Learn about Islington’s fascinating history on a free guided walk: last Friday of the month

Islington Council will once again be offering a series of free health and history walks in local parks throughout 2024, in partnership with Islington Guided Walks.

Stroll at a gentle pace and appreciate some of Islington’s finest green spaces, while hearing about the borough’s fascinating local history. All walks are on the last Friday of every month, with an 11am start. A poster will be displayed in the park a week before the walk, with details of where to meet.

Thornhill Square and Barnsbury Wood

Friday 26 April, 11am
Thornhill Square, 107 Bridgeman Road, N1 1BD (meet outside West Library, on the corner of Bridgman Street and Thornhill Square)

Encounter a Square that isn’t square, a series of sphinxes, a sporting suffragette and a secret sylvan wilderness.

Book free Thornhill Square walk

New River Walk

Friday 31 May, 11am
Duncan Terrace, N1 8AL ( meet opposite St John the Evangelist church, in the gardens)

Join for a walk along a river that’s been supplying Londoners with fresh water for more than 400 years. Meet opposite the Wallace Road entrance to New River walk.

St James’s Church Gardens and St John’s Garden

Friday 28 June, 11am
St James’s Church Gardens, Sans Walk, EC1R 0LT (meet in the arden, left of the St James Church entrance, near the benches)

Take a stroll from St James’s Church off Clerkenwell Green to St John’s Garden and hear about the fascinating history of the area including medieval knights, revolting peasants, mother’s ruin and body snatchers.

Rosemary Gardens

Friday 26 July, 11am
Rosemary Gardens, Southgate Road, N1 3UD (meet inside the park gate on Southgate Road that is nearest to Downham Road)

Discover beautiful planting and local history, including an ancient inn, an old cobbled pathway and a lost church.

Elthorne Park and Hillside Park

Friday 30 August, 11am
Elthorne Park, Hazellville Road, N19 (meet outside the boxing club)

Discover the Peace Garden and how these parks were created on the grounds of former workhouses and orphanages.

Joseph Grimaldi Park

Friday 27 September, 11am
Joseph Grimaldi Park, Pentonville Road, N1 9JU (meet by the seating area next to the Cumming Street entrance)

Find the musical Grimaldi sculpture and the grave of Henry Penton who gave his name to the area.

Duncan Terrace Gardens, Colbrooke Row and Regent’s Canal

Friday 25 October, 11am
Duncan Terrace, N1 8AL (meet in the gardens opposite St John the Evangelist church)

Explore the sculptures in the gardens and enjoy a stroll along the canal.

Caledonian Park

Friday 29 November, 11am
Market Road, N7 9PL (meet by the clock tower)

Discover how a meat market became a second hand market and made this area world famous.

Whittington Park Christmas walk

Friday 20 December, 11am
Holloway Road, N19 4RE (meet by the topiary cat, inside the Holloway Road entrance to the park)

A family walk exploring the traditions of Christmas and the story of Dick Whittington.