Best Things To Do In Islington This Week
Monday 25 May – Sunday 31 May 2026
There has not been a week like this in Islington for a very long time. Half-term lands on top of the Spring Bank Holiday, the forecast has finally remembered it is meant to be late May, and on Sunday the borough is closing the roads so an open-top bus can carry the Premier League trophy through it for the first time since 2004. Whatever you have planned, the streets around you are going to feel different.
There is still a normal week underneath all that, though. Yamato’s drummers are finishing their run at the Peacock Theatre, the Estorick has quietly opened its first new show of the summer, Welcome to Night Vale are filling Union Chapel on the Friday, and Little Angel has lined up its half-term family schedule down on Dagmar Passage. If you live here, this is one of those rare weeks where you do not need to leave the borough to feel like you have done something with your time off.
Here is what we would actually do, sorted so you can plan around the parade, the heat and the kids.
Editor’s Top Picks This Week
1. Arsenal Premier League Title Parade — Sun 31 May, 2pm
This is the obvious one. The first league title in 22 years is being celebrated with an open-top bus parade around Islington on the Sunday afternoon, starting at 2pm. The exact route is still being finalised with the Council, but earlier plans had the bus leaving the Emirates and looping through Drayton Park, Aubert Park, Highbury Grove, St Paul’s Road and Upper Street before returning to the stadium — which is more or less the spine of the borough.
Why it matters: If Arteta’s side also beats PSG in the Champions League final the night before, you will be watching the most successful season in the club’s modern history go past your window. Either way, expect huge crowds, road closures, the Victoria Line at a standstill, and pubs along Upper Street and Holloway Road running on adrenaline. Get there early, walk in from Highbury Fields, and avoid driving anywhere in N1, N5 or N7 for the day. Free.
2. Yamato Drummers of Japan — Peacock Theatre, until Sat 30 May
The taiko company from Nara is two weeks into a London run and finishes here on Bank Holiday weekend. ‘Hito no Chikara — The Power of Human Strength’ is their new show, and the local critics who have seen it have been generous. It is not subtle — that is the point — but the staging blends huge drums, choreography and unusually clever lighting, and the Peacock is the right size of room for it. Tickets from £20, evenings at 19:30 with a 14:30 Saturday matinée.
3. Welcome to Night Vale — Union Chapel, Fri 29 May, 6:30pm
If you have ever lost an afternoon to the podcast, this is a no-brainer. The live show is a darker, funnier, more atmospheric version of the audio, and Union Chapel — gothic, candlelit, slightly weird — is genuinely one of the best rooms in the country to see it in. Bird On The Wire are presenting. All ages, under-16s with an adult.
4. Dada Masilo’s Hamlet — Sadler’s Wells Theatre, Mon 25 & Tue 26 May
Two nights only on Rosebery Avenue. The late South African choreographer’s reworking of Shakespeare strips the play down to physical theatre and razor-sharp ensemble dance, and The Dance Factory are bringing it as the opening act of the company’s short London visit. If you missed Dada Masilo’s ‘Giselle’ when it came through, this is the one to catch.
5. Emilio Isgrò: Erasing to Create — Estorick Collection, opens Wed 20 May
The Mendini exhibition finished on the 10th and the Canonbury Square museum has quietly opened its next big show. Isgrò is the Sicilian artist who built a career obscuring printed texts with black ink — books, encyclopaedias, Bibles, maps — to leave only fragments behind. It sounds gimmicky on paper and is genuinely beautiful in the rooms. £9.50, free for under-18s and members. Wed–Sun only. The café upstairs is worth the visit on its own.
6. Seafret: ‘Tell Me It’s Real’ 10-Year Anniversary — Islington Assembly Hall, Tue 26 May, 7pm
The acoustic duo from Bridlington playing their debut record front to back, in the prettiest mid-sized room in N1. If you remember being 19 in 2016 you remember this album. Doors 7pm.
7. Colin Blunstone — Union Chapel, Thu 28 May, 7:30pm
The Zombies’ frontman, still touring, still in voice. There is a particular thrill to hearing ‘Tell Her No’ and ‘She’s Not There’ sung by the man who recorded them in 1964, in a venue lit only by candles. A quieter, older crowd, which is part of the charm.
8. The Flying Bath — Little Angel Theatre, opens Fri 22 May
Julia Donaldson’s picture book, adapted by Samantha Lane, for ages 2–5. Perfect half-term programming and exactly what Little Angel does better than anyone in the country. Runs until 12 July, but the half-term week itself will sell quickly. There is also a relaxed performance on Sun 24 May for families who need the lights up and the option to move.
9. King’s Cross Super Nature — across the neighbourhood, until 31 May
The whole estate has been turned into a free outdoor trail of nature-themed art, installations and workshops, with Delphine Dénéréaz’s woven ‘Dandelions Always Return’ as the centrepiece at Granary Square. Pick up an activity booklet from the Lightroom. Free, very small-child-friendly, and ten minutes from Angel on foot.
10. Churchill’s Urinal — King’s Head Theatre, Wed–Sun
If you only have one Off-West End night in you this week, make it this. The new King’s Head on Upper Street is doing some of the most interesting LGBTQ+ programming in London right now, and this new play is exactly the kind of thing the old pub theatre would have championed. From £13 standby on the door if you are flexible. ‘Derrière on a G String’ is also running in the cabaret space at 4Below if you fancy a late-night chaser.
Best Free Things To Do In Islington This Week
Walk the parade route — Sun 31 May
Even if you are not a Gunner, the spectacle of an open-top trophy bus moving slowly down Upper Street is a properly free, properly local moment of theatre. Find a spot near Highbury Corner and walk it from there. Bring water — the forecast is in the high twenties.
Camden Passage on a Saturday morning
Still one of the most photographed antiques lanes in London, and still genuinely free to browse. Saturday is the main market day (the Wednesday set is smaller). Coffee at 26 Grains, then a slow loop of the arcades — Pierrepont, Camden Walk, the cobbled bits behind Charlton Place. You do not have to buy anything.
Chapel Market with the Islington Farmers’ Market — Sun 31 May, 10am–2pm
The Sunday farmers’ market sits at the Penton Street end of Chapel Market and is the best place in N1 to remember why you wanted to live in Islington in the first place. Wild Country Organics, Chegworth Valley apple juice, Grange Nurseries flowers, sourdough from the Bread Factory’s wholesale clients. Get there before the parade builds up.
Regent’s Canal — Angel to Victoria Park
The towpath out of City Road Lock is at its best in the last week of May. Roughly an hour at a slow walk, through Wenlock Basin, past the Towpath Café, under Kingsland Road, and out into Hackney. If you have not done it since the winter, the planting along Kingsland Basin will surprise you.
Whitecross Street Market — weekday lunchtimes
Technically just over the southern border into the City fringe, but it is the borough’s best weekday food market by a long way. Hog roast, pie and mash, Brazilian, Thai, Ethiopian. Closed Bank Holiday Monday — go Tue–Fri.
Free Friday lunchtime recitals — St James’ Clerkenwell
Free classical music every Friday at the Anglican church on Clerkenwell Close. A 45-minute recital, audience of about thirty, and a brilliant way to spend a Friday lunch break if you work locally.
New River Walk, Canonbury
One of the most under-walked green ribbons in the borough. Start at Astey’s Row, follow the water through Canonbury Grove, and finish at Petherton Road. Fifteen minutes, almost no traffic, and at this time of year the planting is at its best.
Family-Friendly Things To Do (it’s half-term)
This is the May half-term, and Islington schools are off all week. Plan ahead — the Little Angel slots will go.
Little Angel Theatre — Dagmar Passage, N1
‘The Flying Bath’ for ages 2–5, ‘Toto the Ninja Cat and the Great Snake Escape’ in the Studios for over-5s, plus Puppet Playcation: ‘Story of Stories’ on Thu 28 and Fri 29 May (ages 5–9). Saturday Studio on 30 May is themed around World Environment Day and was already showing limited availability when we last checked.
Sadler’s Wells, Rosebery Avenue
National Youth Dance Company x Alleyne Dance on Sat 30 May, and Take a Bow Productions’ ‘Let’s Take a Bow’ on Sun 31 May. Both are family-suitable. NYDC is consistently extraordinary.
King’s Cross Super Nature trail
Free, self-paced, and good for any kid old enough to hold a booklet. The Granary Square installation will keep small ones busy for half an hour on its own.
London Canal Museum, N1
Family fun days during half-term, including narrowboat rides through St Pancras Lock and craft activities back in the museum. Tucked away on New Wharf Road behind King’s Cross — one of the least-known museums in the borough.
Camley Street Natural Park, NW1
Free urban nature reserve five minutes from King’s Cross station. Pond-dipping, bug hunts, and one of the easiest wins for a hot afternoon if you have under-tens.
Highbury Fields playground
With the parade weekend bringing thousands into N5, the Fields will be heaving on the Sunday — go on Tuesday or Wednesday instead. The newer playground at the south end is best for smaller children.
Theatre, Comedy & Culture
Almeida Theatre. Dark this week — A Doll’s House with Romola Garai finished its run on Saturday 23 May, and the next mainstage show, ‘Under the Shadow’, doesn’t open until 2 June. Keep an eye on the Almeida For Free strand if you want a free fix in the meantime.
King’s Head Theatre, Upper Street. ‘Churchill’s Urinal’ and ‘Derrière on a G String’ both running through the week. The new building is still under-visited by people who knew the old pub theatre — it is worth a trip on the architecture alone.
Hope Theatre, Hope & Anchor. Still one of the smallest professional theatres in London. Worth checking the calendar — fringe runs often only get announced a fortnight out.
Park Theatre, Finsbury Park. Programming has been strong this season. If you have not been since the front-of-house refit, it is more comfortable than it used to be.
Angel Comedy at The Bill Murray, Queen’s Head Street. Comedy every single night of the week, including Bank Holiday Monday — five separate shows on the 25th alone, from 1pm onwards. Pay-what-you-can; donations go a long way. The annual rooftop Street Party was on Sunday 24 May (the day before our window) and raises money for Islington Centre for Refugees and Migrants — worth bookmarking for next year.
Sadler’s Wells, Rosebery Avenue. As above — Dada Masilo’s Hamlet, then NYDC and Take a Bow at the weekend. The Peacock (West End) is finishing Yamato; the new Sadler’s Wells East in Stratford is running Theatre-Rites’ ‘Return to the Forest’ for under-7s Thu–Sat if you fancy a borough hop.
Live Music & Nightlife
Union Chapel. The big two this week: Colin Blunstone on Thursday and Welcome to Night Vale on Friday. Even if both are sold out by the time you read this, the venue regularly releases returns at the door from 6pm.
Islington Assembly Hall, Upper Street. Seafret’s 10-year anniversary show on Tuesday 26 May is the main event. The hall’s recent PA upgrade has made a noticeable difference — it is now one of the better 800-cap rooms in the city.
The Garage, Highbury Corner. Slope on Fri 29 May. A small, sweaty venue that is at its best for a 22:30 finish.
O2 Academy Islington, Angel Central. Quieter week here — the bigger names are clustered later in June. Worth checking late additions: the Academy sometimes books last-minute Premier League afterparties when the trophy is in the borough.
The Lexington, Pentonville Road. Indie staple. Always worth glancing at the listings — most of the best gigs here are announced inside a fortnight.
Lafayette, Goods Way. King’s Cross’s best room for live music. Big sound, low ceilings, properly thought-out lighting.
Hidden Gems Of The Week- Things To Do In Islington This Week
Rake at The Compton Arms
The 200-year-old Highbury pub that supposedly inspired Orwell’s essay ‘The Moon Under the Water’ has been hosting a series of brilliant kitchen residencies for the last few years — Four Legs, Tiella, Schmaltz — and the current one, Rake, has just been listed in the Michelin Guide. Modern British, no booking, sit down with a pint and order a few sharing plates. If you only do one new food thing this week, do this.
The Estorick’s café and garden
Free to sit in even if you do not buy a ticket to the gallery. Italian coffee, simple pastries, and a small back garden that is one of the best secret outdoor seats in Canonbury. Wed–Sun only.
Highbury Library on Highbury Crescent
Free Wi-Fi, free toilets, and (less obviously) one of the most peaceful reading rooms in N5 when the rest of the borough is at the parade. Open Tuesday and Thursday late.
The Olden Community Garden, Bemerton Estate
Volunteer-run pocket garden between King’s Cross and Caledonian Road. Drop-in volunteer sessions through the week — a useful answer to ‘what do I do with the kids that isn’t buying anything’.
Food & Drink Plans- Things To Do In Islington This Week
Date-night spots
Trullo, Highbury Corner. The pasta is still the best in N1; book the downstairs room if you can. Westerns Laundry, Drayton Park. Bib Gourmand, courtyard with olive trees, and the seafood-and-natural-wine combination at its best at this time of year. Prawn on the Lawn, St Paul’s Road. Fishmonger-meets-
Brunch worth the queue
Caravan King’s Cross remains the standard. Sunday in Brooklyn at the Granary Building if you can get in. Granger & Co. King’s Cross for a faster turnaround. In Barnsbury, Lantana on Charlton Place is the cult queue — go early.
Sunday roast
The Drapers Arms on Barnsbury Street is the gold standard — the chicken for two is the order. The Hare and Hounds on Upper Street is the reliable Upper Street option and will be the centre of the Champions League final atmosphere on Saturday — big screens, sharp pints. The Charles Lamb does a smaller roast in a much quieter room.
Cheap and brilliant
Xi’an Impression by the Emirates is the BYOB matchday institution — hand-pulled biang biang noodles, pork-and-vegetable dumplings, and a queue that will be horrendous on Sunday. Go Tuesday. Sambal Shiok on Holloway Road for laksa. Dim Sum Duck near King’s Cross for the cheapest decent dim sum in the area.
Watching the Champions League final on Saturday 30 May
Kick-off 5pm UK time. Tickets are gone, Budapest is full, and the Emirates Stadium screening is members-only. So pick your pub early and turn up before 4pm. The Hare and Hounds and the Tollington (Holloway Road) will be the loudest; the Compton Arms shows football on big screens in both rooms but is small, so arrive at 3pm or not at all; the Drayton Park has the closest atmosphere to a matchday.
Weekend Highlights- Things To Do In Islington This Week
Friday 29 May
Walk Camden Passage in the early evening light, then early dinner at Westerns Laundry’s courtyard. Walk up Drayton Park to Union Chapel for Welcome to Night Vale (doors 6:30pm). Finish at The Compton Arms for a quiet pint before they fill up with Saturday’s match crowd.
Saturday 30 May
Morning at Camden Passage and Chapel Market; pick up flowers and a sandwich at Wild Country Organics. Lunch at Sambal Shiok if you have a Highbury bias, or hand-pulled noodles at Xi’an Impression if you do not mind queueing. Afternoon at the Estorick’s new Emilio Isgrò show, then sit in the garden. Pick your final-watching pub by 4pm — Hare and Hounds for atmosphere, Compton Arms for character, Tollington for noise. Champions League final kicks off at 5pm BST. After full-time, whatever the result, take the long walk home down Highbury Park.
Sunday 31 May
Islington Farmers’ Market at the Penton Street end of Chapel Market for a 10am breakfast; coffee at Workshop on Wakefield Street; a quick wander down the Regent’s Canal to the City Road basin. By midday, head up to Highbury Fields and pick a parade-viewing spot before the crowds settle. The bus rolls at 2pm. Stay out as late as the streets stay loud — and they will stay loud.
If You Only Do One Thing This Week…
Go to the parade.
This is the first time the Premier League trophy has been carried through Islington in 22 years. You will remember where you were on the afternoon of Sunday 31 May 2026 for the rest of your life, whether you support Arsenal or not. There will be tens of thousands of people, the streets will be closed to traffic, and the entire borough will feel like one long, slightly tearful pub. The Estorick will still be open next week. The parade will not.
FAQ Section- Things To Do In Islington This Week
Q: When is the Arsenal Premier League title parade in 2026?
Sunday 31 May 2026, starting at 2pm, with a route around the borough of Islington. The Council has confirmed road closures and parking suspensions for the day; Arsenal and Islington Council will publish final route and timing details on their official channels closer to the date.
Q: Where can I watch the Champions League final in Islington?
Kick-off is 5pm BST on Saturday 30 May 2026 at the Puskás Aréna in Budapest. The E
mirates Stadium is hosting a members-only screening from 3pm. For pubs, the Hare and Hounds on Upper Street, the Tollington on Holloway Road, the Drayton Park, the Bank of Friendship and the Compton Arms in Highbury are all reliable for big-screen sport — arrive at least an hour before kick-off.
Q: Is the Spring Bank Holiday on Monday 25 May 2026 a half-term week?
Yes. Islington schools are on half-term from Monday 25 May to Friday 29 May 2026. The Spring Bank Holiday itself falls on Monday 25 May.
Q: What free things can I do in Islington this week?
The Sunday parade is the headline free event. King’s Cross’s Super Nature trail runs until 31 May, Camden Passage and Chapel Market are open across the week, Islington Farmers’ Market runs on Sunday morning, and the Regent’s Canal towpath and New River Walk are both at their best this week. St James’ Clerkenwell runs a free Friday lunchtime recital.
Q: What’s on at the Almeida Theatre this week?
Nothing on the mainstage. A Doll’s House with Romola Garai finished its run on 23 May; the next show, Under the Shadow, opens on 2 June.
Q: What’s the best half-term activity for under-fives in Islington?
The Flying Bath at Little Angel Theatre on Dagmar Passage — Julia Donaldson’s book adapted by Samantha Lane, aimed at ages 2–5. It opened on 22 May and runs through the summer. Book ahead; half-term slots go quickly.
Q: Where can I take kids during half-term without spending much?
King’s Cross Super Nature trail (free, all week, until 31 May), Camley Street Natural Park (free), Highbury Fields playground (free), the London Canal Museum’s half-term family days, and Little Angel’s Saturday Studio environment-themed workshop on 30 May.
Q: Are the markets open on Bank Holiday Monday?
Chapel Market closes Mondays as standard; Camden Passage’s main antiques days are Wednesday and Saturday; Whitecross Street’s weekday lunch market does not run on the Bank Holiday. Plan for Tuesday onwards.
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