Cycle Islington family cycle routes

Now that more Low Traffic Neighbourhoods are being rolled out, we wanted to create some circular family routes to enable families of all ages, shapes and sizes to enjoy our quieter safer streets.

Below you’ll find one route specifically designed to go through four LTNs (St Peters, Canonbury, Highbury and Amwell)  and one route which is a bit longer.

We’ve also added some spurs to guide you out of Islington into our neighbouring boroughs.
Select your route below, click on the individual maps title to explore and download the route. 
Full directions are obtainable on the mapmyride site – you’ll need an account to download the route to your moibile.  Go to https://www.mapmyride.com – it’s free to join the basic package.

We will be adding more routes but if you have any suggestions or comments, or would like to submit routes of your own, do get in touch with us.

Please take care;  dismount and walk if you or your group need to. There are presently a lot of roadworks so take your time. 

And please note that these routes are followed at your own risk. 

Enjoy cycling !

Two family circular cycling/walking loops and several spurs to destinations in and around Islington.

Select your route below, click on the individual map titles to explore and download the route.
Full directions are obtainable on the mapmyride site.

1. A circular route through Islington’s People Friendly Streets

Start where you want, the route takes you from Highbury Fields, through Canonbury West and East into St Peter’s and Amwell, along the new segregated cycle lanes on Liverpool Road, before returning to Highbury, via the cycle crossing into Fieldway Cresent

Take care on the along and crossing the few joining roads.

Points of Interest

  • Highbury Fields Café ( at the north end of the Fields) has an adjacent playground
  • Moonlight grocery store on Fieldway Crescent/Madras Place – great fresh sesame bread baked on the premises, humous/olives
  • The Crown Pub on Cloudesley Street, has seats outside, lovely glass above bar. Whilst stopped here look at the adjacent Cloudesley Square and Church
  • Just off the route: Albion pub on Thornhill road – garden at front and rear and opposite Thornill Road Gardens
  • Chapel Market, with plenty of stalls and cafés
  • Culpepper Park – not always open, check for times, oasis of green
  • Rheidol Rooms  cafe in Danbury Street – where else can you get kippers for breakfast ? Other options available !
  • Ethiopian Coffee Company in Amwell Street
  • Pophams cafe and bakery in Popham Street – near a small grassy park where you can sit out with coffee/cake
  • New River Path;  lock your bikes up and go for a walk along the new river which is neither new or a river; it’s actually over 400 years old and was originally built to provide London with drinking water. It came from Ware in Herts right down to Sadlers Wells.
  • The Place Cafe in Canonbury Place is another good coffe/cake stop
  • Look out for the gas lighting at the rear of the CanonburyTower.
  • Estorick Modern Italian art gallery in Canonbury Square with a pretty garden and cafe

Click on route title below to open, in a new window, and download in MapMyRide,
you will need to have a (free) account to download the route to your device

2. A longer Circular route around the boundaries of Islington

Starting at the Freighliners Farm, Sheringham Road,this route crosses Holloway Road at the cycle crossing, before heading north to and into Finsbury Park along the (soon to be completed) new cycle route C38

From there there is a short section of off road along the Parkland Walk, before we head down towards Hornsey Road, and through the backstreets to Whittington Park.

We then ride through Tufnell Park, heading South into Camden and Kings Cross Granary Square

Its then a short ride to cross Caledonian Road, and ride through Barnsbury back to the start.

Points of Interest

  • Freightliners City Farm on Sheringham Road, Café. Paradise Park
  • Arsenal Football Emirates Stadium !
  • Detour to Highbury Fields
  • Finsbury Park. Café
  • Whittington Park. Playground, Café
  • Tufnell Park Playing Fields ( The only public grass football pitches in Islington)
  • See if you can see house used in “Spaced” next to Tufnell Park School
  • A short detour through the Hide Estate take you to Caledonian Park and clock tower. Café
  • Amy Winehouse tributes in Camden Square
  • Kings Cross. Granary Square, Market, with food and drink.
  • Just off the route: Albion pub on Thornhill road – garden at front and rear and opposite Thornill Road Gardens

3. Tufnell Park to Liverpool Road (avoiding Holloway Road)

Starting at the East end of Tufnell Park at Lower Hilldrop Estate on Dalmeny Avenue, Cross Camden road then through the Hide Estate to Caledonian Market

right on ( the busy) Market road takes you down Mackenzie Road to Paradise Park and C38, (aka QW10) and Liverpool Rd

From here follow C38 to reach Q2 on Amwell Street

Points of Interest

  • Caledonian Market Park. café
  • Clock Tower (great views over London, Age restricted entry)
  • Islington Tennis Centre
  • Market Road Football pitches
  • Paradise Park
  • Freightliners City Farm, Café
  • New River Head, near Sadlers Wells

4. Upper Street to Victoria Park

A child friendly route to Victoria Park, via Debeauvoir and London Fields from Upper Street going through Islington and Hackneys. new and older LTNs ( avoiding the busy canal)

Take care at sections where the LTNs are joined and crossed by busy roads.

Points of Interest

  • Islington Town Hall
  • New River
  • Canonbury’s New LTNs
  • Debeauvoir Older LTNs
  • Middleton road new LTN and London Fields
  • Victoria Park ( Market on Sundays)
  • On to Olympic Park via Green Way (St Marks gate, or Hackney Wick via Cadogan Gate)

More To Follow 🙂