Activities in Islington Parks

Find out:

What Islington parks offer and their health benefits
Activities in parks, including ones that are approved for referrals by health and care professionals

Parks in Islington shows where Islington parks are and highlights the main parks and their features.
Support for organisations to deliver an activity in a park states the support available for organisations to create or continue an activity in an Islington park.
Parks and open spaces has other information about parks.

What Islington parks offer

Free and open to all. They offer something to see and do, to be in nature, and to meet other people
Open long hours. Parks with gates open at 8am, usually close at sunset, and are open all year
There are over 100 parks in Islington, so there is a park near to everyone

Health benefits

The Government says being in nature, such as a park, improves our mental health and wellbeing and can:

reduce stress, fatigue, anxiety and depression
help boost immune systems, encourage physical activity and may reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as asthma, and can combat loneliness.

Parks are an excellent place to be active, which cuts the risk of dementia & Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease, stroke, bowel, breast and womb cancer, type 2 diabetes and other health conditions.

Activities in parks

Activities are shown for north Islington (Archway, Holloway, Tufnell Park), central Islington (Canonbury, Highbury, Newington Green) and south Islington (Barnsbury, Clerkenwell, Finsbury). Included are activities run by Friends of Park groups, who are residents that volunteer to help maintain a park and may offer gardening and other activities. They are a great way to be involved with a park and meet other people
Leaflets showing activities in parks for January to March 2023 in north, central and south Islington are to the right
Activities in parks are free and open to everyone unless stated otherwise
Booking is required for most activities; these activities are shown by an asterisk. Please check an activity is taking place before attending for the first time
Gardening is a popular activity. A leaflet showing gardening in Islington parks is to the right
18 activities have been approved by Age UK Islington in its role as a social prescribing organisation to accept referrals by health and care professionals. These activities are all free; a donation may be requested for some of them. These activities are marked Approved for referral. An Islington resident can go straight to any of these activities without a referral by a health and care professional
39 parks offer opportunities to do sport including football, basketball and netball, outdoor gym, table-tennis, tennis, running and walking routes, cricket, and bowls.

North Islington: Archway, Holloway, Tufnell Park

Activity	When	Organiser * Booking required
Caledonian Park, near Caledonian Road tube station, N7
2k run for 4- to 14-year-olds	Sundays, 9am	Junior parkrun *
Cardio and muscles keep fit (not taking place in January; restarts 15 February) Approved for referral	Wednesdays, 10.30-11.45am	Healthy Generations * £3 optional donation
Gardening	Wednesdays & Sundays, 10am-12pm	Caledonian Park Friends Group
Gay Barnsbury Walking Tour, finishes in Caledonian Park	Sunday 19 February, 2-4pm	Parks team, Islington Council *
Gay Holloway Walking Tour, finishes in Caledonian Park	Saturday 18 February, 2-4pm	Parks team, Islington Council *
Knit Natter	Thursdays 6.30-8pm	Parks team, Islington Council
Park Cuppa Approved for referral	Wednesdays, 11am-12pm	Age UK Islington *
Under 5s story time Arts and crafts in the park: half-term fun for children	Various times, 10-11am Wednesday 17 February, 2-4.30pm	Parks team, Islington Council * Parks team, Islington Council *
Volunteering for adults with a learning disability	March onwards: Wednesdays, 11am-1pm	Mencap. For more information, contact Fatima; fatima.dasliva@mencap.org.uk. Bring pocket money
Volunteering with community rangers Approved for referral	March onwards: occasional Wednesdays and Fridays, 11am-1pm	Parks team, Islington Council
Walking tour of Caledonian Park Walk around the park and the surrounding area	Thursday 16 March, 11am Friday 22 December, 11am	Parks team, Islington Council * Islington Guides * Check nearer the date of the walk for a link for more information and to book
Become a Time Detective! A walk for families Tour of the clock tower	Tuesday 14 February, Thursday 6 April; 11am Twice a month	Parks team, Islington Council *
Dartmouth Park, Tufnell Park, N19
Qi Gong (on a break, to restart Feb/March 2023) Approved for referral	Mondays, 10-11am	Healthy Generations * £3 optional donation
Walk around the park and the surrounding area	Friday 30 June, 11am	Islington Guides * Check nearer the date of the walk for a link for more information and to book
Elthorne Park, Archway, N19
Sport for young people	Various times	Access to Sport *
Walk around the park and the surrounding area	Friday 31 March, 11am	Islington Guides * Check nearer the date of the walk for a link for more information and to book
Paradise Park, near Liverpool Road, N7
Gardening	Most Wednesday mornings and 2^nd Tuesday of each month	Friends of Paradise Park
Walk around the park, St Mary Magdalene Gardens and the surrounding area	Friday 24 February, 11am	Islington Guides * Check nearer the date of the walk for a link for more information and to book
Parkland Walk, N19
A walk for intermediate walkers; meet at Station Place, Finsbury Park Approved for referral	Wednesdays, 2pm	Contact Susan Aykroyd, Hornsey Lane Estate Community Association walkleader@hlcea.org.uk, 07985 156876 *
Volunteering each week at one of Islington’s 3 nature reserves: Barnsbury Wood, Gillespie Park, Parkland Walk Approved for referral	Thursdays, 10am-3.30pm	Ecology Centre, Islington Council
Volunteering maintenance	Usually 2^nd Saturday of the month, 10.30am-1pm	Friends of the Parkland Walk
Penn Road Gardens, near Holloway Road, N7
Gardening	Last Sunday of the month, 10am-12pm	Penn Road Residents Association
Sunnyside Community Gardens, Hazellville Road, next to Elthorne Park, N19
Activities for residents with a child under 5	Various times	Brightstart, Islington Council *
Gardening	Various times during the week	Sunnyside Community Gardens *
Whittington Park, Holloway Road, N19
Football for ages 2-12	Various times	Islington Football Development Partnership * Fee applies
Football for girls and women	Various times	Islington Borough Ladies Football Club * Fee applies
Qi Gong (on a break, to restart Feb/March 2023) Approved for referral	Wednesdays, 8.30-9.45am	Healthy Generations * £3 optional donation
Volunteering with community rangers Approved for referral	March onwards: occasional Wednesdays and Fridays, 11am-1pm	Parks team, Islington Council
Walk around the park, Foxham Gardens and the surrounding area	Friday 27 October, 11am	Islington Guides * Check nearer the date of the walk for a link for more information and to book
Wray Crescent, near Hornsey Road, N4
Cricket	March onwards	Pacific Cricket Club * Fee applies
Gardening and other activities	Check website	Friends of Wray Crescent
Pilates Cardio Lite	Thursdays, 9.30-10.15am	Liv-Pilates * £10/class
Walk around the park and the surrounding area	Friday 29 September, 11am	Islington Guides * Check nearer the date of the walk for a link for more information and to book

Central Islington: Canonbury, Highbury, Newington Green

Activity	When	Organiser * Booking required
Arlington Square, near Regent’s Canal, N1
Gardening and other activities	Check website	Arlington Association
Arvon Road Community Garden, near Holloway Road, N5
Gardening	Check website	Arvon Road Community Garden
Canonbury Square, Highbury, N1
Gardening	Third Saturday of the month from 10am	Friends of Canonbury Square *
Compton Terrace Gardens, Highbury, N1
Gardening	Check website	Compton Terrace Gardening Group
Duncan Terrace Gardens and Colebrook Row Gardens, Angel, N1
Gardening	Check website	Friends of Duncan Terrace and Colebrooke Row Gardens
Gillespie Park and Ecology Centre, Highbury, N5
Activities for residents with a child under 5	Various times	Brightstart, Islington Council *
Dementia- and family-friendly walk Approved for referral	First Friday of the month, 10am	Ecology Centre, Islington Council
Volunteering each week at one of Islington’s 3 nature reserves: Barnsbury Wood, Gillespie Park, Parkland Walk Approved for referral Drag Queen Story Time	Thursdays, 10am-3.30pm Monday 13 February, 11am	Ecology Centre, Islington Council Ecology Centre, Islington Council *
Graham Street Park, near City Road and next to Regent's Canal, N1
Gardening	Check website	Friends of Graham Street Park
Highbury Fields, near to Highbury & Islington station, N5
5k run	Saturdays, 9am	parkrun *
2k run for 4- to 14-year-olds	Sundays, 9am	junior parkrun *
Activities for residents with a child under 5	Various times	Brightstart, Islington Council *
Fitness session	Saturdays, 9.45am	Healthy Minds Healthy Bods. For more information, contact Lawrence Curtis: hmhb2016@outlook.com
Gardening Approved for referral	Wednesdays and Sundays, 10am-4pm	Highbury Fields Garden Volunteers. Contact Flora Goldhill: flora@highburyplace.co.uk; 07487 880778 *

Netball	Tuesday and Wednesday evenings	Islington Netball *
Tennis	Check website	Highbury Fields Tennis League; membership fee applies
Tennis	Check website	Highbury Tennis Club; membership fee applies
Total Body Workout Approved for referral	Fridays, 9.45-10.45am	Healthy Generations * £3 optional fee
Tag rugby	Various times	Try Tag Rugby * Fee applies
Walks for adults with a learning disability. The group meets at Highbury Corner and takes in local parks	Wednesdays, 11am-12.30pm	Mencap. For more information, contact Johny (07506 844 649, johny.brown@mencap.org.uk) Bring pocket money
Highbury Fields Association is a Friends group for the park

New River Walk, Canonbury, N1
Maintenance	Check website	Friends of the New River Walk
Volunteering with community rangers Approved for referral	March onwards: occasional Wednesdays and Fridays, 11am-1pm	Parks team, Islington Council
Walk around the park and the surrounding area	Friday 26 May, 11am	Islington Guides * Check nearer the date of the walk for a link for more information and to book
Newington Green, N16
Walk around the park and the surrounding area	Friday 25 August, 11am	Islington Guides * Check nearer the date of the walk for a link for more information and to book
Olden Road Community Garden, near Holloway Road, N5
Gardening	Check website	Olden Community Garden
Packington Square, Canalside Square, Rheidol Gardens, Towpath Orchard, near Regent’s Canal, N1
Gardening	Various times	The Arc Centre
Rosemary Gardens, Southgate Road, N1
Tag rugby	Various times	Try Tag Rugby * Fee applies
Volunteering with community rangers Approved for referral	March onwards: occasional Wednesdays and Fridays, 11am-1pm	Parks team, Islington Council
Walk around the park and the surrounding area	Friday 28 April, 11am	Islington Guides * Check nearer the date of the walk for a link for more information and to book
Friends of Rosemary Gardens is a Friends group for the park

South Islington: Barnsbury, Clerkenwell, Finsbury

Activity	When	Organiser * Booking required
Barnard Park, near Caledonian Road, N1
Activities for residents with a child under 5	Various times	Brightstart, Islington Council *
Gardening	Check website	Friends of Barnard Park
Barnsbury Square Gardens, between Caledonian Rd and Upper St, N1
Gardening	Fridays & Saturdays from 10am	Friends of Barnsbury Square Gardens
Barnsbury Wood nature reserve, near Caledonian Rd and Barnsbury station, N1
Volunteering each week at one of Islington’s 3 nature reserves: Barnsbury Wood, Gillespie Park, Parkland Walk Approved for referral	Thursdays, 10am-3.30pm	Ecology Centre, Islington Council
Culpeper Community Garden, near Upper St, N1
Gardening	Check website	Culpeper Community Garden
Fortune Street, Golden Lane, EC2
The park has a Friends Group
Joseph Grimaldi Park, Pentonville Road, N1
Walk around the park and the surrounding area	Friday 28 July, 11am	Islington Guides * Check nearer the date of the walk for a link for more information and to book
King Square Gardens, near Goswell Road, EC1
Activities for residents with a child under 5 Nature-themed fun for families with children aged under 5	Various times Various times	Brightstart, Islington Council * The Garden Classroom
Men's shed for local men aged 55+ to socialise while gardening Approved for referral	Tuesdays, 2-3.30pm	St Luke's Community Centre *
Qi Gong (on a break, to restart Feb/March 2023) Approved for referral	Tuesdays, 10-11.15am	Healthy Generations * £3 optional donation
Spa Fields, near Rosebery Avenue, EC1
Fitness session	Wednesdays, 5pm	Our Parks *
Football for adults with a learning disability	Mondays, 11.30-am-1pm	Mencap. For more information, contact Johny (07506 844 649, johny.brown@mencap.org.uk) Bring pocket money
Walk around the park and the surrounding area	Friday 24 November, 11am	Islington Guides * Check nearer the date of the walk for a link for more information and to book
Thornhill Square Garden, near Caledonian Road, N1
Thornhill Square Association is a Friends group for the park

If you have a question about the content on this page, contact John Thorne; john.thorne@islington.gov.uk; 020 7527 7096.

Last updated: 06/02/2023

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Activities in Islington Parks

What Islington parks offer

Health benefits

Activities in parks

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