This neighbourhood is the most southern area that would still truly consider itself a part of North London. Known by locals as Islington or Barnsbury, the neighbourhood is bordered by Caledonian Road and Upper Street, as well as the Victorian railway bridges that run along its northern edge. Packed with beautiful corner pubs and restaurants on leafy terrace-lined roads, its picturesque character is further enhanced by the abundance of small art galleries and independent venues, like the Grade II listed Almeida Theatre. Beyond these countless opportunities for entertainment, the neighbourhood’s main roads provide any and all amenities one could wish for. If locals do find a reason to leave the neighbourhood though, they have convenient connections available via multiple bus routes as well as the Caledonian Road Overground station. Ultimately, Islington possesses the charm of the neighbourhoods in the North while still retaining the culture and convenience of Central London.

In the 17th and 18th centuries, Londoners viewed the area as an idyllic rural retreat that was not too far from the hustle and bustle of the central neighbourhoods. As many began to take countryside excursions to the area, public houses were built to provide them with places to eat, drink and rest. The neighbourhood’s beloved King’s Head pub, among others, still remains today. The 19th century’s introduction of railways led to the industrialisation of the neighbourhood, bringing with it individuals from all parts of society. These mostly middle-class newcomers went on to set up theatres and music halls in the area, providing evening entertainment for the neighbourhood. Since this area wasn’t too badly damaged by the Blitz, many of these halls and Victorian terraced houses are still standing today.

Kate Greenaway, revolutionary Victorian children’s book illustrator, lived much of her life at 147 Upper Street. During her career, she transformed the children’s book market by writing and providing easily translatable drawings for a young market that had never been truly tapped into before. Her first published book, “Under the Window” in 1871, was a bestseller, bringing her great fame.

Dan Crawford, the late owner of the King’s Head Theatre Pub, refused to acknowledge the decimalisation of the UK currency in 1971, and continued to charge for drinks in shillings and pence until 2008!

In 1994, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown made their now notorious Granita Pact while in the Granita restaurant on Upper Street. Their gentleman’s agreement meant that Gordon Brown would not stand in the Labour leadership election, giving Tony Blair a better chance of winning. In return, with Blair in office, Brown would receive wide powers over domestic policy. For over 20 years, both Blair and Brown claimed that this clandestine meeting never even took place!

Unfortunately, the average housing price in the neighbourhood remains unaffordable for most Londoners, leaving many homes sitting unoccupied. Despite these vacancies, the area’s fantastic transport links mean that the great cultural and entertainment venues are incredibly well used and maintained by those who live outside of the neighbourhood.

The lack of affordable housing throughout Islington has prompted the council to commit to building 2000 new affordable homes, 500 of which will be new council flats. Nonetheless, this postcode in particular, has mainly witnessed luxury developments in recent years. The Islington Square complex was completed in 2022, bringing new luxury flats and high-end retail spaces to the site of the old North London Royal Mail Sorting Office. Meanwhile, a host of mixed use projects are underway slightly to the east of this postcode along Hyde Road and Penn street.