Introduction
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Directions
The full walk is about 7km (4 miles) long and takes about two to three hours to complete, depending upon the time spent in gardens.
The walk starts at Highbury & Islington underground and rail station and ends at Angel underground station. For a shorter walk, parts of the route can also be started and finished at Angel.
All the gardens are accessible to wheelchairs and open to the public during daylight hours, unless otherwise stated.
Please be aware of your personal safety and security when walking. Use designated road crossings where possible.
Description
This walk explores some of Islington's many and varied squares and other garden spaces. The 18th-century village of Islington was once a hub of dairy farming, supplying much of London's milk. It was a place of healthy recreation for city-dwellers, with its clean air and the fresh water spas which developed around the New River, built in 1609 to 1613 to bring fresh water from Hertfordshire to London. In the early 19th century, as more houses were needed, country estates were broken up and the second wave of London's great network of residential garden squares took shape.
