Islington

The Area

The mainly residential district of Islington takes in the area around the High Street itself, Southgate Road to the east, Upper Street, and the former Lower Street, now known as Essex Road. If you’re interested in older homes as part of your property search, ask your property buying agent to show you some of the sympathetically refurbished and restored Georgian terraces.

Vibrant, diverse and densely populated, your property buying agent can confirm the current population numbers: around 233,000 residents live in the borough. Buyers agents will also confirm that many residents are between 20 and 39, making the population younger than most of the UK. Recoco buying agents will confirm the area has seen an upsurge in popularity.

History

Property finders may mention the theory that the area was already settled in Roman times, although “Islington” is thought to come from Old English. Recoco property finders can explain it probably originally meant “Gisla’s hill”. Your Recoco buying agent can also outline its later corruption to Isledon, and buyers agents can confirm this name was still used as late as the 1600s. Real estate buyers agents can also describe the importance of Islington’s rural past as a Middlesex village.

Property finders may also explain Islington was already popular with London’s wealthy residents by the 1500s. Recoco buying agents may point out the waterways and water supply network which influenced the area. There was a huge increase in available accommodation in the 1800s, and buyers agents may outline how Islington remained popular with the artisan, middle, and professional classes.

Your property buying agent can also confirm large amounts of public housing were built after the extensive damage of World War Two. 

Transport

Islington enjoys an excellent transport network to support your property search. Property finders can also pinpoint the London Overground stations and National Rail stations in Islington, allowing quick and easy access to many destinations in East Anglia and South East England as well as London. And Recoco buying agents can outline the forthcoming Crossrail route.

Recoco property finders can confirm the ten London Underground stations in the borough are mainly served by Victoria, Piccadilly, and Northern lines. Metropolitan, Hammersmith & City, and Circle lines also run through the area. Real estate buyers agents will attest that both the West End and the Airport Interchange at Heathrow can be reached very quickly, with King’s Cross St Pancras just outside the borough’s borders.

Education

 Educational facilities can be a deciding factor in a property search. Ask your Recoco buying agent for more details of the schools in the borough: over 45 primary schools, 10 secondary schools, 5 pupil referral units, and 3 special schools.

 Real estate buyers agents can also provide information about the specialist London Screen Academy, the Musical Theatre Academy, and the Urdang Academy. Further education colleges include City and Islington College.

Those needing more details of university education can ask Recoco property finders about the two nearest universities: City, University of London and London Metropolitan University. And your Recoco buying agent may also mention the local medical teaching establishment, Moorfields Eye Hospital, which is world famous.

Leisure and Events

Local activities and events include the Angel Central arcade and the main shopping thoroughfare, Upper Street, for property buyers who enjoy retail therapy.

Meanwhile, football fans will be in their element at the Emirates Stadium. There are several theatres and cinemas in the area, including the puppet theatre, the Little Angel. Several museums in the locality also run events and exhibitions on a regular basis. And property buyers who enjoy a little nature in the city can head over to Freightliners City Farm.

Foodies’ Corner

Turkish, Italian, delicious Chinese at the Sichuan House, gastropub fare from Four Legs at The Compton Arms, or traditional French cuisine at Le Sacre Coeur – whatever you like to eat, you’ll probably find it in Islington, with Upper Street a particular hotspot.  Or just while away an hour or two with a cheeky cocktail at the John Salt.

Celebrity Connections

Story-loving property buyers may enjoy Islington’s numerous literary connections. It features in JK Rowling’s Harry Potter books as the headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix; Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy author Douglas Adams lived in Arlington Avenue; and other authors who have used the location include Charles Dickens, Margaret Drabble, Nick Hornby, and Neil Gaiman.

Fun Fact

Feeling energetic? The longest escalator on the London Underground network is in Angel tube station – 318 steps.