Angel – a District with Wings
Angel, in south Islington, has almost every distraction a person can seek. It is much more than just a convenient connection with the City and King’s Cross. Angel is a pulsing zone 24 hours a day.
You only have to walk a couple of meters up the main boulevard, Upper Street, to find something of interest. At any time you can find people in popular local pubs, “The York” or “The Angel” (not the most imaginative name, I agree). Finding someone to socialise with is the least of a newcomer’s problems, especially after dark. Opposite the station, in Blomfield Street, one of the oldest gay pubs in London, the EDVI, still does a brisk trade.
Pleasant to the eye
Fans of modern art may like the ‘Angel Wings’, a large iron structure behind the commercial centre on Liverpool Road. Though the area is not famous for its architecture, the streets near the station are pleasant to meander through.
Regent’s Canal passes through Angel and there is a peaceful park by the water off Graham Street.
Quirky and squeaky
Camden passage is not a short-cut to the more famous area of Camden town though you could be forgiven for thinking it might lead you there. This tiny street is characterized by a large number of furniture, antique and jewellery shops and hosts a flea market. Some objects they sell may seem quite bizarre – Union Jack armchairs or luggage from the First World War. But the atmosphere during the weekends is priceless (while some goods are undoubtedly expensive).
Cultural Angel
Angel’s reputation as a trendy area has been sealed in literature and films. Nick Hornby set two of his stories here; “About a Boy” and SLAM. George Orwell lived nearby – twice – on Lawford Road and in Canonbury Square. Actor Colin Firth, the Chelsea footballer Joe Cole and Big Brother’s first transsexual winner Nadia Almada are all residents.
Even Tony Blair commuted to Westminster from Angel before moving to the centre of London.
Director Molly Dineen chose Angel as subject of her documentary on the life of underground workers, “The heart of the Angel”, which won a BBC prize.
During the 1990s the station was almost completely re-built. It now contains the longest single escalator in Western Europe which enticed Norwegian freestyle skiier, Andreas Håtveit, to ski down the length of the escalator. The stunning footage of his exploit has unfortunately been removed from YouTube (otherwise we’d post it here for you!).
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Too bad I arrived in London too late to be Tony Blair’s neighbour!! Ok, I live on the cheap side of Caledonian Road…he used to live on the fancy one. Any leak on Colin’s address? I’d like to complain about his mumbling in “Dorian Gray”. I hardly understood a word!
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