My Ten Things To Do In Finsbury Park North London includes visiting the Public Park, Parkland Walk, Park Theatre, City North, Stroud Green Road, Blackstock Road, Fonthill Road, Stroud Green Market, Rowans Bowling Alley and various Pubs. I lived there for over twenty years until I moved South of the River. It was a pleasure to return and see many improvements, my ex-neighbours and our favourite cats. Join me as I list my Ten Things To Do in Finsbury Park, North London, with my recommendations of restaurants and shops.
My Favourite Ten Things To Do In Finsbury Park
- The Finsbury Park Public Park is the best feature in the area. The Park opened in 1869 with a design by Alexander McKenzie. If you walk to the highest point, you get great views of the City of London in the distance. Excellent amenities include a boating lake, tennis courts, skatepark, play areas and a café. I’ve enjoyed a vegetarian breakfast at the café many times and plenty of ice creams over the years! The Friends of Finsbury Park (residents and volunteers) are active in helping to keep the Park a pleasant place for all. You can find entrances on Seven Sisters Road, Green Lanes and Endymion Road.
2. The Parkland Walk is near the Park. It’s a linear nature reserve that runs along a former railway that connected Finsbury Park to Alexandra Palace. You’ll find walkers, joggers and cyclists using the route. Expect to see graffiti and street art under the railway arches and wildlife from birds to bugs and butterflies. Read my Parkland Walk feature for more information.
3. Park Theatre opened in 2013 and has been a welcome addition to the neighbourhood. I’ve seen a few performances, and they were all excellent. It’s well respected within theatre circles and has a list of credible ambassadors. The contemporary building includes a bar area and café. I can recommend Pasta Remoli a few doors down from Park Theatre.
4. City North is a new development next to the transport hub with apartments, restaurants and commercial spaces. It’s taken a long time to open after suffering several setbacks. You’ll find the Picturehouse Cinema, M & S Food, Boulangerie Bon Martin, Rosa’s Thai Cafe, Honest Burgers and Neat Burger at City North. Opposite City North at Wells Terrace is Palmyra’s Kitchen (Syrian and Lebanese Restaurant), Oak N4 (Wine Store and Bar) and Creams (Ice Cream).
5. Stroud Green Road is worth walking down if you want to find an independent eatery. A few of my favourites include Q&T (Vietnamese), Dotori (Korean/Japanese), La Fabrica (Tapas), Petek (Turkish), Pappagone (Pizza), Jai Krishna (Vegetarian Indian), Granary (Thai) and Cats Cafe des Artistes (Thai). Deli 80, Common Ground and N4 Coffee Fruit are great for coffee and a light bite or cake. The Pretty Shiny Shop is a must if you want to buy a gift, greeting cards or something adorable for yourself. New Beacon Books has been a specialist in African and Caribbean literature since 1966. Read my Ten Things To Do In Stroud Green Road article for more information.
6. On Blackstock Road, the main food attractions that I can personally recommend are Salt the Radish (Veggie and Vegan), Salvation in Noodles (Vietnamese) and Yard Sale (Pizza). A little further down Blackstock Road heading into Islington territory, you’ll find Beam (Brunch) and Little Sardegna (Sardinian). Check out the following shops – Eighty-Seven for mid-century furniture, and Gathering Moss sells handmade rustic furniture plus adorable home accessories. Gathering Moss is technically in Highbury, but it’s worth visiting at the weekend; it’s not open during the week. If you have time, also explore Mountgrove Road (off Blackstock Road), which leads to Clissold Park. There are a few shops and eateries of interest, and I can recommend Finks Salt and Sweet for coffee and a bite to eat. Tiny Hair and Beauty is a must if you want waxing, facials, manicures and pedicures. My beauty therapist owns it, I think she’s the best in London, so I travel from London Bridge to see her!
7. Fonthill Road is a street full of bargain fashion shops. You’ll find independent fashion boutiques selling prom dresses, wedding dresses and more. It isn’t my taste, but I know many people who love this street. Osteria Tufo is an excellent Italian restaurant on the road, and WB Yeats is a lovely pub serving Sunday lunch.
8. Stroud Green Market is a cute Farmers Market. The food is from English farms that care for welfare and sustainability and local homemade suppliers. Either buy food to take home, or you can eat hot food while at the market. There is a covered outdoor seating area. The market is on Sunday from 10 am until 2.30 pm at Stroud Green School.
9. Rowans Bowling Alley is famous in the area. I’ve been a few times, and it’s fun. It’s an American Retro-style 10-pin bowling alley with licensed bars, pool tables, an amusement arcade and sports screens.
10. Pubs and bars are plentiful in the area, and the Night Owl is a music venue and bar. Some of the pubs include The Faltering Fullback (Perth Road), The World’s End (Stroud Green Road), The Blackstock (Seven Sisters Road), The Twelve Pins (Seven Sisters Road) and WB Yeats (Fonthill Road). Head to Oak N4 for wine and nibbles after work.
Ten Things To Do In Finsbury Park Information
The Finsbury Park transport hub with train, underground and bus stations is next to the newly built City North. The main roads to investigate are Stroud Green Road, Blackstock Road, Seven Sisters and Fonthill Road. Areas that surround Finsbury Park include Arsenal, Highbury, Archway, Holloway and Hornsey. It’s a tri-borough area straddling Harringey, Islington and Hackney.
Finsbury Park has a traditional vibe with independent businesses along with ripples of regeneration with City North development. A few years back, Finsbury Park suffered from anti-social behaviour, but I saw less evidence of it on my recent return, which was good. It’s an urban area with a mix of cultures and a strong community presence. I hope you enjoy your visit.
Author: Homegirl London. Photographs: Homegirl London. Please check that the places I referenced in this article are still in business before visiting to avoid disappointment.
