Islington Music Walk – Pink Floyd-Punk-Elton John+

“The heart of Islington buzzes with old-school street markets, quirky shops and lovely bars and cafes. Despite its affluence and the quiet of its residential streets, the area offers more diversity, grit and energy than other London suburbs.”
ISLINGTON MUSIC WALK
Why travel with a copycat, when you can go with the ORIGINAL London Rock Tour!
Stroll this scenic area of North London on a music walking tour, tailor made to best suit your interests, highly recommended for fans of Pink Floyd; punk/new wave bands; Elton John; Spandau Ballet…
This is a private/custom London rock walk suggested itinerary. Just yourselves with personal services of your very own London Rock Tour walking guide.
Islington, now part of north London, began as a Saxon hamlet, grew into a village – once upon a time it was just a resting place for the cattle en-route to Smithfield meat market and a main supplier of veggies to the City of London thanks to its fresh water sources. The area shifted from elite manor estates to working class cottages, to a centre of entertainment as music halls and theatres sprung up in the Victorian era, a creative spirit which is still present today.
Charlie Watts of The Stones grew up here, as did the Kemp brothers of Spandau Ballet. An area for cheap rents in the 60s, a hub for the punk movement in the 70s, and a launch pad of small venues for bands 70s-80s-90s. Islington is the ‘hip place’ for politicians to live too, Tony Blair and Boris Johnson most famously. Adele has been known to shop for jewelry here; Islington is home base for many celebrities and musicians.
Today Islington is an interesting area, a mash up of posh suburb and funky street vibe, a creative space full of live music venues, a vibrant local theatre scene and a variety of local cafes/restaurants. There is the scenic Regent’s Park Canal as well…
Pink Floyd set up their Britannia Row Studios here. Roger Waters lived nearby for a time. The school where the kids who sang on The Wall is still running around the corner (albeit under a different name.)
The Kinks rehearsed in a local pub, where Mick Avory joined the band. Madness essentially formed in Islington. Elton John for a time shared Long John Baldry’s flat, inspiring one of his most poignant songs.
Discover an homage to recent celebrity ‘Bob The Cat’ in Islington Green, a stone’s throw from a place the Sex Pistols held an infamous ‘guerilla gig’ in 1976, with The Buzzcocks and The Clash.
Islington is full of interesting local shops including a local vinyl store, an antiques market, and a local street market; local live music venues here include the Hope and Anchor, legendary punk/new wave venue hosting the likes of The Stranglers, X Ray Spex, The Clash, The Cure, The Jam, The Police, Dire Straits, The Specials, The Stranglers, The Damned, U2, Dr Feelgood, Eurythmics, Elvis Costello, Madness, Libertines…
More current venues along your Islington walking tour route include O2 Academy, Union Chapel, The Assembly Hall and The Garage – acts on their stage include Flaming Lips, Oasis, Arctic Monkeys, Killers, Green Day, Muse, Franz Ferdinand, Temples, Jagwar Ma, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Paramore, My Chemical Romance, Mumford & Sons, Suede…

START your private tailor made Islington walk in front of the flower stall outside Angel tube station.
This suggested walk outline is approx 3 miles with several break options including (depending on opening hours) at the Hope & Anchor & Camden Head pubs; this is a suggested 4 hour max ‘half day’ walking tour
FINISHING POINT is your choice, either Highbury & Islington station, with your tour guide escorting you via public transport to Finsbury Park to see what was the Finsbury Park Astoria/The Rainbow Theatre… OR continue walking north into the Holloway Rd area, home to Arsenal Football stadium, Joe Meek’s former studios, and access via London bus to Camden Town.
Who’s played The Finsbury Park Astoria/Rainbow? Who hasn’t?! Beatles, The Who, Hendrix (said to be where he burned his first guitar,) Bob Marley & The Wailers, The Clash, Bowie/Ziggy, James Brown, Kinks, Frank Zappa, The Osmonds, Pink Floyd, Genesis, Duke Ellington, Sweet, Queen, Deep Purple, Stevie Wonder, Eric Clapton’s ‘comeback concert,’ Elton John, Kool & the Gang, Ramones, The Jacksons, Dire Straits, Grateful Dead, Iron Maiden to name just a handful of highlights
SUGGESTED ITINERARY FOR PRIVATE DEPARTURES
This is a custom tour available for private departures, subject to guide availability — tailor made to best suit your interests.
Why travel with a copycat, when you can go with the ORIGINAL London Rock Tour!
To make a reservation send your date request to:[email protected]