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 2025, 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.

Free – no need to book, just turn up!

Dartmouth Park

Friday 31 January, 11am
Dartmouth Park Hill, N19 RTX (meet by the entrance)

Enjoy the views around Dartmouth Park reservoir and explore nature and heritage.

Grimaldi Park

Friday 28 February, 11am
Cumming Street, N1 9JU (meet by the entrance)

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

Highbury Fields

Friday 28 March, 11am
Highbury Crescent, N5 1AR (meet at the Boer War Memorial)

Enjoy a stroll around these historic fields, discovering the surprising people who have lived there.

Duncan Terrace and Regent’s Canal

Friday 25 April, 11am
39 Duncan Terrace, N1 8AL (meet at St John the Evangelist church)

Explore the history of the Angel waterways and the sculptures in Duncan Terrace.

Elthorne Park

Friday 30 May, 11am
20 Hazellville Road, N19 3LP (meet outside Islington Boxing Club)

Discover how workhouses and orphanages made way for a park and peace garden, created as part of slum clearance.

Caledonian Park

Friday 27 June, 11am
Market Road, N7 9PL (meet beside Caledonian Clock Tower)

Discover how the former meat market became world famous as a second hand goods market.

Whittington Park

Friday 25 July, 11am
Holloway Road, N19 4DJ (meet by the topiary cat)

A stroll through Whittington Park and Foxham Gardens, discovering nature, its football pitch and Dick Whittington’s cat.

Thornhill Square

Friday 29 August, 11am
107 Bridgeman Road, N1 1BD (meet outside Islington West Library)

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

Wray Crescent

Friday 26 September, 11am
Thorpedale Road, N4 3BW (meet outside the park entrance)

Discover the Wray Crescent park, its cricket ground and bees.

New River

Friday 24 October, 11am
Wallace Road, N1 2PG (meet outside Canonbury station)

Discover the infrastructure that’s been supporting Londoners for 400 years and counting.

Myddelton Square

Friday 28 November, 11am
Chadwell Street, EC1R 1YE (meet at the east entrance to the Myddelton Square gardens)

Stroll around the historic square with New River connections and explore Spa Green Gardens.

Newington Green

Friday 19 December, 11am
Newington Green, N16 9PX (meet near the cafe)

A Christmas walk for the family, discovering historical figures associated with the Green.