Bars
The 6 Best Pubs in Islington
From Orwell's model boozer to a wisteria-hung Georgian garden, Islington keeps the highest concentration of proper pubs in north London.
In short: our top picks are The Island Queen, The Drapers Arms and The Compton Arms. 6 places in total, chosen on merit, with the full reasoning below.
Islington does pubs better than almost anywhere in London, and it always has. The borough runs from grand Victorian gin palaces to backstreet locals barely wider than a hallway, with a clutch of gastropubs that helped invent the form in the first place. Skip the chain-heavy stretch of Upper Street and walk the quiet residential roads instead, where the good ones hide. This is a short list of the pubs worth crossing town for, from a forerib roast to a pint of well-kept cask.
| Place | Area | Price |
|---|---|---|
| The Island Queen | Angel | ££ |
| The Drapers Arms | Islington | £££ |
| The Compton Arms | Canonbury | ££ |
| The Albion | Islington | £££ |
| The Pig and Butcher | Barnsbury | £££ |
| The Wenlock Arms | Hoxton | ££ |
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Editor’s choice
The Island Queen
Why we pick itBuilt in 1851, this Grade II gin palace keeps its two-tier mahogany bar, etched glass and Corinthian cast-iron columns, plus cask ales and proper wines.
Victorian gin palace
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The Drapers Arms
Why we pick itA powder-blue 1830s Georgian building on a Barnsbury backstreet, holding a Michelin Bib Gourmand and pouring one of London's finest forerib Sunday roasts.
gastropub
-
The Compton Arms
Why we pick itThe tiny candle-lit snug that inspired Orwell's essay on the perfect pub, now pairing rotating cask ales with short-run guest kitchen residencies.
backstreet local
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The Albion
Why we pick itFrench windows open onto 450 square metres of wisteria-draped garden behind this Grade II Georgian pub, the best long-lunch spot in Barnsbury.
Georgian garden pub
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The Pig and Butcher
Why we pick itWhole rare-breed animals are butchered downstairs each day, feeding a roast of porchetta and beef with towering Yorkshires; book, because the room fills fast.
gastropub
-
The Wenlock Arms
Why we pick itAn 1835 corner free house with ten handpumps of ever-changing cask ale and cider, named CAMRA North London Pub of the Year and a short walk from the Regent's Canal.
real ale pub
Before you book
Angel and Highbury & Islington are the two tube stations to aim for; most of these sit a ten-minute walk from one or the other. Book ahead for the Drapers Arms and the Pig and Butcher, especially for Sunday lunch, which tends to sell out by early afternoon. Most are dog-friendly, and the Albion’s garden is the one to claim on a warm day, so arrive early.
Common questions
What are the top picks in this guide?
The Island Queen is our editor's choice: Built in 1851, this Grade II gin palace keeps its two-tier mahogany bar, etched glass and Corinthian cast-iron columns, plus cask ales and proper wines. The Island Queen, The Drapers Arms and The Compton Arms lead the guide, with 6 places in total, all chosen on merit.
How does Lamplit London choose its recommendations?
Every place is chosen on merit, after first-hand visits where possible, with no pay-for-placement. Read our full method at https://www.lamplitlondon.com/how-we-choose/.
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