Islington’s Waterways

For many centuries Islington’s abundant natural water sources played an important part in its history. From medieval times, drovers taking livestock to Smithfield market stopped in the Islington countryside to feed and water their animals. By the Tudor age Islington was known as ‘Cowtown’ because its rich pasture was ideal for dairy farming and pleasure-seekers … Read More

Canonbury

Why visit this area? Islington is a borough of contrasts, both in the prosperity of its residents and the environment they inhabit, and if there’s one area that could be said to express this most, it is Canonbury and Mildmay Park. From Highbury New Park across to Southgate Road, and south to the Regent’s Canal, … Read More

Clerkenwell

Why visit this area? A walk through Clerkenwell is a journey into a thousand years of history. Once a pastoral tranquillity of rural religious houses and one of London’s early medieval suburbs with its wells, rivers and Mystery Plays.  More up to date it has one of the first Underground stations and the latest Crossrail … Read More

St Luke's Church Old Street

Finsbury

Why visit this area? If you are interested in old graves and burial grounds, social history or listed buildings, this area of Islington has much to offer. From the art deco on one side of Charterhouse Square to the ancient Monastery building on the other, from the site of the first public park to the … Read More

Holloway

Why visit this area? Walking through Holloway is like leafing through an encyclopaedia of architectural styles – commercial, church and residential – from the late 18th century to the present day. Each sub-area has its own character, and the transitions can be dramatic: when York Way (predominantly commercial and light industrial) crosses Camden Road it … Read More

Highbury Fields

Highbury

Why visit this area? Highbury is an elegant Georgian and Victorian residential area on a gentle incline leading up to its highest point (160ft) of Highbury Hill. It contains 25 acres of open space called Highbury Fields and the ‘village’ of Highbury Barn. Before it developed in the late 18th and early 19th century, it … Read More

Festival of Walks 19 June to 27 June

Islington Guides are running a Festival of Walks in the Borough of Islington between Saturday 19 and Sunday 27 June to celebrate the end of lockdown.   You can download the PDF brochure to learn more. The Festival’s highlight will be two weekend walks:  The Monastic Quarter walk will explore what attracted religious institutions  to the area outside the City of … Read More

Tales from the Crypt Walks and Exhibition

Exhibition exploring the history of Holy Trinity Church, Cloudsley Square and the surrounding area  runs from 19th March to 27th June at the Islington Museum and Local History Centre. Islington Guided Walks, the Mayor of Islington’s official guides, has developed two new walks designed to bring to life the characters researched as part of Tales … Read More

photo of inside of The Union Chapel

Visit the Union Chapel

During November Islington Guided Walks will be leading two tours of Islington’s  impressive and historic Union Chapel. Now one of London’s leading music venues, the chapel owes its stunning acoustics to its charismatic Victorian minister, Dr Henry Allen. Book a place on one of our tours to discover more about this remarkable man and this … Read More

Launch of Islington Guided Walks

The Clerkenwell & Islington Guides’ Association are delighted to announce the launch of our new website – Islington Guided Walks.  The old website (ciga.org.uk) didn’t have a very well recognised name, and the new website has been designed to make it more accessible, and to increase the likelihood of being recognised in Google searches. The … Read More