was originally created to bring drinking water from the River Lea in Hertfordshire to the people of London.

This little garden is simply magical. It’s managed by green-fingered locals and includes a lawn, ponds, rose pergolas, ornamental beds, vegetable beds, seating and a wildlife area. It was rewarded a National Certificate of Distinction by RBS. Come here on a summer’s lunchtime and you might be lucky enough to catch the beautiful sounds of the Culpeper Choir rehearsing.

HIGHBURY FIELDS

This 29-acre park is the largest open space in Islington. As well as open parkland and mature trees, there are tennis courts and Highbury Pool (an inside council-run swimming pool). Pack a picnic or head to the park’s central café. There’s a lovely children’s playground

This nature reserve features ponds, woodland and meadows and is teeming with plants, birds and butterflies. It’s accessed off Drayton Park or Gillespie Road. There’s an Ecology Centre and the reserve often has activities like pond-dipping and bat walks. Opening times: 8am till dusk, daily (but not when there are events at The Emirates Stadium).