Lizzie & Jamie’s guidebook
Pubs
Our next door neighbour! A lovely pub with a friendly and cosy vibe and nice pavement-side outdoor space. And the occasional visiting cat!
34 locals recommend
The Swimmer at the Grafton Arms
13 Eburne RdOur next door neighbour! A lovely pub with a friendly and cosy vibe and nice pavement-side outdoor space. And the occasional visiting cat!
Lovely, posh gastro pub in Islington. Look out for the odd celeb in their lovely leafy garden, or settle in for a cosy roast in winter. Booking essential.
167 locals recommend
The Albion
10 Thornhill RdLovely, posh gastro pub in Islington. Look out for the odd celeb in their lovely leafy garden, or settle in for a cosy roast in winter. Booking essential.
A lovely pub in gorgeous Canonbury, Islington. Great big garden for a Summer afternoon, and brilliant Sunday lunches!
41 locals recommend
The Canonbury Tavern
21 Canonbury PlA lovely pub in gorgeous Canonbury, Islington. Great big garden for a Summer afternoon, and brilliant Sunday lunches!
One of our local favourites, just up the hill an easy bus ride away, in leafy Highgate. Often see Noel Gallagher in there! No outside space.
116 locals recommend
Prince of Wales
Cleaver SquareOne of our local favourites, just up the hill an easy bus ride away, in leafy Highgate. Often see Noel Gallagher in there! No outside space.
One of the oldest pubs in London this place is always rammed to the rafters with walkers (and dogs) fresh from Hampstead Heath! Not for the claustrophobic but great for a pint by the fire after a bracing walk. Book a table if you want to eat.
80 locals recommend
Holly Bush
22 Holly MountOne of the oldest pubs in London this place is always rammed to the rafters with walkers (and dogs) fresh from Hampstead Heath! Not for the claustrophobic but great for a pint by the fire after a bracing walk. Book a table if you want to eat.
Gorgeous pub with hidden garden, just up the hill in Tufnell Park. The 4 bus goes straight there in 5 minutes. Highly recommend.
33 locals recommend
Lord Palmerston
33 Dartmouth Park HillGorgeous pub with hidden garden, just up the hill in Tufnell Park. The 4 bus goes straight there in 5 minutes. Highly recommend.
Lovely lovely posh pub just by Hampstead Heath. Big garden and lovely (if a bit expensive food), as well as ancient, cosy, interiors for a lovely afternoon/evening.
68 locals recommend
The Spaniards Inn (Stop) station
Lovely lovely posh pub just by Hampstead Heath. Big garden and lovely (if a bit expensive food), as well as ancient, cosy, interiors for a lovely afternoon/evening.
Breakfast
A local favourite just up the road in Holloway. Nice spot to while away a lazy morning.
44 locals recommend
The Spoke
710 Holloway RdA local favourite just up the road in Holloway. Nice spot to while away a lazy morning.
Get there early to queue for Ottolenghi's famous pastries. You won't regret it!
364 locals recommend
Ottolenghi Islington
287 Upper StGet there early to queue for Ottolenghi's famous pastries. You won't regret it!
Lovely local spot for brunch. Often a little queue but it's not too bad, and worth it for the great avocado on toast, sitting at a table on the pavement.
7 locals recommend
St Paul Islington Cafe
274B St Paul's RdLovely local spot for brunch. Often a little queue but it's not too bad, and worth it for the great avocado on toast, sitting at a table on the pavement.
Really popular Barnsbury breakfast spot. The queue goes round the corner sometimes but it's worth the wait! No bookings.
127 locals recommend
SUNDAY cafe & restaurant
169 Hemingford RdReally popular Barnsbury breakfast spot. The queue goes round the corner sometimes but it's worth the wait! No bookings.
The location of our wedding reception! Book in advance for their bottomless brunch and enjoy the greenhouse vibes.
36 locals recommend
Bourne & Hollingsworth Buildings
42 Northampton RdThe location of our wedding reception! Book in advance for their bottomless brunch and enjoy the greenhouse vibes.
Food scene
Great place for breakfast, lunch or dinner. In the lovely Granary Square, a buzzy place where you can sit outside and watch the kids play in the fountains!
186 locals recommend
Caravan King's Cross
1 Granary SquareGreat place for breakfast, lunch or dinner. In the lovely Granary Square, a buzzy place where you can sit outside and watch the kids play in the fountains!
God it's good! Great tapas, lovely cosy vibe. Put your name on the list and go and grab a drink at an Exmouth Market pub while you wait for a little spot at the bar.
162 locals recommend
Morito
195 Hackney RdGod it's good! Great tapas, lovely cosy vibe. Put your name on the list and go and grab a drink at an Exmouth Market pub while you wait for a little spot at the bar.
Delicious tapas on vibe Upper Street in Islington. You can book ahead.
41 locals recommend
La Farola Cafe
101 Upper StreetDelicious tapas on vibe Upper Street in Islington. You can book ahead.
Absolutely delicious spot for the meat lover! Book in advance - it's a little on the more expensive side but totally worth it.
82 locals recommend
Smokehouse
63-69 Canonbury RdAbsolutely delicious spot for the meat lover! Book in advance - it's a little on the more expensive side but totally worth it.
Great Mexican in trendy Stokey! An easy Uber away, or a bus-then-walk combo. Worth the journey!
7 locals recommend
Lizzy's On The Green London
Newington GreenGreat Mexican in trendy Stokey! An easy Uber away, or a bus-then-walk combo. Worth the journey!
Not exactly local, being at Elephant and Castle, but worth the visit. Such a buzzy feeling!
227 locals recommend
Mercato Metropolitano
42 Newington CausewayNot exactly local, being at Elephant and Castle, but worth the visit. Such a buzzy feeling!
Really nice food in lovely, middle class Crouch End (take the 91 bus from the end of our road). Loads of nice pubs nearby for a drink beforehand, too. You can book in advance but don't necessarily need to.
21 locals recommend
Melange Restaurant
45 Tottenham LnReally nice food in lovely, middle class Crouch End (take the 91 bus from the end of our road). Loads of nice pubs nearby for a drink beforehand, too. You can book in advance but don't necessarily need to.
Cinemas
Higher-end cinema in lovely Crouch End, just up the road. (Take the 91 bus)
56 locals recommend
Crouch End Picturehouse
165 Tottenham LnHigher-end cinema in lovely Crouch End, just up the road. (Take the 91 bus)
Cool one-screen old cinema on Upper Street in Islington. Lovely atmosphere.
177 locals recommend
Everyman Screen on the Green
83 Upper StCool one-screen old cinema on Upper Street in Islington. Lovely atmosphere.
Fresh air
We love to walk endlessly on the Heath. You could be a million miles from London, once you get into the wilder areas in the woods in the north! Take the 271 bus up to Highgate Hill and walk from there, and end up in Hampstead to have a well-deserved pint.
Don't forget to make sure you stop at the top of Parliament Hill on the way for an amazing view!
1215 locals recommend
Hampstead Heath
We love to walk endlessly on the Heath. You could be a million miles from London, once you get into the wilder areas in the woods in the north! Take the 271 bus up to Highgate Hill and walk from there, and end up in Hampstead to have a well-deserved pint.
Don't forget to make sure you stop at the top of Parliament Hill on the way for an amazing view!
A huge, lovely park in East London. Hire a bike or take a blanket to have a picnic, then end up on the canal in Hackney Wick to visit one of the breweries for a drink.
61 locals recommend
Victoria Park
Grove RoadA huge, lovely park in East London. Hire a bike or take a blanket to have a picnic, then end up on the canal in Hackney Wick to visit one of the breweries for a drink.
Lovely park not too far from us. A nice manageable size, and perfectly situated to lead you to Stoke Newington afterwards for lunch or a drink at one of the lovely local pubs or cafes.
505 locals recommend
Clissold Park
Green LanesLovely park not too far from us. A nice manageable size, and perfectly situated to lead you to Stoke Newington afterwards for lunch or a drink at one of the lovely local pubs or cafes.
Neighborhoods
Village-y feeling middle class Stokey is full to the brim with indie cafes, pubs and shops. We love it and would totally live there if they only had a Tube stop!
81 locals recommend
Stoke Newington
Village-y feeling middle class Stokey is full to the brim with indie cafes, pubs and shops. We love it and would totally live there if they only had a Tube stop!
Crouch End is a fairly posh area with nice little shops, cafes and a couple of cinemas. There are plenty of dinner options as well as pubs - several with gardens.
12 locals recommend
Crouch End
Crouch End is a fairly posh area with nice little shops, cafes and a couple of cinemas. There are plenty of dinner options as well as pubs - several with gardens.
Upper Street is the heart of Islington - just up the road from us by bus. Loads of international restaurants, a lovely range of shops, and theatres, cinemas and people watching aplenty!
13 locals recommend
Upper Street
Upper StreetUpper Street is the heart of Islington - just up the road from us by bus. Loads of international restaurants, a lovely range of shops, and theatres, cinemas and people watching aplenty!
Gorgeous Hampstead is situated on a high-up spot in North London giving you great views down onto London, with little cobbled lanes, cosy pubs and swanky shops to spend a couple of hours exploring.
22 locals recommend
Hampstead
Gorgeous Hampstead is situated on a high-up spot in North London giving you great views down onto London, with little cobbled lanes, cosy pubs and swanky shops to spend a couple of hours exploring.
Granary Square in King's Cross always has a great vibe with kids often playing in the fountains and people sitting outside having a coffee or a drink. It's next to Coal Drops Yard, a new really interesting development with boutiquey shops and eateries.
164 locals recommend
Granary Square
1 Granary SquareGranary Square in King's Cross always has a great vibe with kids often playing in the fountains and people sitting outside having a coffee or a drink. It's next to Coal Drops Yard, a new really interesting development with boutiquey shops and eateries.