6 Best Days Out in Islington

If you’re planning a day out in Islington, the chances are that you’ll be overwhelmed with the wealth of opportunities in the borough.

We at Islington Now want to help by narrowing down the choice for you.

Emirates Stadium

Enjoy a day out at one of the country’s leading football clubs. The downside is that the big games will cost you: prices for Category A games at Arsenal start at more than £60 (http://www.arsenal.com/tickets/non-member-ticket-prices).

Emirates Stadium, Hornsey Rd, London N7 7AJ

Emirates Stadium’s nearest Tube: Holloway Road

London Canal Museum

One for those operating on a budget, the Canal Museum sits in an old Norwegian ice warehouse. As Mark Corrigan in Peep Show once said, “this country was made great by its network of railways and canals”. Prices are a maximum of £4 for adults (http://www.canalmuseum.org.uk/).

London Canal Museum, 12-13 New Wharf Rd, London N1 9RT

London Canal Museum’s nearest Tube: King’s Cross

Camden Passage

A delightful little back street of craft shops and independent traders, Camden Passage is the quintessential Islington. Pulsing with creativity and exuberant artistry, this will restore any sceptic’s faith in the value of street markets, although customers should expect potentially inhibitive boutique prices to go with the handcrafted goods on offer. Yet most would surely agree that the family- and pet-friendly shopping experience remains well worth it (http://www.camdenpassageislington.co.uk/).

Camden Passage, Upper Street, London, N1 5ED

Camden Passage’s nearest Tube: Angel

Freightliners Farm

Voted the best free place to go in Islington by Netmums, the animal village at the farm gives infants the chance to meet animals ranging from sheep and cows to quails and pigeons, and is open year-round from Tuesday to Sunday (http://www.freightlinersfarm.org.uk/).

Freightliners Farm, Sheringham Road, London, N7 8PF

Freightliners Farm’s nearest Tube: Caledonian Road

The New River

While the more impressive stretches lie further north, the short sections of this 400-year-old river between Canonbury Road and St. Paul’s Road are a joy to discover. Originally created to bring fresh water from its source in Hertfordshire to London, the 20-mile long river, which is open from 8am until dusk, also allows intrepid travellers to venture beyond Islington to sample the questionable charms of Hackney (http://www.londongardenstrust.org/guides/guide.php?tour=Islington).

The New River’s nearest Tube: Manor House

Coffee shop: Caravan

And, of course, in Islington one is never far away from the tempting odour and leather-filled luxury of a coffee shop. One of the best is Caravan, in Exmouth Market, which has its own roasteries (http://www.caravanonexmouth.co.uk/). (For more information on Islington’s coffee shops, click here for our article on the subject.)

Caravan, 11-13 Exmouth Market, London EC1R 4QD

Caravan’s nearest Tube: Farringdon

Any more?

And, if you want a day encompassing multiple activities, Islington Now reader Shopgirl has a suggestion:

@islingtonnow @N19Archway coffee at tinderbox, wander round the market drinks at craft beer co/earl of Essex then lexington or Sadler wells?

— Shopgirl_london (@shopgirl_london) March 11, 2014

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Islington Now is running a series of articles on the theme ‘Going out in Islington’ during the upcoming week. If you have any suggestions or ideas, please get in touch, either by commenting below, by tweeting us @islingtonnow or by posting on our Facebook page.

Stopped out late? Read our guide here.

Tom Bayley

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