Beginning in just below Angel, this neighbourhood area runs along the southern side of the A501 all the way to Shoreditch. Home to a number of large businesses in the Western side such as the Deighton Pierce Glynn law firm and non-profit organisations such as the Stroke Association, the eastern side of this area is occupied by the Moorfields Eye Hospital, the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology. At the junction with Angel, a number of interesting pubs and restaurants draw in revellers from all over London five nights a week. Of note among these are ‘Bombay Burrito’, an Indian restaurant serving curries in wraps and the Old Red Lion Theatre Pub which has regular performances in their upstairs theatre. These features coupled with exceptional transport links make this neighbourhood a thriving centre for work and play at the city’s heart. The escalator at Angel tube station is 60 metres long. It is one of the longest in Europe.

The Old Red Lion is one of the oldest pubs in London, dating back to 1415 when Islington was then a rural village surrounded by open countryside and agricultural fields. The only adjoining structures at the time were a house called Goose Farm and a few cattle pens used for driving herds to Smithfield Market. It is now a grade II-listed building. The theatre within the pub was founded in 1948, and continues to attract large crowds to this day. Affectionately regarded by many as one of London’s best Fringe theatre venues, the pub has showcased a number of exciting performances, such as Arthur Miller’s first-ever play, ‘No Villain’ and Oscar Wilde’s ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’.

John Chapple once lived in this neighbourhood area, who spent his whole career in the British military. Between 1988 and 1992 he was the professional head of the British Army, and he was the last living person to occupy the post of Governor of Gibraltar, which ceased to exist in 1995. Vladimir Lenin, the communist revolutionary and political theorist, once hid out in this neighbourhood area in the beginning of the 20th century in order to evade the Bavarian authorities. He brought with him a radical newspaper, Iskra (aka The Spark).

The main downside to this neighbourhood area is that there is a shortage of residential housing and the housing that is available is very expensive. Islington Council is hoping to combat this by building new homes over the next two decades, with a specific focus on houses with 3 or more bedrooms to accommodate families. Local residents have expressed their optimism, with one resident stating, “They are not going to let the big companies keep building luxury flats. If they want to build here they will have to build affordable housing”.

Islington Council aims to increase the area’s accessibility through a package of transport improvements which are rolling out now the Elizabeth Line is open. The council hopes to improve public transport, walking, and cycling, as well as making great efforts to make Islington accessible for people with mobility problems. There are also a number of plans to redevelop underused and low-density land and buildings such as garaging areas, void ground floor units, car parks and low density housing. Despite this, most major developments have been restricted to the north side of City Road, which is now populated by a number of skyscrapers.