About Us- Inspiring ways to discover Islington & beyond 2026

About Us

About Us at Islington Local Guide

Hi, I’m Mike — founder of Islington Local Guide

I started Islington Local Guide because I felt Islington and the surrounding areas deserved something more personal than another listings website.

There are plenty of places online telling you where to eat, drink or go out in London — but I wanted to create something that felt more local, more useful and more carefully curated.

A place you could visit when you’re asking:

“What’s actually worth doing around Islington this week?”

Whether it’s a new restaurant in Angel, a hidden pub near Highbury, a theatre night on Upper Street, a weekend market in King’s Cross or a great coffee spot in Clerkenwell, ILG is here to help people discover the places, stories and experiences that make this part of London special.

Why I Started ILG

I live in London and spend a lot of time exploring Islington, Angel, Upper Street, Highbury, Canonbury, Barnsbury, Holloway, Finsbury Park, King’s Cross, Clerkenwell, Shoreditch and Hackney.

What stood out to me was how much is happening locally — but how easy it is to miss.

Great independent restaurants.
Small theatres.
Brilliant pubs.
Local markets.
New openings.
Neighbourhood stories.
Places locals love but visitors rarely find.

I wanted to build a guide that brings all of that together in one place — not as a directory, but as a trusted local discovery platform.

What Makes Islington Local Guide Different

Islington Local Guide is built around real recommendations, local curiosity and editorial judgement.

I don’t want ILG to feel like a long list of random places. I want it to feel like a local friend saying:

“This is worth knowing about.”

That means ILG focuses on:

What’s on in Islington this week
Things to do in Islington, Angel and Upper Street
Restaurants, cafés, pubs and bars worth discovering
Theatre, live music, comedy and cultural events
Hidden gems across North and East London
New openings, local news and neighbourhood updates
Guides to King’s Cross, Clerkenwell, Hackney, Shoreditch and nearby areas

The aim is simple:

To help people discover better places, better plans and better local experiences.

Our Editorial Mission

The mission of Islington Local Guide is to make local discovery easier, more honest and more enjoyable.

We cover the places and stories that feel useful, interesting or genuinely worth sharing — from independent restaurants and neighbourhood pubs to theatre shows, markets, cultural events, family-friendly ideas, date-night spots and weekend guides.

We do not aim to cover everything.

ILG is not a copy-and-paste events calendar.
It is not a generic business directory.
It is not a paid ranking site.

Every guide, feature and recommendation is created with the reader in mind.

The question behind the content is always:

“Would this help someone make a better plan?”

How We Make Money

Islington Local Guide is growing as an independent local platform, and part of that growth includes working with businesses through selected paid opportunities.

This may include:

Partner Spotlights
Featured business articles
Sponsored local guides
Social media features
Newsletter placements
Advertising packages

When content is part of a paid collaboration, we aim to be clear and transparent.

However, payment does not buy false praise.

ILG only works with businesses, venues and local brands that feel relevant to our audience and fit the spirit of the platform. Editorial trust matters, and we want readers to feel confident that what appears on ILG has been chosen carefully.