Look around London: Highbury and Islington

We take a look at one of London’s most desirable places to live.

Transcript

00:00Hello and welcome to another edition of Look Around London. Today we are in North London

00:06in Highbury and Islington. It has a rich and varied history. Highbury dates back to the

00:1213th century when it was home to a manor owned by the Knights Hospitaller. In the 18th and

00:1819th centuries it developed into a fashionable suburb with elegant Georgian and Victorian

00:24homes. Islington, once a rural village, became a bustling residential area in the 19th century,

00:31aided by the arrival of the railways. The area has played a role in World War II, suffering

00:38bomb damage during the Blitz. In recent decades it has become known for its cultural vibrancy,

00:44political activism and gentrification. The Highbury and Islington station opened in 1872

00:50and it now serves the Victoria Line, Overground and National Rail.