Islington Local Guide
Things To Do In Islington This Week: 8th June to 14th June
Your local guide to the best of Islington, King’s Cross, Shoreditch and Hackney, Monday 8 to Sunday 14 June 2026.
Right, the good weather has finally turned up and it has brought a proper week with it. The dust has only just settled on SXSW London over in Shoreditch and Hoxton, and now the diary fills up again: world-class dance at Sadler’s Wells, a Hong Kong street-food takeover landing at Coal Drops Yard, Hackney Art Week reaching its final weekend, and the King’s official birthday parade on Saturday. It is one of those weeks where you could quite happily never leave the N postcodes and still feel like you have done London properly.
If you only read one paragraph, read this one. This weekend, 13 to 14 June, is where it all lands. Saturday brings Trooping the Colour in town, the last day or two of Hackney Art Week across Dalston and beyond, the Steam & Roll Hong Kong takeover at Coal Drops Yard, and Jesse Malin playing the Union Chapel. Sunday eases off into markets, the canal and a couple of lovely low-key cultural bits. My advice: get your Saturday booked and keep Sunday loose.
What are locals actually talking about? Three things. The World Cup has kicked off across the Atlantic and the pubs are already clearing space for the big screens. Harry Styles is curating this year’s Meltdown at the Southbank Centre, which has the whole city slightly giddy. And after a damp start to June, everyone is quietly delighted that it is finally warm enough to sit outside without a coat.
Weather: the week starts on the cool side, high teens and a touch breezy, then builds nicely. By Friday and Saturday we should be looking at low to mid twenties, dry and bright, which is about as good as a London June gets. Saturday 13 June looks the warmest of the lot, so sunscreen for Trooping the Colour, the markets and the Granary Square fountains, and a light layer for the canal in the evening. Forecasts this far out do wobble, so give the Met Office a last check before any outdoor plans.
The Week At A Glance- Things To Do In Islington This Week
Short on time? Here is the week in eight picks.
| Best Event | This Is Rambert at Sadler’s Wells (Wed 10 to Sat 13). Contemporary dance at the top of its game, on our doorstep in Angel. |
| Best Free Event | Hackney Art Week, final weekend. Sixty artists, fifty venues, the whole borough turned into a gallery, and not a penny to get in. |
| Best Family Event | The Dance Floor Is Black weekend at Sadler’s Wells East (Sat 13 to Sun 14). Free, all ages, no ticket needed. |
| Best Food Event | Steam & Roll’s Hong Kong street-food takeover at Coal Drops Yard (Fri 12 to Sun 14). Cheung fun, siu mai and curry fishballs by the canal. |
| Best Night Out | Jesse Malin at the Union Chapel (Sat 13). A proper songwriter in the most atmospheric room in north London. |
| Best Date Idea | Dinner at Trullo in Highbury, then cocktails at 69 Colebrooke Row, the bar with no name. |
| Best Hidden Gem | The Estorick Collection in Canonbury. A jewel-box of Italian modern art with a quiet garden cafe, and almost nobody knows it is there. |
| Best Budget Activity | Walk the Parkland Walk from Finsbury Park to Highgate. London’s longest nature reserve, completely free, and glorious in this weather. |
20 Unmissable Things To Do This Week
Mixed by mood and budget, and ordered roughly Islington first, then King’s Cross, then Shoreditch and Hackney. Prices move around, so treat them as a guide and confirm with the venue before you commit.
1. This Is Rambert
Sadler’s Wells, Rosebery Avenue | Wed 10 to Sat 13 June, 19:30 (Sat matinee 14:30) | Ticketed, from around £19
Why it matters: Britain’s flagship contemporary dance company brings a triple bill to Angel for four nights only. If you have never been to Sadler’s Wells, this is the gentle way in: bold, physical and over before you get restless.
2. Under the Shadow
Almeida Theatre, Almeida Street | Running all week to 4 July | Ticketed, check the box office
Why it matters: The Almeida rarely misses, and a mid-run weeknight is your best shot at a return ticket without paying West End prices. The kind of new play people will be arguing about over dinner for weeks.
3. Jesse Malin: Almost Grown UK Tour
Union Chapel, Compton Terrace | Sat 13 June, doors 18:30 | Ticketed, around £27, confirm with the venue
Why it matters: The New York songwriter in a Grade I-listed church with acoustics most venues would kill for. Get there early, grab a pew and let the room do half the work.
4. The Smith Street Band
The Garage, Highbury Corner | Wed 10 June, 19:00 | Ticketed, check The Garage
Why it matters: Australia’s most heart-on-sleeve punk band at one of north London’s great sweatboxes. A loud, cathartic midweek reset two minutes from Highbury & Islington station.
5. Liam St. John
The Lexington, Pentonville Road | Tue 9 June, 19:30 | Ticketed, check The Lexington
Why it matters: Bourbon downstairs, gravelly Americana upstairs. The Lexington is exactly the size a gig should be, and a Tuesday here beats most Saturdays elsewhere.
6. Culture Club, part of the Flamenco Festival
Sadler’s Wells, Rosebery Avenue | Fri 12 to Fri 19 June | Ticketed, selling fast
Why it matters: Flamenco Festival turns Sadler’s Wells into the best place outside Andalusia to feel the floor shake. Tickets were already going when I looked, so move quickly.
7. Camden Passage Antiques Market
Camden Passage, off Upper Street | Sat 13 June, from around 10:00 | Free to browse
Why it matters: Saturday is the big day on the Passage. Vintage clothing, old prints, silver and proper junk-shop treasure, plus the cafes are at their best in the sun. The most pleasant browse in N1.
8. Chapel Market Sunday
Chapel Market, off Liverpool Road | Sun 14 June, morning into early afternoon | Free to browse
Why it matters: One of the last genuine working street markets in central London, and Sundays bring the farmers’ stalls. Pick up lunch, then walk it off down the canal. This is Islington with its sleeves rolled up.
9. The Estorick Collection
39a Canonbury Square | Open Wed to Sun this week | Ticketed, modest, often free entry offers
Why it matters: A small museum of Italian modern art in a Georgian house, with a courtyard cafe that feels like a secret. Twenty minutes here is worth an afternoon at somewhere louder.
10. Comedy Cabaret at Downstairs at the King’s Head
Downstairs at the King’s Head, Crouch End | Sat 13 June, 20:30 | Ticketed, low price
Why it matters: A proper old-school north London comedy basement with a strong bill and Michael Legge keeping order. Cheap, sharp and exactly the antidote to a serious week.
11. Steam & Roll: Hong Kong Street Food Takeover
Coal Drops Yard, King’s Cross | Fri 12 to Sun 14 June | Free to enter, pay as you eat
Why it matters: The first guest takeover of Coal Drops Yard’s summer Yard Line Up. Cheung fun, siu mai and curry fishballs, with the Bob’s Wife pop-up bar alongside. Eat by the canal and thank me later.
12. Toklas Bakery Residency
Coal Drops Yard, King’s Cross | From Mon 8 June, Monday to Thursday | Pay as you go
Why it matters: The acclaimed Toklas team take a King’s Cross slot for the start of the week. A genuinely new arrival on the patch, and a good excuse for a weekday pastry run.
13. Queer Britain: Layla McCay in Conversation
Queer Britain, Granary Square, King’s Cross | Sat 13 June | Ticketed, check the museum
Why it matters: The national LGBTQ+ museum marks Pride month with an author talk. The museum itself is free the rest of the time, so build it into a wider King’s Cross afternoon.
14. British Library Food Season: Big Weekend
British Library, Euston Road | Sat 13 to Sun 14 June | Ticketed per session
Why it matters: Two days of talks with the likes of Ruthie Rogers, plus panels on the Silk Roads, seaweed and the women redefining barbecue. For anyone who reads menus for fun, this is the weekend.
15. Granary Square Fountains and the Regent’s Canal
Granary Square, King’s Cross | All week | Free
Why it matters: The thousand-jet fountains are catnip for kids, and the towpath east towards Haggerston is one of the best free walks in London. In this weather, it is unbeatable value.
16. Cowgirls & Cocktails Bottomless Brunch
The Star, Shoreditch | Sat 13 June, 14:00 to 16:00 | Ticketed, expect around £35 to £45
Why it matters: Ninety minutes of unlimited drinks and Neapolitan pizza from 081 Pizzeria, with country bingo, line dancing and full “country-oke”. Daft in the best possible way.
17. London Music Ultimate Showcase: Festival All-Dayer
The Old Blue Last, Shoreditch | Sun 14 June, from 17:00 | Low entry, check DICE
Why it matters: The Old Blue Last has launched more careers than it can count. A curated bill of the city’s best unsigned bands is a cheap punt that occasionally turns into a story you tell for years.
18. Saturday Night in Shoreditch
Village Underground and around, Shoreditch | Sat 13 June, late | Varies by night
Why it matters: With SXSW London just gone, the area is in full flow. Village Underground and its neighbours run strong lineups; check Resident Advisor or DICE on the day and follow your ears.
19. Hackney Art Week: Final Weekend
Across Hackney, centred on Dalston | To Sun 14 June | Free
Why it matters: Sixty artists across fifty venues, from studios to shopfronts. The last weekend is when the trail is busiest and best. Pick a corner of the borough and just wander; it is the most Hackney thing you can do.
20. Neurospicy 3: New Short Films plus Q&A
Rio Cinema, Dalston | Sun 14 June, 14:00 | Ticketed, check the Rio
Why it matters: A showcase of brand-new shorts from emerging neurodivergent talent, with a cast-and-crew Q&A, in Dalston’s beloved art deco cinema. A Sunday afternoon that actually means something.
Live Music This Week – Things To Do In Islington This Week
A quieter week than recent ones for the bigger rooms, which makes the gigs that are on feel like the right ones. Here is what is worth your ears, and who it is for.
The Lexington, Pentonville Road
Liam St. John, Tuesday 9 June, 19:30. Gravelly Americana in a 200-capacity room above a bourbon bar. For anyone who likes their songs sung like they mean it.
The Garage, Highbury Corner
The Smith Street Band, Wednesday 10 June, 19:00. Big-hearted Australian punk. For people who want to shout the words back. Asal and Culture Wars follow later in the month if this week is too soon.
Union Chapel, Compton Terrace
Jesse Malin, Saturday 13 June, doors 18:30. The week’s standout gig. A seasoned New York songwriter in a working church with extraordinary acoustics. For grown-up music fans who want to actually listen.
Islington Assembly Hall and O2 Academy Islington
Both are between shows this week, which happens. The Assembly Hall picks back up with Police Dog Hogan on 18 June, and the O2 Academy with Death to All the same night. Worth bookmarking for next week rather than this one.
Out east: Sebright Arms and The Old Blue Last
Disco Lizards launch their new album Life Lessons at the Sebright Arms in Bethnal Green on Saturday 13 June, 19:30, with support. On Sunday 14 June the Old Blue Last in Shoreditch hosts an all-day unsigned-bands showcase from 17:00. Both cheap, both for the curious.
Citywide one to know: Meltdown
Harry Styles is curating this year’s Meltdown at the Southbank Centre, 11 to 21 June. It is not on our patch, but there is a free all-ages Riverside Boogie and sets from the likes of Kamasi Washington, so it earns a mention.
Hackney late-night rooms
Moth Club and Oslo in Hackney run rotating gigs and club nights rather than fixed weekly bills, so check their own listings for the exact Saturday. Both are reliably good for stumbling into something.
Theatre, Comedy & Culture – Things To Do In Islington This Week
A strong week for dance especially, with Sadler’s Wells doing the heavy lifting.
Family-Friendly Things To Do – Things To Do In Islington This Week
Plenty for younger ones this week, much of it free and outdoors while the weather holds.
Free Things To Do In Islington This Week – Things To Do In Islington This Week
At least fifteen ways to fill the week without spending a thing. Some are on our doorstep, a couple are worth the short trip.
Foodie Picks- Things To Do In Islington This Week
Five places locals actually book, not the ones the tourist lists keep recycling. As ever, give anywhere a quick check before a special trip; menus and opening days do move.
New this week: Steam & Roll at Coal Drops Yard, King’s Cross
What to order: cheung fun, siu mai and curry fishballs, with a drink from the Bob’s Wife pop-up bar. Price: street-food prices, easy to keep under £15 a head. Why locals love it: it is genuinely new, it is only here for the weekend, and eating Hong Kong classics by the canal is a very 2026 King’s Cross thing to do.
Hidden gem: Westerns Laundry, Drayton Park
What to order: whatever seafood is on that day, and a glass of something low-intervention. Price: mid, around £35 to £45 a head with wine. Why locals love it: tucked between Highbury and Drayton Park, it does not shout, and the cooking and wine list are quietly some of the best in the borough.
Brunch: Sunday, Barnsbury
What to order: the pancakes, and accept that you will queue for them. Price: low to mid, cash-friendly. Why locals love it: tiny, no bookings, and the line down the street is the review. Get there early on Saturday or Sunday and it is worth every minute.
Date night: Trullo, Highbury Corner
What to order: the hand-rolled pasta and anything off the charcoal grill. Price: mid to high, around £45 to £60 a head. Why locals love it: the menu changes daily, the room is warm without being stuffy, and it has been the default Highbury date for years for very good reason. Book ahead.
Casual neighbourhood favourite: Pophams, Islington
What to order: a laminated pastry in the morning, fresh pasta later in the day. Price: low to mid. Why locals love it: bakery by day, neighbourhood pasta spot by evening, and consistently excellent at both. The kind of place you end up visiting twice in a week without meaning to.
Best Bottomless Brunches This Weekend – Things To Do In Islington This Week
Bottomless menus and prices change constantly, so confirm the package when you book. Here is what is worth it this weekend.
Honest take: bottomless brunch is about the occasion. If you want genuinely great food, you will usually eat better, and cheaper, ordering normally. If you want a laugh with a group, the themed sessions earn their keep.
Best Pubs, Bars & Beer Gardens – Things To Do In Islington This Week
With the sun out, this is the section that matters. Local favourites first, chains nowhere.
Nightlife Guide – Things To Do In Islington This Week
Club lineups are promoter-led and change weekly, so I have grouped these by venue and vibe. For the exact Saturday bill, Resident Advisor and DICE are your friends.
Shoreditch
Village Underground for bigger live-into-club nights, and the Old Blue Last for sweaty, cheap, late indie and DJ sets. With SXSW London just finished, the whole area is buzzing this weekend.
Dalston
Dalston Superstore is the heart of queer Dalston and especially worth it during Pride month, while the Ridley Road Market Bar serves disco and house in a former market stall. Late, loud and very Dalston.
Hackney
Moth Club and Oslo run club nights under the gigs, from indie discos to house and disco specials. EartH in Dalston hosts the occasional late party in its grand old cinema hall. Check each venue’s listings for Saturday.
King’s Cross
Quieter after dark than the others, but Spiritland is a superb listening bar for a more civilised late one, and the Lighterman holds the canalside crowd. Good for a nightcap rather than an all-nighter.
Markets Worth Visiting – Things To Do In Islington This Week
A genuinely strong week for markets, helped by the weather. Days can shift on bank holidays and events, so a quick check never hurts.
Hidden Gems Of The Week – Things To Do In Islington This Week
Five things locals should know about, even the locals who think they know everything.
This Week’s Offers & Deals – Things To Do In Islington This Week
Only the genuinely current ones. Happy hours and restaurant deals change fast, so use this as a starting point and check the venue’s socials on the day.
If I Only Had One Day…
The perfect independent-led Saturday, 13 June, keeping it largely in our own backyard.
Morning. Start with a pastry and a flat white at Pophams in Islington, then stroll over to Camden Passage while it is quiet. Saturday is the antiques day, so take your time among the stalls before the crowds build.
Lunch. Walk or hop down to King’s Cross and the Steam & Roll Hong Kong takeover at Coal Drops Yard. Grab cheung fun and siu mai, find a spot by the Granary Square fountains and watch the kids lose their minds in the water jets.
Afternoon. Catch the Overground or walk the canal east to Dalston for the final weekend of Hackney Art Week. Pick a few open studios, drift down to Broadway Market and Netil, and pick up something for later.
Dinner. Back towards Highbury for an early table at Trullo, or keep it casual in Hackney with a grill on or near Broadway Market. Either way, eat well and do not rush.
Evening. Jesse Malin at the Union Chapel, doors 18:30. There is no better room in north London to end a day in. If you would rather stay east, a Saturday night around Village Underground in Shoreditch will not let you down.
Late night. Wind down with a cocktail at 69 Colebrooke Row, the bar with no name, or push on to a Hackney club night at Moth Club or Oslo if the legs are willing.
The Last Word
It is a week that rewards getting out of the house. The big rooms are between shows, but the things that are on, the dance at Sadler’s Wells, Jesse Malin at the Union Chapel, the last of Hackney Art Week and that Hong Kong takeover at Coal Drops Yard, are the kind of local highlights you will be glad you caught. Add the first proper warm weekend of the summer and there is very little excuse to stay in.
Next week we are tracking Refugee Week across the city, the start of Royal Ascot for the racing crowd, and more of the King’s Cross summer programme as the Yard Line Up rolls on. We will also have the gigs that bring the Assembly Hall and the O2 Academy back to life. See you then, and enjoy the sunshine while it lasts.
Islington Local Guide. Your week, sorted.
