"Highbury, Islington or both?" a Highbury Travel Page by planxty

OK, let me explain what the title means, in case you were wondering. London is divided into 32 Boroughs (effectively administrative areas) and one of these is the London Borough of Islington. Although there are other parts of the Borough, the heart of it is from the Angel up to Highbury.

Due to the sometimes slightly odd nature of the VT system for finding places, Highbury features as a location but Islington, inexplicably, doesn't. Not that it matters in the grand scheme of things, of course, although as a caveat, and before various Islington residents start attacking me, some of the tips shown as Highbury are probably more Islington.

The name Islington derives from the Anglo-Saxon Gislandune (Gisla's Hill) and Highbury was originally one of the six manors comprising the area. The name Highbury is believed to arise from the fact that an original Norman manor house was replaced by one on higher ground.

In 1540, with the Dissolution of the monasteries, King Henry VIII granted much of the area to Thomas Cromwell, although it reverted to the Crown on the Restoration of Charles II. Henry VIII did have a fondness for Islington, hunting there regularly and owning two houses in the area.

By the 19th century, the area was renowned for it's dairy farms which supplied London, and the many springs which supplied water to the expanding City.

The area then garnered a reputation as a place of fine houses, a situation which extends to this day.

If you have ever played the British version of Monopoly, you may have wondered as to the strange name Angel, Islington. Actually, it is nothing more esoteric than the name of a coaching inn that was on the junction.

Today, Islington is an extremely trendy area, with many of the fine old houses converted into flats and Upper Street (the main throughfare) a bustling place jam packed with bars, restaurants and upmarket shops. There is also a noted antique market close by Angel tube station and many other antique shops in the area.

Definitely a place worthy of a trip for the visitor to London.