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 2026, 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!

Newington Green

Friday 19 December 2025, 11am
Newington Green, N16 9PX (meet near the cafe)

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

2026 walks:

Whittington Park

Friday 30 January, 11am

Holloway Road, N19 4DJ (meet by the main entrance)

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

Grimaldi Park

Friday 27 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.

New River

Friday 27 March, 11am

Wallace Road, N1 2PG (meet outside Canonbury station

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

Wray Crescent

Friday 24 April, 11am

Thorpedale Road, N4 3BW (meet outside the park entrance)

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

Rosemary Gardens

Friday 29 May, 11am

Southgate Road N1 3JP ( Meet inside park gates near bus stop)

See a tree that grows beans and a football training pitch opened by Arsenal’s Arsene Wenger!

Fortune St and Quaker Gardens

Friday 26 June, 11am

Giddy Up Cafe, Fortune St Park, 18 Fortune St, EC1Y 0SB.

Discover how a Elizabethan theatre gave its name to a park created through bomb damage, and an ancient Quaker burial ground.

Gillespie Park

Friday 31 July, 11am

Meet at the Islington Ecology Centre 191 Drayton Park N5 1PH

Explore meadows, and one of London’s subterranean rivers, an Ink factory built like a Venetian Palace and the long connection with the railways.

Spa Fields

Friday 28 August, 11am

91 Skinner St EC1 0WX

Discover Spa Fields links to radical movements of 200 years ago, and view its transformation

Highbury Fields

Friday 25 September, 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.

Elthorne Park

Friday 30 October, 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.

Dartmouth Park

Friday 27 November, 11am

Dartmouth Park Hill, N19 RTX (meet by the entrance)

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

Caledonian Park

Friday 11 December, 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.