Islington: History, Theatres and Green Spaces

At the Islington Museum, the story stretches from prehistory to the present day, offering a tangible introduction to local history. Alongside this, theatres, green spaces and markets provide a variety of reasons to visit. When choosing where to stay, you can first consider whether culture, green spaces or markets will be the focus of your visit.

History and Theatre

Through objects and stories, the Islington Museum’s permanent exhibition tells the local history of the area from prehistory to the present day. The free exhibitions also explore Islington’s past. Admission is free; no reservation or appointment is required. The museum is fully wheelchair accessible and has an accessible toilet.

In Angel, Sadler’s Wells Theatre has a history dating back to 1683. It offers performances, events and workshops throughout the year. The programme includes a range of dance forms: ballet, flamenco, hip-hop theatre and experimental dance theatre. If you want to plan your visit around a particular performance, check the dates for your travel dates.

The Almeida Theatre is on Almeida Street, just off Upper Street in the heart of Islington. As a live theatre, it produces new work as well as reimagined classics. The two venues therefore offer different experiences: Sadler’s Wells has a programme of dance, events and workshops, while the Almeida stages new plays and reinterpreted classics. The nearest Underground stations to the Almeida Theatre are Highbury & Islington and Angel.

Parks and Nature

Gillespie Park is Islington’s largest nature reserve. Covering 2.8 hectares, it is home to 244 plant species, 94 bird species and 24 butterfly species. The park is also home to the Islington Ecology Centre, a visitor and education centre that can be booked for events. The reserve and the centre offer different points of interest: nature and biodiversity on the one hand, and education and events on the other.

Highbury Fields is Islington’s largest park and is designated a Site of Local Importance to Nature Conservation. Sports facilities there include football, netball, tennis and table tennis. Highbury & Islington Underground and railway station serves the park. Compared with Gillespie Park, Highbury Fields therefore stands out not only for its nature conservation designation but also for its specific sports facilities.

Another green space is the 2.5-acre Freightliners City Farm in the highly urban London Borough of Islington. Individual visitors can explore the farm spontaneously and at their own pace. It keeps cows, sheep, goats and poultry, including rare and traditional breeds. The gardens grow fruit and vegetables, as well as wildlife-friendly and native plants. Animal husbandry and gardens are thus equally defining features of the farm.

Markets and Food

Camden Passage comprises three separate market areas: Pierrepoint Arcade, Charlton Place and Camden Passage itself. Chapel Market has served the local community for more than 150 years. The Islington Farmers Market is also held there every Sunday from 10 am to 2 pm. It offers meat and cheese from farms within 100 miles of London. If you’re visiting specifically for the farmers market, check the market times in advance.

Exmouth Market has more than 20 designated stalls selling hot food, snacks and drinks. The markets therefore differ in what they offer: Camden Passage is divided into three areas, Chapel Market combines a long local market tradition with a Sunday farmers market, while food and drink take centre stage at the stalls on Exmouth Market.

Theatre dates or the Sunday market can provide a fixed point of reference when planning your trip. Then choose your hotel location based on the experiences that interest you most during your stay.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Islington, Highbury, Finsbury, City Of London, Camden, Hammersmith And Fulham, Lewisham, Croydon.

For the main travel overview: Greater London.