Perched at the top of Holloway Road in North London, this area incorporates much of the neighbourhood of Archway. It was for a long time, just a big, noisy, reasonably non-descript junction, but has more recently returned to its vibrant, welcoming roots, while maintaining much of its urban charm. With plenty of green space and wide, leafy streets, consisting mainly of Victorian terraced and semi- detached houses spreading from the busy Holloway and Hornsey Roads, the area possesses many quiet retreats away from the hustle and bustle of the main roads.

These main roads do, however, offer all the amenities one could wish for, with many independent locally owned shops as well as the larger chain supermarkets, and provide the area with great transport links Archway, Crouch Hill, and Upper Holloway stations are all within walking distance. Despite being four miles from central London, the area is not far enough north to fall into the more expensive villages of Highgate or Crouch End, and its transport links fall right on the border of Zone 2 and 3. For these reasons the neighbourhood appeals to a hugely multicultural population, which is reflected in the area’s diverse array of shops, restaurants and entertainment venues.

Rural for much of its life, and essentially a gateway into the city from the northern countryside, Archway and the surrounding areas began to develop as a locality when it became an area for cheap housing for those displaced by the railway buildings at St Pancras and Somers Town. The name comes from the Archway Bridge slightly to the north or the area that has existed in a few forms since 1808, and which straddles the busy Archway Road, a section of the A1. Rumour has it that it was from Archway that Dick Whittington, on his way out of London, heard the Bow Bells ring. Believing that it was a sign, he returned to the city, where he embarked on a series of adventures that led him to become Lord Mayor of London. The famous and much loved Irish population of Archway began growing after the Second World War when the nearby Whittington Hospital started employing a great deal of Irish nurses, and developed a reputation as an ‘Irish hospital’. Much of this Irish heritage can still be seen in the fabric of the town.

The famous historian, diplomat and journalist, Edward Hallett Carr (1892-1982), lived from his birth at 62 Gladsmuir Road. He is most well known for his enormous 14-volume history of the Soviet Union, which met mixed reviews in a turbulent time, as well as his writings on international relationships.

The seemingly ordinary and somewhat forgotten industrial street of Hornsey Road possesses a secret population of yellow figures perched high upon buildings, lampposts and fences. Made out of yellow foam scaffold tubes, the figures are the works of a local artist known as Kit, who comes out under cover of darkness to position his almost life size sculptures in perilous locations above the street. While some locals aren’t fans of Kit’s street art, most of the residents of Hornsey Road appreciate the novelty and charm that the yellow figures bring to their street.

The iconic Archway Tavern, which has unfortunately been closed for a number of years, is featured on the famous 1971 album ‘Muswell Hillbillies’ by The Kinks.

The area has a reputation for being dirty and noisy, and it is certainly easy to see why this has developed when walking past the choked thoroughfares and junctions. However, when speaking to many of the locals, when one looks past this deceptive veneer, Archway is a vibrant community area, which is only benefited by the affordable rents and transport connections.

Most developments around Archway have been relatively small scale in recent years, with the new six storey mixed use project between 798-804 Holloway Road being the most significant to be completed in the centre in recent years. The 15 homes provided in the Saxon Apartments development were also completed in 2021, sitting at 204 Fairbridge Road. Looking forward, work is underway on expanding Paul Anthony House. Plans were approved for a two-storey roof extension to the existing building, creating additional office space. More substantially plans have been aproved for the potential redevelopment of the Archway campus site, which could potentialy include over 300 new homes as well as retail and office space.