Zones 2, 3 · Northern, Victoria, Overground
Living in Islington
Islington has 3 tracked neighbourhoods. Average 1-bed rent is £1,675/month, with prices ranging from £1,500 to £2,000 depending on where you look.
About Islington
Islington is one of the smallest boroughs in London by area and the most densely populated local authority in England. It runs from Clerkenwell and Finsbury, on the edge of the City, through Angel, Barnsbury, Canonbury and Highbury to Holloway, Archway and the lower slopes of Highgate.
Upper Street is the borough's best-known high street, lined with restaurants, bars, theatres and shops, and Exmouth Market in Clerkenwell is known for its restaurants and street food. The borough has some of London's finest Georgian and early Victorian squares and terraces, alongside large council estates, and it has long been a place where wealthy residents and social housing tenants live side by side.
Arsenal's Emirates Stadium, in Highbury, brings large crowds on match days. The borough has very little large green space, and among London boroughs it has one of the lowest amounts of park per resident, which makes Highbury Fields, Caledonian Park, Gillespie Park and the Regent's Canal especially valuable. Finsbury Park lies just beyond its northern boundary.
Transport is excellent. The Northern line serves Angel and Archway, the Victoria line serves Highbury & Islington, the Piccadilly line serves Caledonian Road, Holloway Road and Arsenal, and the Overground and Great Northern services run through Highbury & Islington. The City is walkable or a short cycle from the southern parts of the borough. Most people who live here barely use a car and rarely take the tube for short trips, which is the real payoff for small flats, high rents and a shortage of parks.
Avg 1-bed rent
£1,675/mo
Avg 2-bed rent
£2,200/mo
Transport zones
2–3
Neighbourhoods
3
Transport
Islington is served by the Northern, Victoria, Overground and Piccadilly lines.
Council tax in Islington
A Band D property in Islington pays £2,108.15 a year for 2026/27 — close to the London median, ranking 12 of 32 London boroughs from cheapest to most expensive. That figure includes the £510.51 Greater London Authority precept, which is the same everywhere in London and funds the Mayor's office, TfL, the Metropolitan Police and the London Fire Brigade. Islington's own element is £1,597.64.
| Band | 1991 value | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,405 | £141 |
| B | £40,001 – £52,000 | £1,640 | £164 |
| C | £52,001 – £68,000 | £1,874 | £187 |
| D | £68,001 – £88,000 | £2,108 | £211 |
| E | £88,001 – £120,000 | £2,577 | £258 |
| F | £120,001 – £160,000 | £3,045 | £305 |
| G | £160,001 – £320,000 | £3,514 | £351 |
| H | Over £320,000 | £4,216 | £422 |
Monthly figures assume the 10 instalments most councils bill by default. Bands are based on 1991 property values. If you live alone you can claim a 25% single-person discount, and full-time students are exempt. How council tax works in London.
Islington lifestyle profile
Based on scores across all 3 tracked areas in Islington.
Lively
Green space
Nightlife
Café density
Gym density
Walkability
Food scene
Young professionals
Safety
Transport
Islington strengths
- ✓A packed restaurant and bar strip
- ✓Two fast tube lines to the City
- ✓A big young-professional crowd
- ✓Flat, walkable streets
- ✓Islington and Camden within reach for less
Trade-offs
- →Rents run high
- →Little green space in the postcode itself
- →The Holloway Road stretch feels rough in parts
- →Rougher round the edges than Islington
Neighbourhoods in Islington
Holloway
£1,500/moWorkaday inner-north London on the Piccadilly line, with Islington's restaurants and bars next door at a lower rent.
Archway
£1,500/moNorthern line value at the foot of Highgate Hill — the same green on your doorstep, minus the Highgate price tag.
Islington
£2,000/moPolished and professional, with Upper Street doing the heavy lifting — one of the densest runs of restaurants and bars in the city, and easy to get out of in the morning.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Islington?
The average 1-bedroom flat in Islington costs around £1,675 per month. Prices range from £1,500 to £2,000 depending on the specific neighbourhood.
What transport zones is Islington in?
Islington covers transport zones 2 to 3, served by the Northern, Victoria, Overground.
What type of area is Islington?
Islington scores highest for café density and walkability. A packed restaurant and bar strip.
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