Borough of Islington

Islington is a borough of many faces. Its mish-mash of neighbourhoods each have their own distinct personality, from the urban bars and pubs of Angel to the chintzy antique stores of Camden Passage. Its properties have many guises, too – there are in-the-thick-of-it luxury apartments, and period townhouses sitting shoulder to shoulder on sleepy backstreets. Read on to discover more about the Islington area, as well as, quotes from residents living in some of the best places in Islington.

 

4.56
Average Location Score

Excellent

63%

Very Good

28%

Average

8%

Disappointing

1%

Very Poor

0%

Best places to live in Borough of Islington

HomeViews Top Rated Development ranking takes into account the Star Rating and HomeViews Transparency Rating of every development in the area

Residential development next to canal in Islington

Best of both worlds

Islington is less than 10 minutes from the capital’s centre, so it’s perfect for those who want to be close to the action, but still enjoy the peace and quiet associated with London’s outskirts. This is an area of wooded bicycle trails and sweeping parkland – Highbury Fields and Gillespie Park, in particular, come highly recommende.

Islington transport

The area’s serviced by multiple tube and train stations. From Angel, residents can get to Bank in just five minutes, and London Bridge in seven. Similarly, the Victoria line from Highbury & Islington can whisk commuters to Oxford Circus in seven minutes. While the Overground connects to Clapham Junction, Shoreditch and Stratford.

“Fantastic transport links in one of London’s most prestigious suburbs.” – A property professional on The Pad, N7

New Flats in Islington

Foodie draws

For top-notch dining, Islington occupants can stay put. These parts are packed with restaurants serving around-the-world cuisines. Try Upper Street for both cutesy independent eateries and well-known chain varieties, dishing up Italian, Japanese, Turkish and Mexican specialities. Clerkenwell’s Exmouth Market is brilliant for regional plates and fusion fare. And if you’re cooking at home? Trawl Islington Farmers’ Market for quality slabs of meat and fish, fresh herbs and veg and gorgeous cakes and pastries. Plus, stop by Grange Nursery for seasonal blooms for the table.

Shopping scene in Islington

When a little retail therapy is on the cards, Islington comes up trumps. Its namesake high street is best for book shops, delis and clothes boutiques, while big brands can be found in the Angel and Nag’s Head shopping malls.

“Just a couple of blocks away from Canonbury Cross is Upper Street, a myriad of independent bars and pubs as well as high street stores and boutiques.” A property professional on Canonbury Cross, N1

Boys playing guitar outside old houses

Local entertainment in Islington

The borough’s big on culture, as well. Try the Almeida for world-class theatre, and the Pleasance for little-known comedy acts tipped for big things. There’s also the Islington Arts Factory – a community centre for inspiring classes like reggae aerobics, pottery and tai chi. The centre’s celebrated for its exhibitions, which showcase local artists’ sculptures, paintings and photography.

 

Quotes from the HomeViews community on some of the best places to live in Islington…

“Waterside strolls, lazy weekend brunches, cocktails and vintage shopping – it’s all on the doorstep.” – A property professional on Hoxton Press, N1

“A mish-mash of family-friendly cafés and glamorous restaurants.” – A property professional on Xchange Point, N7

Reviews in Borough of Islington

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Run, don’t walk. If I wasn’t moving back to the US, I’d never leave.

Verified Resident
Verified Resident
Review Date Dec 2023

M&S and transit are less than a minute from the building. The area can get dodgy at night but ‘thems the breaks’ living so close to a tube station. Building used to be an office so the windows are quite thick and keep the flats quiet.

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The staff in this building are TOP NOTCH! From the management company to the front desk, I couldn’t have asked for a better team. One small issue for most of my time here were the the trash shutes – they weren’t operational which meant going to the bin room in the basement, but they’re now up and in working order!

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

Hmm. Honestly not much. It’s been a great experience and I feel grateful I’ve been able to call this my home for the past 14 months.

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

Quickly and efficiently, but there really haven’t been any issues.

4
Facilities
4
Design
4
Location
4
Value
5
Management
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Lovely place to live

Verified Resident
Verified Resident
Review Date Dec 2023

It’s a nice and lovely area with many shops and restaurants. The best thing is that the tube station is just right next to our door and it makes it easier to commute anywhere in London. The area is crowded all the time and might be messy around the station but I never had any safety problems.

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The design of the building and the apartment is quite nice. The most important thing for me is that it’s pet-friendly. The management and concierge is helpful all the time. Maybe the bin room is a little inconvenient and the gym could have been bigger and had more facilities. The fridges in 1-bed apartments must have been bigger.

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

That the building is refurbishing and it could take longer than I thought.
The area is a bit messy and crowded all the time.

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

I didn’t have any significant issues but the moving-in process was okay and they are helpful with any queries.

4
Facilities
4
Design
4
Location
4
Value
4
Management
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Excellent building

Verified Resident
Verified Resident
Review Date Dec 2023

The subway station is downstairs, and there are convenient supermarkets, cafes, and bakeries next to it. It’s great!

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The environment of the apartment is very warm, making me feel comfortable. The management personnel handle things quickly and have a good attitude. The facilities are really sound and user-friendly, with a gym, painting room, and restaurant. There are also dedicated personnel cleaning the apartment every day, and various news notifications are also very timely!

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

I think the most important thing to know before moving in is the living environment and price.

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

All the managers responded very promptly and resolved the issues very well. Their attitude was great and they were willing to communicate!

5
Facilities
5
Design
5
Location
5
Value
5
Management
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The building is so nice!

Verified Resident
Verified Resident
Review Date Dec 2023

Fantastic building, great amenities and lovely team at reception, and around the building! Would highly recommend

Please review your development:

The building is so nice! I love the communal spaces – the rooftop gardens, BBQ area, living room spaces and work from home space is lovely! The building in general is very modern, has a lovely sleek finish to it and is also located right by archway station!

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

Hmm, this is tough because Michelle was lovely at providing me with all the necessary information!

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

They’ve responded really well. No issues on that end.

5
Facilities
5
Design
5
Location
5
Value
5
Management
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