Islington Guided Walks

13/06/2026

Did you see our guide Rob Smith on Who Do You Think You Are - Joe Swash episode this week? Rob is on for a few minutes from 10 minutes 25 seconds talking about Little Italy. It's really worth watching the whole episode.

Joe Swash goes in search of his Italian roots. Along the way, he finds stories of murder, banditry, an inspiring political activist and a family bar in southern Italy.

21/04/2026

Have you been on our tour inside Union Chapel yet?

14/04/2026

Out friends at Union Chapel are looking for volunteer storytellers to share fascinating stories from over 200 years of music at Union Chapel to rapt audiences ahead of our live shows. From the rare 19th Century Henry 'Father' Willis organ, choirs and community singing throughout the ages, to huge name stars that have taken over the stage and filled the unique space to help make Union Chapel a world renowned and beloved venue.

Learn the skills to inspire live show audiences in a new series of pre-gig talks. Work with professionals to develop and share stories of the music, people, and legacy from 200+ years of heritage to modern day stars.

No experience needed. Training provided. Applicants must be aged 18 or over. The application deadline is 22 April.

You can find out more and apply here

https://unionchapel.org.uk/projects/news-views/volunteer-storytellers-apply-now-to-tell-musical-tales-from-our-archive

12/01/2026

🔴 St Mary’s Church & Tower 🔴

Did you know St Mary’s on Upper Street has been a place of worship for nearly 1,000 years? The elegant 18th-century tower and spire survived a direct hit during the Blitz, even when the rest of the church was destroyed.

On this guided tour with Islington Guided Walks, step inside the church, uncover its remarkable story of loss and rebuilding, and climb the tower for panoramic views across Islington and central London.

🎟️ Tickets available now – book via the link in bio
Part of our Islington Landmarks Walks series.

08/01/2026

We were delighted to welcome our new cohort of students to Islington Town Hall last night for the first class of this year’s Clerkenwell and Islington guiding course.

You can look forward to seeing them leading tours of their ow later in the year!

08/01/2026

🔴 Did you know… during the Second World War, Thornhill Square in Islington was home to a barrage balloon, part of London’s air-defence network designed to deter low-flying enemy aircraft.

🔴 Many of these balloons were operated by women from the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF). By 1942, women made up the majority of balloon crews, carrying out physically demanding and highly skilled work right in the heart of residential London.

🔴 Laid out in the mid-19th century, Thornhill Square was built as an elegant Victorian garden square and has long attracted writers, reformers and creatives.

🔴 Today, this peaceful green space hides extraordinary wartime and social history — a reminder that Islington’s streets played a vital role on the home front.

🎟️ Discover stories like this on our Islington Landmarks Walks with Islington Guided Walks - link in bio.

07/01/2026

🔴 Canonbury Tower 🔴

One of Islington’s oldest surviving buildings, Canonbury Tower dates back to the early 16th century and once formed part of a grand Tudor manor. Hidden among quiet residential streets, it has hosted figures including Thomas Cromwell and Francis Bacon.

Today, the tower stands as a rare Tudor survivor, offering a fascinating glimpse into centuries of political, intellectual and everyday life in Islington.

🔴 Canonbury Tower tours now run twice a month — tickets available via the link in bio.
Part of our Islington Landmarks Walks series.

07/01/2026

First Islington Tour of the year done!

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us today for a visit to the incredible Union Chapel — especially on such a very cold day ❄️

Thank you to the team for keeping this remarkable place alive as a working church, music venue and homelessness project, and to our brilliant guests for braving the cold and bringing such great energy.

More Islington Landmarks Walks coming soon 👀
🎟️ Link in bio

05/01/2026

🎟️ Islington Landmarks: Union Chapel 🎟️

🔴 Did you know… Union Chapel has stood on Upper Street since the 1870s and is one of the largest Nonconformist churches in London.

🔴 This Grade I listed Victorian Gothic building was designed with a unique octagonal interior to maximise acoustics and visibility.

🔴 Inside is the remarkable Father Henry Willis organ, one of the few in the UK still powered by its original hydraulic system.

🔴 After surviving wartime bomb damage, the chapel narrowly escaped demolition in the 1980s.

🔴 Today, Union Chapel thrives as a working church, award-winning music venue and homelessness project.

🎟️ Tours available now – link in bio.

05/01/2026

Here it is with 5 clean, relevant hashtags added at the end:

🔴 ISLINGTON LANDMARKS WALKS 🔴
Four buildings. Centuries of stories. One unforgettable way to explore Islington.

🔴 Caledonian Market Clock Tower
Once the heart of London’s largest Victorian livestock market, this Grade II* listed tower is the only survivor of a vast 19th-century complex. Climb 178 steps to see the original clock mechanism and enjoy panoramic views across the city.

🔴 Union Chapel
A masterpiece of Victorian Gothic design, Union Chapel is one of the largest Nonconformist churches in London. Inside sits a rare Father Henry Willis organ, still powered by its original hydraulic system.

🔴 Canonbury Tower
Dating back to the early 1500s, this is one of Islington’s oldest surviving buildings. It has hosted figures including Thomas Cromwell and Francis Bacon, hiding centuries of history behind a quiet residential street.

🔴 St Mary’s Church & Tower
A place of worship for nearly 1,000 years, St Mary’s tower survived a direct hit in the Blitz when the rest of the church was destroyed. Today, climbing the tower reveals sweeping views over Upper Street and beyond.

🔴 Join Islington Guided Walks and step inside these remarkable landmarks.
🎟️ Tours available now – link in bio.