This desirable north London neighbourhood sits just to the north of affluent Canonbury and east of trendy Stoke Newington. Its attractive residential streets consist of a combination of handsome Victorian detached houses, Georgian and Edwardian terraces, and more contemporary complexes of flats, that house the area’s diverse population. The locale’s main attraction is the fantastic Clissold Park, which offers a relaxing oasis away from busy Stoke Newington to the east, as well as sports facilities for more active members of the community. Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium is also located nearby, and can often bring a festival atmosphere to the local streets. Accessibility is pretty good too, with Canonbury Overground station to the south, and Arsenal tube station to the west. The local schools and large properties have made this neighbourhood very popular with affluent families, as well as those priced out of nearby Canonbury and Stoke Newington.

Highbury was once home to the military monastic order known as the Knights Hospitaller, who lived in a grand manor, until it was confiscated by Henry VIII in 1540. Previously it had been burned down by Wat Tyler’s rebels during the Peasant’s Revolt of 1381, but was rebuilt and reoccupied by the Knights. The area remained woodland up until the 17th century, when it was sold to private landowners, one of whom set about building the elegant Georgian terraces that surround Highbury Fields. Highbury Fields opened to the public in 1869 and the area was further developed, with the construction of compact, semi-detached houses to house the growing population. The area suffered badly during the Blitz, which cleared the way for the building of many of the high-density housing blocks that still remain. The later history revolves around football, as Arsenal moved to Highbury in 1913, and then to the Emirates Stadium in 2006. Both these stadiums have had a significant impact on the landscape of the surrounding neighbourhoods for over a century.

Highbury New Park, which forms the spine of this neighbourhood, was once home to Wessex Studios, which was created by George Martin, who produced all the Beatles’ albums. The studio was used to record some of the UK’s most esteemed artists, such as Queen, Genesis, the Rolling Stones, the Sex Pistols, and the Clash.

Highbury’s large houses and prime north London location means that property prices are very high compared to nearby Holloway or Finsbury Park. Also the proximity of the Emirates Stadium means that congestion on match days can be very frustrating, and the noise and litter created by the fans can cause issues. However, most residents accept this as part of the area’s unique charm and get behind the team along with everyone else.

Islington council has one of the best records for building affordable housing in the country, however, there is still a lot of work to do to make sure the neighbourhood is “affordable, decent and secure.” A current example is the Highbury Vale police station regeneration project. The residential-led conversion of the building consists of eight flats sitting at 211 Blackstock Road. The redevelopment of Highbury Corner was also recently completed, which will improve congestion throughout the immediate area, increase the safety of cyclists and pedestrians, and generally improve the quality of life for those who live and work nearby.