Cosmopolitan Islington is one of the most sought-after boroughs in London. It’s easy to understand the appeal: a convenient location just moments from Central London, an extensive selection of outstanding pubs, cafés and restaurants and attractive, leafy residential streets with handsome period townhouses. What’s not to love? Verified Islington residents have provided their reviews of the best new build homes in Islington. Check out the rankings below.
Where is Islington?
Islington’s outstanding location is one of its most appealing qualities. It is adjacent to the City of London, the major transport hubs of St. Pancras International and Kings Cross. Just a few stops on the tube from the West End, all of Central London is on Islington’s doorstep. The borough extends north, taking in the popular suburbs of Highbury, Holloway, Finsbury Park and Archway.
Top 10 new build homes developments in Islington
Islington’s high property prices are a reflection of its long-standing reputation as one of the classiest places to live in the capital. The borough has recently seen a wealth of exclusive new builds springing up, adding to its handsome historic streets and squares.
Our rankings of the best new builds in the borough are below. The rankings are based on the ratings given by verified reviewers on HomeViews, and nothing else.
*PLEASE NOTE these rankings take into account how many reviews a scheme has and how recently those reviews have been submitted, so may not match the overall star ratings shown. Buildings with a larger number of more recent reviews are given a greater weighting to reflect current building performance.
Top spot in Islington is held by Vantage Point. This Build to Rent development by Essential Living offers 118 apartments. with a selection of studios, one-bedroom and two-bedroom properties. All Vantage Point residents get access to a range of features and amenities. These include a 24-hour on-site team, a roof terrace, games room and exercise room. In addition, the development is above Archway London Underground station in the North London Borough of Islington. Residents are also close to Upper Street, Emirates Stadium and Highgate Village.
Second place in Islington is taken by City North, a development from Telford Homes. It’s set in North London’s vibrant Finsbury Park, right on the edge of 110 acres of beautiful parkland. Also, it has facilities such as a roof terrace and a Wi-Fi Lounge.
Taking third spot is Arundel Square, a United House Development located in Islington. It comprises 147 apartments and residents have access to a range of amenities, including a concierge, bike storage, parking and gardens. The development is conveniently situated just a few minutes walk from both Highbury and Islington station and Caledonian Road and Barnsbury station.
In fourth place is The Eagle, a Mount Anvil development on the edge of the City of London. This high-rise building comprises both residential units and commercial space. There are 276 apartments here, 70 of which are Family Mosaic affordable housing units. The Eagle is close to Old Street station and an easy walk from the vibrant London neighbourhoods of Shoreditch and Hoxton.
In fifth place is Ashburton Gate, a residential development with a unique location next to Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium, and a short walk from Islington’s popular Upper Street. Residents benefit from excellent transport links via Arsenal Road tube and the Drayton Park Overground, both close to the complex. The development was built by Galliard Homes.
Our list’s sixth spot is taken by Queensland Terrace, situated just seconds from The Emirates Stadium, home of Arsenal football team. It is well placed for commuters, with excellent transport links via Holloway Road’s Piccadilly line and Drayton Park’s National Rail services.
Enjoying seventh place for Islington is this iconic Highbury development. Highbury Square was built around what was once the hallowed turf of the famous stadium. The pitch now forms the communal gardens for the site, which many people refer to as ‘Highbury Stadium Square’. The listed East and West stands were redeveloped as flats, while the Clock End and North Bank stands were demolished to make way for brand-new apartments. In total, the development comprises 711 units, with studios, one, two and three-bedroom apartments. Highbury Square is located in Islington, close to Arsenal Underground station and just north of the football club’s new stadium, The Emirates.
Taking eighth place in our top ranked developments in Islington is a partnership from Mount Anvil and Clarion Housing Group. Lexicon – also known The Chronicle Tower – is the area’s tallest development at 115 metres and 36 storeys. There are 146 units here – a collection of one, two and three-bedroom apartments, set on City Road by Regent’s Canal, and edged by Angel, Shoreditch, Clerkenwell and Farringdon.
In 9th it’s Islington Square, by Galliard Homes and situated on Almeida Street, just behind Islington’s popular Upper Street. It’s a large, mixed-use development that comprises of residential units, shops, offices and leisure space. Upon completion, the development will house studio flats and apartments that range from one to four bedrooms. Nearby transport hubs include Essex Street train station and Angel Underground station.
Finishing off the top 10 we have St William’s Court, a residential development by Tudorvale made up of one, two and three-bedroom apartments. It’s situated close to Caledonian Road, which is right near King’s Cross St Pancras. That means fast and frequent transport links via Victoria, Northern, Metropolitan, Circle and Hammersmith & City lines, not to mention National and International rail services.
Islington is a vibrant, energetic borough, where upmarket food and drink destinations meet independent retailers and legendary live music venues. The heart of the borough is Angel, with Upper Street and Essex Road providing a wealth of options for shopping, dining and socialising with friends.
The Old Queen’s Head pub and Union Chapel are among London’s best-loved live music and comedy venues. Additionally, the area’s many restaurants offer cuisines from all corners of the globe.
Further north, you’ll find a choice of diverse and lively neighbourhoods. These include the villagey Highbury, the spiritual home of Arsenal Football Club, where its old stadium has been converted to stylish modern apartments.
Holloway provides plenty of amenities and is home to the Emirates Stadium, the modern home of Arsenal. This 60,000-seat arena is one of the best places in the country to take in Premier League football.
As the borough stretches from Central London all the way to the suburbs, you can choose from very different types of living. If you’re looking for laid-back family life, popular Finsbury Park offers an appealing atmosphere. It has London Underground and Overground connections, a lively high street and the open green spaces of the park from which it takes its name.
For those seeking a more lively, energetic environment, at its southern and western edges, Islington meets vibrant Camden and the regenerated King’s Cross area, as well as trendy Clerkenwell and Farringdon.
Islington’s excellent transport links make it an appealing prospect for anyone looking to be closely connected to Central London. Conveniently, parts of the borough sit within TFL Zone 1, while most of it is in Zone 2. Angel on the Northern Line is a major London Underground hub.
The likes of Highbury and Islington and Finsbury Park are connected to both the Underground and Overground. Three of the capital’s busiest rail terminals – Euston, Kings Cross and St. Pancras International, are all within easy reach from the borough. Islington also benefits from extensive bus services and easy access to major road routes away from the city, including the A1.
Islington property prices
According to Zoopla, the average house price in Islington is £919,000. This is based on sales in the 12 months to August 2023. These prices place Islington among the capital’s most expensive boroughs, and significantly above the current London average of £723,000. A flat in the borough can cost an average of £603,000. Again, this is far above the London average of £523,000.
Has our guide to the best new builds in Islington piqued your interest? If so, check out our extensive guide to the borough below. The guide includes much more information about this popular borough, with details of the best new build homes Islington has to offer.
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 Read more about Borough of Islington
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