N1. Islington. London Property Area Guide.
Dine, drink and dance on hip Upper Street, 5 minutes from the City, 15 minutes to the West End.
Screen on the Green. Picture: MrLomo, Flickr.com
‘Angel’ is the heart of Islington, one of London’s most diverse boroughs. It’s convenient, vibrant and central location makes it a popular and highly desirable address. The nearby areas of Barnsbury and Canonbury are often assumed to be part of Angel as a whole, but are in fact separate areas, each with their own distinct identity.
Opposites frequently attract in Angel; elegant townhouses sit side by side with social housing, designer bars compete with traditional boozers and a lively city scene can become an oasis of calm at the turn of a corner.
Traditionally a solid working class area of North London, Angel Islington has seen a period of gentrification and an eclectic mix of young professionals, couples, families, artists, and working class Londoners live along side each other.
Proximity to the City makes Angel a popular choice for financial workers in the square mile. Media workers inhabit offices stretching West from Angel through Bloomsbury and Fitrovia, onto the West End. Their first choice choose Angel Islington too. What the area lacks in green spaces it makes up for in shops, convienience of location, and a general buzz!
One surprise in Angel, is that the area feels like it’s full of Londoners, or at least the British. Given it’s close proximity to the City and Kings Cross, for the Eurostar, I’ve been amazed that the local French community has not grown more – something I think will change now the new College Francais has opened up the road in Kentish Town.
Regeneration from Kings Cross and the huge amount of accommodation being built around St Pancras, will offer young professionals with alot of new home choices close by. For this reason we think there is a cap on the appreciation of flats in Islington for the next few years. In contrast, the areas Family homes will only increase in desirability.
PROPERTY
Islington is home to twenty and thirtysomething singletons, couples and families of all ages, although the majority of children are of pre-school or primary school age.
Homes in Angel comprise 1-3 bed flats, the majority in converted terraced houses or above retail premises. Purpose built blocks of flats are less common, with most given over to council housing. Private and social housing rubs shoulders in many of the streets, lending to Angel Islington’s diversity and balance.
Several townhouses remain intact, often beautifully maintained and stucco fronted, either moments from the high streets or close to the Regents canal. The prettiest will be found around Colebrook Row and the roads to the East of this. West of Upper street look at Theberton street and Gibson Square for the finest selection. Cross street has larger houses, set above road level, past the dainty boutique stores that guide you to Upper Street.
Around the canal you will find modern flats (mostly 1 or 2 bed). More new-build properties scatter Essex Road as you walk along from the junction with Upper Street. To begin they are on the right hand side, then switch over to larger developments on the West side of Essex road, once you pass Islington green (a lovely, if small, green space for the summer).
SETTING
The area spreads out from Upper Street, beginning at Angel tube station and branching off to the east and west about half a mile each way until you reach Islington town hall. Beyond here Highbury begins.
Clerkenwell/Finsbury is situated to the south of Angel tube station, Barnsbury to the west, Canonbury to the east and Shoreditch and Hoxton further east.
Angel Location
ATMOSPHERE
Vibrant, Upbeat, Urban, Sense of community,
QUALITY OF LIFE
Medium traffic, 2 parks, canal walks/cycling, good public transport, average for schools, crime rates – mid
:O)
+ central
+ good buzz
+ excellent transport
+ great restaurants
+ varied accommodation
+ great choice of shops: designer, High st (N1 Centre), – vintage & antiques in Camden Passage; and well established Chapel Market
+ Well equipped and numerous council and private gyms.
+ World class arts venues.
:O(
– average choice of secondary schools
– no parks,
– heavy weekend traffic – particularly on (Arsenal) match days
HIGHLIGHTS & ATTRACTIONS
Upper Street
Proximity to Eurostar Terminal
Close to the City
Top arts venues – the Almeida, Sadlers Wells and Kings Head Theatres and Screen on the Green cinema
If you’re an Arsenal fan, the Emirates stadium is on the doorstep
CELEBRITY RESIDENTS
Boris Johnson (London Mayor), Liam Gallagher, Colin Firth, Dido, Kathy Burke, Martin Kemp
WHERE THE LOCALS GO…
Burger and sumptuous Onion Rings: Byron, 234 Upper St
Authentic Italian in a stylish setting: The Canonbury Kitchen, 19 Canonbury Lane
Classic Cupcake: The hummingbird bakery
Amazing Almond Croissant: Patisserie Bliss, 428 St John Street, EC1V 4NJ
Special spinach and cheese pastry: The Euphorium Bakery, 202 Upper Street, N1
Special Occasion Meal: Fredericks, 106 Islington High Street
Sip a Manhattan or Mojito at John Salt, 131 Upper Street, London, N1
A popular local restaurant with a huge following: Mem&Laz, 8 Theberton St, N1
Mouth watering chocolates at Paul.A.Young, 33 Camden Passage, London N1
TUBE & OVERGROUND
Angel Islington: Northern Line
Highbury & Islington: Victoria Line and Overground (serving areas such as Richmond, West Croydon and Stratford)
Essex Road overground station: links Moorgate with parts of Hertfordshire
TAXI
£10 to the West End, £5 to the City
BUS
Angel is well served by bus routes – 4, 56, 43, 73, 214, 274, 153, 38, 30 all pass through Upper Street, linking Angel to the City, various parts of north London and central London.