23 FEB - 1 MAR 26
Islington
Your weekly guide to events, news, and neighbourhood life in N1.
Upper Street, Islington
This week's picks
American Psycho Sold Out
The Almeida's most talked-about production of the season. Darkly comic, brilliantly staged and genuinely provocative, this adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis's notorious novel is sold out, but returns are released daily. Worth checking the website each morning. An evening that will stay with you.
Book tickets or check returns
Live at Union Chapel
A functioning Gothic church with extraordinary acoustics and one of London's most atmospheric music venues. Folk, indie, classical: any night here is an occasion. Check the website for this week's programme.
Urban Food Fest at Islington Square
Street food, artisan producers, live music and craft stalls. A fine Saturday morning ritual: grab coffee, browse the stalls and let the day unfold slowly.
Tracey Emin Retrospective at Tate Modern
Forty years of Emin's work in one landmark exhibition. A short hop south of the river; pair it with a Southbank walk as the evenings grow lighter.
Six Nations Watch Parties
England's campaign continues this weekend. Two More Beers in Angel is the local favourite; get there early, settle in, and enjoy.
Islington regulars
Angel Comedy
Seven nights a week, two pubs, entirely free. New material, Edinburgh previews, breakthrough acts. One of London's great comedy institutions.
St Mary's Tower Tour
120 steps to a bird's-eye view of London, led by expert local guides. A genuine hidden gem that most long-term residents have still never done.
Estorick Collection
World-class Italian Futurist art in a beautiful Georgian townhouse. One of Islington's finest and most quietly underrated cultural treasures.
Highbury Fields Parkrun
5km around one of North London's finest parks. All paces welcome. Register once at parkrun.org.uk and turn up any week.
In the borough
Council's £5 Million Investment Package Goes to the Vote
Islington Council's £5 million "Making It Happen" fund is set to go before Full Council on Thursday 26 February. The proposals include £1.9 million for community safety, among them new mobile CCTV vans, a neighbourhood outreach vehicle and improved street lighting, alongside £840,000 for upgraded play spaces at Barnard Park and across council estates. A further £140,000 would be allocated through participatory budgeting, giving residents a direct say over how funds are spent locally. The outcome of Thursday's vote is expected to be confirmed later that evening.
"More than 6,000 Islington residents have moved into employment over the past four years through council-supported programmes."
Over £1 Million a Day Committed to Children's Services
Islington Council has confirmed it will spend in excess of one million pounds per day on children's services this year. The commitment spans early years provision, family support and specialist intervention. Ofsted has rated the borough's Children's Services "outstanding" in two consecutive inspections, and the Youth Justice Service was recognised as the best in London in 2024. More than 58,000 free cultural experiences have been delivered to pupils since 2019 through the 11 by 11 programme, with a further 4,500 pupils benefiting from the council's music education partnership with the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
Zackariya Yahya Elected as Islington's New Young Mayor
Zackariya Yahya has been elected Young Mayor of Islington by the borough's Youth Council. The Youth Council plays a formal role in shaping council policy on matters affecting young people across the borough, and the position carries genuine responsibility within that process. The council has extended its congratulations to the newly elected Young Mayor.
Islington Athlete Tabby Wins Olympic Gold in Skeleton
Tabby, an Islington skeleton athlete who trained at Talacre Sports Centre, has won gold at the Winter Olympics. The achievement has been warmly celebrated by her family and the wider borough, and represents a remarkable moment for local sport. She is among the most decorated athletes to have emerged from N1 in recent memory, and her success brings considerable credit to the community that supported her development.
Licence Granted for Live Music to Resume at Local Pub
Following a period of dispute over noise, an Islington pub has been granted permission by the council to resume hosting live music. The decision will be welcomed by those who value the borough's longstanding reputation as one of London's most significant music neighbourhoods, home to venues that have shaped careers and provided a platform for artists at every stage of their development. The stage, in short, stays lit.
E-Bike Battery Fire Destroys Islington Flat: Residents Urged to Take Care
A fire at a flat on Hillrise Road last weekend, attributed to an e-scooter charging in a communal hallway, left two residents requiring hospital treatment for smoke inhalation and destroyed the property entirely. Firefighters attended from Kentish Town, Holloway and Islington. The London Fire Brigade has since issued guidance urging residents not to charge lithium-ion batteries on escape routes, to use only the charger supplied with the device, and to charge in a room with a closeable door wherever possible. The brigade attended more than 200 such fires across London in 2025. Residents are strongly encouraged to share this advice with their neighbours.
