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

29%

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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The facilities are good, we can access gym and terrence

Verified Resident
Verified Resident
Review Date Apr 2024

Near tube station and bus stops. 10 mins to Euston station. A lot of supermarkets and restaurants nearby.

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The design is good after redecorating. The facilities are good, we can access gym and terrence. The building management is ok. Some of the receptionists are very helpful while some are not. The property management is just ok. Bin chute is usually out of order.

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

The hot water is not available for so many times. Fix this please.

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

I don’t have any problems raised recently. So I can’t say.

4
Facilities
4
Design
4
Location
3
Value
3
Management
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Fantastic, modern, new development!

Verified Resident
Verified Resident
Review Date Apr 2024

Archway is super busy, which comes with pros and cons! Pros: very closely connected to the city, but cons come with loud, noisy area and not always safe 🙁

Please review your development:

Fantastic, modern development with lots of amenities. Great location right next to archway station and relatively close and very connected to the buses. Team is fantastic! Always helpful and friendly. Gym, game room and bbq area make it extra special!

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

I wish I knew I could’ve locked in my rent earlier.

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

Yes building management has responded to any problems or issues very well through email

5
Facilities
5
Design
5
Location
5
Value
5
Management
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Amazing and comfortable stay

Verified Resident
Verified Resident
Review Date Apr 2024

Excellent area with a lot of amenities and activities. Its a hustling and bustling area. I particularly like the local shops and farmers market.

Please review your development:

Its a very nice property with lounge, gym and play area. The gym can have more machines but its still better than nothing. The interiors are very nice and view from the property is amazing. But the chute is not often working. The people and habitants are ve try nice.

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

I wish I had known more about the gym. The good part is the view from the apartment.

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

Yes, they have been responsive to all our issues and addressed all our concerns.

5
Facilities
5
Design
5
Location
5
Value
4
Management
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Best place I’ve ever lived!

Verified Resident
Verified Resident
Review Date Apr 2024

Local area is great. Being so close to Hampstead Heath is a particularly wonderful benefit. Super well connected being right above the tube.

Please review your development:

There are many benefits to living at Vantage point and within the surrounding area but I’m sure a lot of other reviews will go in to those things in detail. Instead I’d like to point out three big quality of life benefits one gets from living here that you would probably struggle to find elsewhere.

Firstly, the greatest strength VP has going for it is that the whole building is centrally managed. No dealing with individual landlords and no dealing with letting agents. It’s hard to express how much of a pro this actually is in London as both of the former can be nightmares to deal with. At VP the teams who run both the letting process and the management side of things once you move in are great. I think if your expectations as a tenant are even slightly realistic they will comfortably surpass them in all ways. Especially if you compare against renting elsewhere in London.

Secondly, there’s peace of mind in knowing that should anything break down or malfunction in the flat you have direct access to an incredible handyman who’s usually available within just a few days to get things fixed. I’ve had very issues in my 1.5 years living here but when I have they’ve been resolved quickly and painlessly.

Third and finally, I want to say just how incredible it is having access to the amenities 24 hours a day! This isn’t super common as amenities in buildings like this will often close around 10pm. Being able to use the gym/games room/dining room/living room/co-working space/or balcony areas at any time, even the middle of the night, really makes your flat feel bigger than it is. You’re never restricted to being solely in that space. Having constant access makes the shared spaces feel like a continuation of your private space and that’s a truly lovely feeling.

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

I already knew the area well so there wasn’t much I didn’t know before moving in!

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

I had very few things go wrong but anything that did was fixed incredibly quickly!

5
Facilities
5
Design
5
Location
5
Value
5
Management
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