Visit Islington Places

Welcome to Visit Islington Places
The Walkfo guide to things to do & explore in Islington

  

Islington Places Overview: History, Culture & Facts about Islington

---

Islington history

---

Etymology

Islington was originally named by the Saxons Giseldone (1005), then Gislandune (1062) The name means “Gīsla’s hill” from the Old English personal name Gāsla and dun (“hill”) The name later mutated to Isledon, which remained in use well into the 17th century .

Origins

Some roads on the edge of the area, including Essex Road, were known as streets by the medieval period, possibly indicating a Roman origin, but little physical evidence remains . The Back Road, the modern Liverpool Road, was primarily a drovers’ road where cattle would be rested before the final leg of their journey to Smithfield . The Royal Agricultural Hall was built in 1862 on the Liverpool Road site of William Dixon’s Cattle Layers .

Water sources

The Regent’s Canal passes through Islington in an 886-metre (2,907 ft) tunnel that runs from Colebrook Row east of the Angel to Muriel Street near Caledonian Road . The canal was constructed in 1820 to carry cargo from Limehouse into the canal system . Commercial use of the canal has declined since the 1960s .

Market gardens and entertainments

In the 17th and 18th centuries the availability of water made Islington a good place for growing vegetables to feed London . By the 18th century there were 56 ale-house keepers in Upper Street, also offering pleasure and tea gardens, and activities such as archery, skittle alleys and bowling . Many public houses were built to serve the needs of excursionists and travellers on the turnpike .

Housing

In 1801, the population was 10,212, but by 1891 this had increased to 319,143 . The 19th century saw the greatest expansion in housing, soon to cover the whole parish . The poor were being displaced by clearances in inner London to build railway stations and goods yards . The area fell into a long decline, and by the mid-20th century, it was largely run-down and a byword for urban poverty . From the 1960s, the remaining Georgian terraces were rediscovered by middle-class families .

You can visit Islington places with Walkfo Islington to hear history at Islington’s places whilst walking around using the free digital tour app. Walkfo Islington has 1856 places to visit in our interactive Islington map, with amazing history, culture & travel facts you can explore the same way you would at a museum or art gallery with information audio headset. With Walkfo, you can travel by foot, bike or bus throughout Islington, being in the moment, without digital distraction or limits to a specific walking route. Our historic audio walks, National Trust interactive audio experiences, digital tour guides for English Heritage locations are available at Islington places, with a AI tour guide to help you get the best from a visit to Islington & the surrounding areas.

“Curated content for millions of locations across the UK, with 1856 audio facts unique to Islington places in an interactive Islington map you can explore.”

Walkfo: Visit Islington Places Map
1856 tourist, history, culture & geography spots

---

–

Islington historic spots	Islington tourist destinations	Islington plaques	Islington geographic features
Walkfo Islington tourism map key: places to see & visit like National Trust sites, Blue Plaques, English Heritage locations & top tourist destinations in Islington

  

Best Islington places to visit

---

Islington has places to explore by foot, bike or bus. Below are a selection of the varied Islington’s destinations you can visit with additional content available at the Walkfo Islington’s information audio spots:

Fishmongers’ Hall Fishmongers’ Hall is a Grade II* listed building adjacent to London Bridge . It is the headquarters of the Worshipful Company of Fishmakers . The Hall is situated in Bridge Ward .

Coldharbour, City of London Coldharbour, also spelled Cold Harborough, Cold Herbergh, and Cold Inn, were two London neighbouring estates . One of the estates was used by the Dukes of Exeter and briefly as a college of heralds . It was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1666 .

East India Arms The East India Arms is located on Fenchurch Street in the City of London . It is next to the place where the East India Company had its headquarters .

Newgate Newgate was one of the historic seven gates of the London Wall around the City of London . Newgate lay on the west side of the wall and the road issuing from it headed over the River Fleet to Middlesex and western England . Parts of the gate buildings were used as a gaol, which developed into Newgate Prison .

Statue of Queen Anne, St Paul’s Churchyard A statue of Queen Anne is installed in the forecourt outside the west front of St Paul’s Cathedral . It became a Grade II listed building in 1972 .

King Edward Street, London King Edward Street runs from Newgate Street to Little Britain in the north . It is joined by Greyfriars Passage in the west and Angel Street in the east . Postman’s Park is on its east side where Bull and Mouth Street once lay .

Daily Express Building, London The Daily Express Building was designed in 1932 by Ellis and Clark to serve as the home of the Daily Express newspaper . Grade II* listed building is one of the most prominent examples of art-deco / Streamline Moderne architecture in London .

Royal Wardrobe The Royal Wardrobe (also known as the King’s Wardrobe) was a storehouse for royal accoutrements . It was located between Carter Lane and St Andrew’s Church in the City of London, near Blackfriars .

Holborn Viaduct power station Holborn Viaduct power station was the world’s first coal-fired power station generating electricity for public use . It was built by Thomas Edison’s Edison Electric Light Company .

Bull and Mouth Inn The Bull and Mouth Inn was a coaching inn in the City of London from 1666 . It was once an important arrival and departure point for coaches from all over Britain . It became the Queen’s Hotel in 1830 but was demolished in 1887 or 1888 .

Visit Islington plaques