Angel and the heart of Islington at Christmastime. Angel, Islington. The festive spirit is in the very name of this part of London! Discover the history of the area - for centuries famed for its pastures, dairies, fresh water wells and pleasure gardens - and some of its associations with Christmas. Upper Street, Islington's main ... Read More

Since the middle-ages, when religious pageants were held on the banks of the River Fleet and entertainers performed at the annual Bartholomew’s Fair, Clerkenwell has been a part of London steeped in cultural history. Theatre, literature, music, film, architecture, food, sculpture and visual art spanning the last 900 years are all covered as we wander ... Read More

Today the tow path is open to all, lined with colourful houseboats, waterside apartments and offices, well-used by walkers, cyclists and joggers. We use it to experience a bit of calm and quiet away from the bustle of the shops and the cars. But it wasn't always so lovely. This 200-year-old waterway from Paddington to ... Read More

In 1884 Sanger's Circus came to the south-east corner of Parliament Fields. Some of the animals and vehicles arrived via rail and, during the unloading process, two of the four performing elephants got unusually spooked and broke free of the yard, fleeing through nearby streets, causing mayhem and excitement along the way. Ida and Palm's ... Read More

Discover how Islington developed from a rural settlement and centre for dairy farming into the diverse, bustling area it is today. In 1086 the Domesday Book reported that Islington contained just 27 households. Today its quarter-of-a-million residents live in an area that boasts world-class cultural venues but also less green space than any other London ... Read More

Remnants of bygone advertising, for bygone brands and businesses, are still visible today, clinging to the walls above our busy streets. These old signs are now commonly referred to as 'ghostsigns' and most of the ones we'll look at on this walk will be the hand-painted variety, as per the example I've created for this ... Read More

Local expert Philip Nelkon teleports you to a bygone Islington. Take a stroll along chic Upper Street and its surrounds to experience the first half of the 20th century and the hidden history of a less prosperous Islington. There was no NHS, so where did the poor go for treatment and where could they get ... Read More

This boundary walk between Islington and Hackney boroughs weaves around the areas either side of the Regent’s Canal, City Rd Basin and City Rd. There’s a wealth of interest in the old boroughs of Finsbury and Shoreditch, and the edge of the City in Moorfields. A varied mix of City Livery Company history, ironworks, canal ... Read More