More About Islington

One of London's quieter residential districts, Islington is nevertheless not without its attractions, and is known for being a rather well-to-do area of the city.

Islington - A Live Entertainment Hotspot

As far as live entertainment in London goes, the West End often seems to hog the limelight. But its brand of glitz, glamour and show is not for everyone, and this is where Islington can play a role. The borough actually boasts a good handful of quality entertainment venues, with dance, music and comedy all on offer.

Sadlers Wells Theatre is the most famous venue here, and indeed is the premier dance theatre not just in London, but the whole country. Its history goes as far back as 1683, but it is since 1925 that it has carved its fine reputation for dance and opera. Productions staged here frequently transfer successfully to the West End, most notably Matthew Bourne's all-conquering 1995 version of Swan Lake.

Smaller venues include the O2 Academy Islington. As you may have guessed from the name, it is the little sibling of the massive O2 Arena in Greenwich, and fulfils the same function on a smaller scale. That is to say, it hosts music concerts, but in a much smaller space, hosting acts that are less well-known and perhaps just on the cusp of mainstream popularity.

Another famous theatre is Screen on the Green, most famous for hosting The Clash, The Buzzcocks and The Sex Pistols on the same bill in 1976. Today, its focus is more on live comedy, with a long list of fairly well known comedians enjoying performing in a more intimate space in front of around 300 people.

What Else Can You Do In Islington?

There is plenty more to keep you occupied in this highly entertaining North London area. Islington is home to one of the country's top football teams, Arsenal, who play their home games at the marvellous Emirates Stadium. If you can't get a matchday ticket, the club offers an innovative Legends Tour, priced at £35 for adults and £18 for children, where you will be shown around the ground by a famous former player.

London's famous jewellery quarter, Hatton Garden, is also within the borough, near Holborn. Visitors can enjoy fifty-five jewellery shops all within one tiny area, and as the area is known as the home of the UK's diamond trade, you are bound to find something to sparkle.

As you come out of Angel tube station, you will notice a Co-op Bank. Believe it or not, this is the site of one of the board game Monopoly's most notable UK properties; The Angel, Islington. It is the only property on the board that isn't a street, and, as we have just suggested, no longer exists. It may be a bank today, but back when the UK version of the game was being created, it was the inn in which the makers sat while they deliberated which locations to include on the board. Angel was included as a tribute.

Getting to Islington

A large borough such as Islington naturally has several tube stations within it that are very convenient for getting around. Angel (Northern Line ) is perhaps the best place to start, and is worth a mention as it has the longest escalator of any London tube station, with 318 steps. If you do use this station, you might want to look out for Bob the Angel Tube Cat and his owner James, who have developed a cult following over the last couple of years that has even seen them awarded a book deal.

Barbican and Farringdon (Circle, Metropolitan, Hammersmith & City) are both found at the south end of the borough, while Highbury & Islington (Victoria) and Arsenal (Piccadilly) are the places to get off if the football stadium is your final destination.

Kings Cross and St Pancras lie just outside the borough boundary, but to all intents and purposes, if you get off here, either on the train or the tube, Islington is not far away.

Hotels in Islington

In keeping with the atmosphere of the area, Islington hotels tend to combine style with reliability, the perfect match for anyone looking to stay in London. They also have the advantage of being just a short tube journey away from central London, whilst remaining just far enough away from the hustle and bustle to ensure a quiet night's sleep. Establishments belonging to prestigious hotel groups such as Thistle City Barbican and Jurys Inn Islington provide high standards of service, and regularly offer good deals right throughout the week. Other options include boutique establishments such as Zetter Hotel and serviced apartments such as Citadines ApartHotel Barbican.

Pubs and Bars in Islington

He may prefer the sunnier climes of LA these days, but David Beckham is arguably the most famous Londoner in the world, and Islington is reportedly home to his former 'local'. The former England football captain is said to have regularly met his grandfather in The Wenlock Arms for a drink even at the height of his fame. The pub has more to it than just this (admittedly rather good) bit of celebrity spotting, as it is a four-time North London Pub of the Year award winner with the illustrious Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA).

The Ladybird is one of the more prominent cocktail bars, highly regarded as much for its atmosphere and the fact it is open until 4am as for its excellent drinks selection. There are very few London areas that don't hide a few hidden gems, and Islington is no different. Rum Cove at Wax Jambu is an atmospheric underground bar where the speciality is a delightful collection of rum-based cocktails that will transport you all the way to the Caribbean.

Restaurants in Islington

Voted best breakfast in town by readers of The Observer newspaper in 2008, Ottolenghi is the place to go for the ideal start to your day. Run by celebrity chef Yotam Ottolenghi, diners can enjoy sumptuous pastries and select their own bread to toast at their table, while lunch and dinner are also taken care of with both sit-down and takeaway meals available.

Another popular eatery is Juniper Dining, a family-run Modern European restaurant that has gained a solid following for its marvellous Sunday lunch. Its location is within a short walk of the Emirates Stadium. If French food takes your fancy, head to Almeida, where classic French cookery techniques are given a modern, inventive twist.

Parking in Islington

Some hotels in Islington have parking available onsite, although the price and availability of this may vary and it is best to check before booking. St Pancras (NW1 2TB) has a decent NCP car park which is not too far away from the centre of Islington.

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