This neighbourhood area covers most of the busy Rosebery Avenue, stretching from the border of Holburn all the way through Clerkenwell and Finsbury to the border of Pentonville. Featuring a blend of deep terracotta Victorian buildings contrasted with sandy-bricked, white-trimmed Edwardian architecture, and the occasional modern refurb, this neighbourhood’s style is further heightened by the aged trees which line the road. Featuring a range of pubs, restaurants, cafes and street stalls along Exmouth Market, this area draws in large numbers of tourists and Londoners looking to explore new culinary experiences. A thriving business sector is also present along this road, where a number of tech and marketing companies reside. The Spa Green Garden in the northern part of this neighbourhood offers a modest green area for pedestrians to escape the buzz of Rosebery Avenue.

Rosebery Avenue was built at the end of the 19th century by the newly formed London County Council and owes both its tree-lined design as well as its name to the authority’s first chairman (and later, Prime Minister of Britain) Lord Rosebery. This road provided a direct route between Holborn and Angel, and relieved much of the congestion on the neighbouring streets of St John Street, Clerkenwell Road and Old Street. The Spa Green housing estate in the north of this neighbourhood was constructed in the wake of the First World War bombings as part of a radical plan for social regeneration through modern architecture and is now a grade II* listed building for its architectural significance.

Lord Rosebery, whom the main road of this neighbourhood is named after, served as Prime Minister between 1894 and 1895. He was known to be a brilliant orator, an outstanding marksman, a writer, and historian, connoisseur and collector. It was these pursuits that eventually attracted him more than politics, which he resigned from after his party lost the 1895 election and never again held political office.

Islington is the most densely populated borough in the UK. According to the 2011 census, there are 138.7 people per hectare in this area, compared to the London average of 52! The Clerkenwell area specifically was known as London’s ‘Little Italy’ during the 1850s? Around 2000 Italian migrants settled the area, bringing Italian trades such as organ-building and deli cafes.

The downsides of living and working in this neighbourhood area is that crime is particularly high, with 17 crimes per 1,000 residents as compared to the London average of eight. Local residents insisted that they did not feel unsafe, however, as violent crimes were very low and theft was the main concern.

Islington Council aims to develop employment opportunities along Rosebery Avenue in order to maintain a diverse local economy that supports and complements London’s economy. Creative industries and small/medium enterprises will continue to be supported and encouraged and will be given priority over bigger enterprises for accommodation. The council also aims to preserve the historic aesthetic of the area, which some feared would be threatened by the interest brought by the newly opened Elizabeth Line at Farringdon Station. One example of this community work was the council-led restoration of the historic Clerkenwell Fire Station building at 40 Rosebery Avenue. The red brick Victorian landmark has found a new purpose, opening as the UK’s first LGBTIQ+ homeless shelter.