Are you in London and planning on visiting Islington? This borough is pretty close to central London but often gets overlooked despite its hidden gems. I was born and bred in Islington, so I’ve got over 20 years of experience living here to know all the best things about it! So if you want to take some time away from the busyness of central London, then here are the 15 best things to do in Islington when you visit! Plus, I’ve added a map to easily find all the places I’ve mentioned!
Don’t have time to read the whole artice? Here are the top 3 things to do in Islington, London:
- Visit Camden Passage
- Go on an Emirates Stadium tour
- Watch a theatre show at Sadler’s Wells, the Amedia Theatre, Little Angel Theatre or The National Youth Theatre of Great Britain
1. Find Treasure at Camden Passage
📍 1 Camden Passage, London, N1 8EA
Visiting Camden Passage is one of the best things to do in Islington, especially if you’re into antique finds. Camden Passage is a pedestrian-only flea market street tucked away in Angel off Upper Street.
The passage was built as an alley in the 18th century, but now it hosts independent vintage and antique shops, jewellers, cafes and bakeries. Additionally, it hosts pubs including Angel Comedy, where you can see free stand-up comedy shows every night at the Camden Head pub!
There’s also a few cafes in Camden Passage, my favorite being TRAMPOLINE cafe, which not only has yummy, authentic Sri Lankan food (I highly recommend the chicken, mushroom and bean curries), but also provides employment to refugees to help kick start their careers!
2. Enjoy the Green Space at Culpepper Community Garden
📍 1 Cloudesley Road, Islington, London, N1 0EJ
Admiring nature in Culpepper Community Garden is one of the best things to do in Islington if you want to spend time away from the busyness of central London, only an 8 minute walk from Angel station!
The idea for this community garden came from a schoolteacher, Anthea Douglas. It eventually caught the attention of her colleagues and 2 nearby schools who were able to raise money for the project.The garden opened in 1982 and has since become a space that values friendliness and tolerance while being in a relaxed, green environment.
Culpepper is run and maintained by locals who volunteer, as well as a few part-time paid garden workers! It features a lawn, a pond, a weeping willow, a rose-covered arch, and tons of flowers and plants.
I only found out about this garden whilst in sixth form (12th grade), when I was part of a summer film programme, conducting interviews with local organisations! The people who volunteer and work here are so welcoming, and the garden itself is one of the most tranquil places in Islington.
Take in all the beauty of the garden by having a stroll inside and/or sitting on a bench and embracing the nature around you! Culpepper also holds a few events, such as regular drop-in volunteering days and holiday events such as Diwali and Halloween.
Opening times:
Mon – Fri (and most weekends): 10 am – 6 pm
Winter hours (Nov – Feb): 10 am – 4:30 pm
3. See Cute Farm Animals at Freightliners City Farm
📍 Sheringham Road, London, N7 8PF
When you think of visiting London, you probably won’t expect to see a farm. But London actually has a few farms across the city, including Freightliners Farm in Islington.
I used to go to this farm all the time at school as part of my after-school enrichment/curriculum, and I loved it! The farm sits on 2.5 acres of green space and keeps a variety of farm animals such as cows, poultry, sheep, and goats. My favorite things about the farm are the cute guinea pigs and rabbits, which you’re free to pet!
Not only does the farm have cute animals, but they also run events for the community. For example, they put on a winter fair every year, as well as pumpkin carving during Halloween, wildlife and plant activities, and even a Christmas tree sale!
The farm is supported by donations, grants, and income from plant products and services. So if you can donate, you can buy a plant from their plant sales or add a donation to the donation boxes located in various areas around the farm.
I love that visiting this farm as an adult makes me connect with my inner child. So, it’s definitely one of the best things to do in Islington for adults and kids alike!
Opening times:
Mon: 10:30 am – 4:30 pm
Wed – Sun: 10:30 am – 4:30 pm
4. Go on an Emirates Stadium Tour
📍 Emirates Stadium, Hornsey Road, London, N7 7AJ
If you’re a football fan, you’ll love the Emirates Stadium Tour! The Emirates Stadium has been the home of Arsenal Football Club (if you couldn’t guess, yes, I support them; it would be a crime not to, being an Islingtonian and all) since 2006, and taking a tour is certainly something you wouldn’t want to miss!
I took this tour way back when was a little kid in primary (elementary) school thanks to winning a competition! The prize was an Emirates Stadium tour and a meet and greet with former Arsenal players, Walcott and Clichy!
The Stadium tour will take you through the matchday experiences of former and current Arsenal football legends and give you access to exciting areas, including the Players’ Entrance and Tunnel, Dressing Room and Press Conference Room.
You’ll also have access to a free pair of Arsenal branded earphones, a free personalised tour certificate and free entry to the Arsenal Museum, which displays items that are iconic to Arsenal’s history!
Book Here: Emirates Stadium Entry Ticket and Audio Guide
After visiting the Emirates Stadium, you can even visit the old location of Arsenal Stadium in Highbury! Granted, the stadium isn’t there anymore as it has been turned into an apartment complex, but they’ve still kept the Arsenal Stadium facade on the East Stand!
5. Visit the Islington Museum
📍 245 St John Street, London, EC1V 4NB
One of the best things about London is the number of free museums and galleries that give an insight into the city’s history. The Islington Museum is one of these museums and is entirely dedicated to the borough. It’s divided into nine sections covering nine topics, ranging from war and political radicals to childhood and medical history.
As an Islingtonian, I love how detailed the Islington Museum is. There is a range of diverse stories from locations you can still recognise today in the borough, hundreds of years later! It’s also very interactive, with archival and narrative audio that you can listen to through old-school telephones! They also hold temporary exhibitions covering both historic and modern stories.
When visiting Islington Museum, I recommend givin\g yourself plenty of time to see everything, around 1.5 to 2 hours.
Opening times:
Mon – Tues: 10 am – 5 pm*
Thurs – Sat: 10 am – 5 pm*
*The museum closes between 1 – 2 pm for lunch
6. Visit 12 Grimmauld Place
📍 23-29 Claremont Square, Islington, London N1 9LX
Are you a Potterhead by any chance? If so, then one of the best things to do in Islington is to visit the real filming location of 12 Grimmauld Place, the headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix, owned by Sirius Black in Harry Potter!
The filming location of 12 Grimmauld Place is in Claremont Square, specifically, 23-29 Claremont Square, Islington, London N1 9LX. Only a 10-minute walk from Angel Station!
7. Admire Italian Art at the Estorick Collection
📍 39a Canonbury Square, London, N1 2AN
The Estorick Collection is the UK’s only gallery devoted to modern Italian art and one of the best things to do in Islington for a gallery date, whether on your own or with someone else!
It was founded by Eric Estorick, an American sociologist and writer who started to collect art when he moved to England after World War 2. Estorick and his wife, Salome, built up a collection of art between 1953 and 1958, which was shown in several temporary exhibitions, including the Tate Gallery. 6 months prior to his death in 1993, Estorick set up the Eric and Salome Estorick Foundation, where he donated their Italian collection.
In 1994, a Georgian house in Islington was purchased to house the works, where the Estorick Collection still stands today! The Collection features artwork by various Italian painters and sculptors such as Umberto Boccioni, Giacomo Balla, Luigi Russolo and more! Additionally, the Estorick Collection holds exhibitions and events throughout the year, including creating your own art! There’s even a cafe and a shop!
Open Times:
Wed – Sat: 11 am – 6 pm*
Sun: 12 pm – 5 pm
*Open until 9 pm on the last Thursday of every monthGeneal Admission Prices:
Adults: £9.50
Students: £4
8. Go Book Shopping
One of my favourite things about Islington is that it has tons of bookshops that you can visit. Best of all, a lot of these bookshops are independent!
Book shopping is definitely one of the best things to do in Islington if you’re a bookworm! Whether you want to find radical literature at Housmans, read while drinking wine at Bookbar, or find Black literature at New Beacon Books, I personally think Islington is the best place in all of London to buy your next favourite reads!
Luckily for you, I know all the best bookshops in Islington and what makes them amazing:
- Housmans – The longest-running radical bookshop in the UK, selling literature on progressive politics
- BookBar – A bookshop, event and social space that brings people together through books while also serving wine and coffee
- New Beacon Books – The only remaining Black publishing house and bookseller in the UK, specialising in Black British, Caribbean, African and African American literature.
- Upper Street Bookshop – A bookshop selling contemporary literature, cards and gifts! You can also get a blind date with a book here!
- Oxfam Books & Music Islington – A charity shop selling contemporary fiction, art, literature, poetry and plays as well as music records!
- Ink@84 – A bookshop and coffee shop selling a wide range of literature. It features the dreamiest sliding bookcase ladder!
9. Watch a Movie at The Screen on the Green
📍 83 Upper Street, Islington, London, N1 0NP
You might be thinking, “Why is watching a movie in a random cinema one of the best things to do in Islington?” Well, Screen on the Green isn’t just any regular cinema! It’s one of the oldest running cinemas in the UK, which you can tell by its single screen! It opened in 1913 and went through various names and reinventions before 1970, when it became the 300-seat single-screen cinema we see today! It was even a venue where bands like the Sex Pistols played!
Not only is Screen on the Green a cinema, but it’s also a wedding venue! Its retro-style vibe regularly catches the attention of couples and understandably so!
10. Have a Stroll Along Regent’s Canal
Regent’s Canal is an 8.6 mile long canal that runs across north London. It starts at Little Venice and goes all the way to the Docklands. The easiest way to get to the Canal in Islington is to head to Islington Tunnel on Caledonian Road. On your Regent’s Canal walk, you’ll go past King’s Cross, Camden, London Zoo and Regent’s Park! And if you’re really into history and/or boats, you can also make a stop to…
11. Visit the London Canal Museum
📍12-13 New Wharf Road, Kings Cross, London N1 9RT
The London Canal Museum sits just off Regent’s Canal, where you can take a stop before walking the rest of the Canal! The museum is on two floors and features tons of exhibitions relating to London’s canal history! This includes life on the canals, canal painting, tractor and horsepower, and London’s living waterways (featuring an archive film)! You can even go on a boat trip on Regent’s Canal from the museum!
Visiting the London Canal Museum is certainly one of the best things to do in Islington for history and boat lovers!
Open Times:
Tues-Sun: 10am-4:30pm
Also open on Bank Holiday MondaysAdmission Prices:
Adult: £8
Consession: £6.50
12. See a Performance at the Union Chapel
Seeing a performance at the Union Chapel is one of the best things to do in Islington if you adore music. Yes, the Union Chapel is a church, but they also hold live music events, stand-up comedy and workshops! A few of the UK’s music legends who have graced the stage of Union Chapel are Amy Winehouse, Sir Tom Jones, Adele, and Elton John, to name a few!
13. Stroll Along New River Path
Having a stroll along the New River Path is one of the best things to do in Islington when having a break from the hustle and bustle of London city life. The New River was built in the 17th century to supply fresh water to North London from Hertfordshire. If you want to hike the New River Walk, by all means, go for it! But the section of New River Walk in Islington is lovely as it features a garden and a pond!
When walking along New River Path, you’ll find ducks, turtles, weeping willows and locals walking their dogs! This area is really peaceful and the perfect spot for drowning out the noise of the city.
14. Watch a Theatre Show
If there’s one thing about Islington, it has tons of theatre show venues, including the literal National Youth Theatre of Great Britain (big stars like Ed Sheeran, Kate Winslet and Colin Firth are alumni here, btw). So, of course, one of the best things to do in Islington is to see a theatre show!
The most popular venues are Sadler’s Wells, the Almeida Theatre and Little Angel Theatre. All three run theatre shows ranging from ballets, plays and pantomimes! The National Youth Theatre also runs theatre shows that you can attend. I watched my first Shakespeare theatre show here, where they performed Twelfth Night!
15. Visit the Victoria Miro Gallery
📍 16 Wharf Road, London, N1 7RW
If you’re into contemporary art, then you’ll love visiting Victoria Miro Gallery, around a 15 minute walk from Angel Station! It’s completely free too! When you get to the door entrance, you’ll need to press 16 and ring the buzzer to enter the gallery.
Once you enter, you’ll see stairs leading up to an exhibition space, and if you continue walking straight, you’ll enter another exhibition space. There’s also another gallery space, which you’ll find by walking through the waterside sculpture garden around the back. You’ll be ushered by the staff who will help you access said other gallery space.
Victoria Miro has very contemporary vibes, which you can tell by the way the gallery is set up. When I visited, the exhibition I saw was The Stories We Tell: Tidawhitney Lek, Emil Sands, Khalif Tahirt Thompson. I loved how each artist created nostalgia through their work in this exhibition!
Open Times:
Tue – Sat: 10 am – 6pm
Best Things to Do in Islington, London Map
As promised, here is the map to accompany you on your venture to do all the best things in Islington!
15 Best Things to Do in Islington: Final Thoughts
From antique shopping in Camden Passage to book shopping, galleries, walks and performance shows, you’ll certainly find that the best things to do in Islington are London’s hidden gems, despite being overlooked! I hope this guide gave you inspiration for what to do during your visit to Islington!
Looking for more Islington and London neighborhood guides? Check them out below!
- 25 FREE Things to Do Near London Bridge (coming soon!!)
- 10 Best Things to Do in King’s Cross London (coming soon!!)
- 10 Best Things to Do in Camden Town, London (coming soon!!)
Don’t forget to pin “15 Best Things to Do in Islington, London” for later!
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