Islington is a lovely part of London, perfect for a self-guided walk.
It’s great for a relaxed stroll with some interesting things to see and do along the way.
Islington has a nice mix of local indie shops, historic buildings, art galleries, pubs, theatres, and beautiful urban nature.
It’s not too far from central London but is far less touristy. It’s an area of London off-the-beaten-path with quiet side streets and a local charm.
In this post I share my route for an easy Islington self-guided tour and recommend places to visit and spots I found while visiting Islington.
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An easy Islington self-guided walk route
I created a circular route that starts and ends at the tube station for easy access.
Our tour starts at Angel station, which you can get to on the Northern line or by bus.
Camden Passage
Outside Angel Station, walk along Upper Street. It’s a busy high street, but within about 5 minutes you’ll reach the quieter Camden Passage.
Camden Passage is a narrow pedestrian lane with independent businesses:contemporary design shops, small galleries, pubs, cafes, bakeries, indie fashion shops, vintage and antique shops, and speciality foods.
It’s nice to browse the shops there, the colourful shopfronts are lovely, and it’s quite refreshing to take a break from the usual UK high street shops you see everywhere in London.
Some indie shops that caught my eye:
The colourful bird & blend tea shop
Loom and things, a small shop selling beautiful artisan made fashion and accessories from India
The Bakery, and artist-run gallery on Charlton place
You’ll also pass by the Angel Comedy Club which you can come back to in the evening for a stand up comedy show. I’ve been a few times and can recommend it.
Upper Street
After Camden Passage, you’ll see a small garden on your left called Islington Green. Cross the road to that garden.
Continue past the garden on Upper Street. You’ll see a mix of the usual high street shops and local indie businesses.
If you’d like to stop for a drink or something to eat, there are more than enough options on this street. I personally love Tofu Vegan for authentic Chinese food.
Islington Assembly Hall and Islington Town Hall
About 10 minutes away from Islington Green you’ll come across a pair of buildings that are quite interesting for architecture lovers.
The Islington Town Hall and Islington Assembly Hall are right next to each other.
Islington Town Hall is a 1930 civic building designed in the neoclassical style.
The formal façade has a coat of arms above the entrance, columns, symmetry, and a ceremonial looking stone porch.
Where the building stretches toward the Assembly Hall it becomes asymmetrical.
The Islington Assembly Hall is part of the same complex, opened in 1930, but was designed as an event venue for dances and variety shows.
These days it hosts music concerts. You can see the list of events on the notice board opposite.
It closed down in the 1980s and was used as a storage space for nearly 30 years. It was later restored and reopened in 2010.
The facade is an odd mix of Neo Classical and Art Deco.
Union Chapel
Our next stop is about 5 minutes away from Islington Town Hall.
Continue walking on Upper street until you see the entrance gate to Compton Terrace Gardens.
Walk straight through these lovely gardens and as you come out you’ll see a dramatic, Gothic looking church on your right.
Union Chapel is a famous Islington institution.
The facade is in a striking Victorian Gothic Revival style with impressive high arches and ironwork.
Most buildings we’ve seen so far in Islington have been quite restrained in their design, and this one is much more expressive, making it stand out.
While it still operates as a church, it’s also a live arts and music venue and a community hub.
I went there for a lecture once and got to see the beautiful interior. To see what it looks like inside, you’ll have to attend an event or the Sunday service.
You can also join a guided tour, if you happen to be there on the first Wednesday of the month.
Canonbury Square and the Estorick Collection of Modern Italian Art
The next stop is about 5 minutes away.
Continue walking past Union chapel and take the first right and then another right into Canonbury Road.
Carry on until you reach the Estorick Collection of Modern Italian Art.
This unique small gallery specialises in 20th-century Italian art, including painting, sculpture, and works on paper, plus temporary exhibitions.
The gallery is inside a Georgian townhouse, with rooms over several floors. I found it very peaceful and contemplative.
Canonbury Square is right across the road. You can enter the garden and rest your feet for a bit.
It was described as the most beautiful square in London back in the 1950s.
The buildings around the square are Georgian, with strict proportions and a very uniform architectural composition.
Some famous cultural figures lived in Canonbury Square in the past, including Vanessa Bell, George Orwell, and Evelyn Waugh.
New River Walk
A short walk from Canonbury Square, there’s a nature path, New River Walk, where you can take a relaxing stroll.
It’s a little bit hidden, but easy to find if you know where it is: walk down Canonbury Road for about 5 minutes and turn left into Canonbury Grove where you’ll soon see the entrance gate to New River Path.
From there you can simply walk straight into the green space, pass by the duck pond, and continue along the scenic green route for as long as you like. It’s very quiet and peaceful.
Walk back and exit New River Walk through the same gate you entered it and continue this self-guided tour in Islington.
Gracepoint
After your green break, head back to Canonbury Road and turn right onto Essex Road.
You’ll soon see a pretty unusual building.
Gracepoint used to be called Carlton Cinema and has been restored and converted into an event venue.
It’s an Art Deco style building but with an Egyptian theme, which you can spot in the geometric decorative motifs. Look out for the flowers and pyramids .
I like the glazed terracotta tiles in this facade. They’re multi-coloured as they catch the light differently depending on the time of day.
It’s obviously in a state of disrepair and some work is needed to restore its original beauty.
Chapel Market
Continue walking down Essex Road and you’ll reach Camden Passage again. Go back to Upper Street, cross the road to Liverpool Street and turn into Chapel Market.
It’s a long pedestrian street market and the main traditional market in Islington.
Expect an eclectic mix of fruit and veg, flowers, household goods, clothing, and street food stalls.
Even if you don’t want to go shopping, it’s worth a visit for the local feel of an old-school London market.
The market is closed on Mondays. If you’re there on a Sunday, you can visit the local farmers’ market.
This is where our Islington tour ends. Angel station, where we started the tour, is across the road, just a few minutes away from the market.
Have you been to Islington? Share your experience in the comments below.
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