London Borough of Islington

Islington is a borough of London to the north of the City of London, west of Hackney, east of Camden, and south of Haringey. Population 179,000 (1998), ethnic minority population about 20%. Formed in 1964 through amalgamation of the Metropolitan Boroughs of Islington and Finsbury. Area of significant social contrasts (55% of population live in council housing, yet some houses of value greater than 3 million GBP). Contains one of the largest intact areas of urban Georgian architecture. Also known for its shopping facilities and "trendy" restaurants and bars.

The borough includes the areas:

• Barnsbury
• Canonbury
• Clerkenwell
• Finsbury
• Highbury
• Holloway
• Islington
• Lower Holloway[?]
• Pentonville[?]
• Tufnell Park
• Upper Holloway[?], including Archway

Tony Blair, Prime Minister, once lived here (in 1 Richmond Crescent, Barnsbury). Other famous residents include the writers George Orwell and Douglas Adams, playwright Joe Orton, politician Boris Johnson, and pop musicians Dido Armstrong and David Gray[?].

Name: recorded as Gislandune (c. 1000) and Iseldone (Domesday Book, 1086), from Old English *Gisla (man's name, genitive *Gislan) and -dun (hill, down).

External links:

• Islington Council web site: www.islington.gov.uk (http://www.islington.gov.uk)