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Dublin has a population of 1.2 million and is Ireland’s political, economic and industrial capital city. Dublin is built at the mouth of Liffey River which cuts the city into two, the ‘North side’ and the ‘Southside’. Dublin is alongside the sea however it is still near to both the Dublin Mountains and the countryside.

The city has a lot of attractions which includes castles, museums, art galleries, Trinity College, cathedrals and the renowned Guinness factory which brews the well-known alcoholic beverages of Ireland. On the Southside of the city you will discover the Christ Church and St. Patrick’s Cathedrals, St. Stephen’s Green, Grafton Street and Trinity College. On the North side is O’Connell, Henry and Talbot Streets, where some of Dublin’s best shopping can be done.

Temple Bar is a region south of the Liffey and is a very popular attraction with tourists. This is where you will find the pubs, restaurants, galleries, cafes, shops and other social comforts.

There is an excellent public transportation network available at Dublin City Centre. There are over 1200 buses in Dublin and Dublin Bus covers more than 200 routes in the city. The DART visits coastal regions in the greater Dublin area. They cover as far as Malahide and Greystones in Wicklow, on the north and south respectively. The DART make stops at Pearse, Tara Street and Connelly city centre stations. There is also the Luas line which has the red and the green line. The green line covers southern Dublin to as far as Sandyford while the red line links west Dublin to Tallaght.

The city is organised into twenty-four different postal code with even numbers for the south of the city and odd numbers for the north. The lower the postcode the closer you are to the city centre.

Bloomsbury is a residential area and vibrant district in central London boasting a rich historical heritage. The town is dominated by several historic buildings and homes, parks and major landmarks in Britain. Bloomsbury is home to some of London’s best Georgian squares. The town is also home to several public and academic institutions like the British Museum and the British Library and has a healthy cultural environment complimented by various art forms.

Several London Underground stations serves the areas around Bloomsbury, however only Russell Square and Euston Square have direct entrances into Bloomsbury. Some of the stations located on the edge of Bloomsbury are Goodge Street, Holborn, Tottenham Court Road, Warren Street which has the Victoria Line and Northern Line; and Great Portland Street with the Metropolitan Line, Circle Line, Hammersmith and City Line. There are also train stations in the King’s Cross, Euston and St. Pancras areas. Several buses can be accessed from Euston Road as well.

The local authority in charge of delivering services to Bloomsbury is the Camden Local Authority. As such, council tax rates in the area may range from around £857 to £2,571 and are set annually by the tax council. The amount for you to pay is based on your property. You might also be eligible for a reduction in council tax; these reductions are applicable if you are disabled, only person lives on the property or if you qualify for the second adult rebate.

Bloomsbury offers a wonderful opportunity to admire architecture from previous centuries. The Neo-classical facade at the prestigious University of London which can be found in Bloomsbury can also be seen in the town. There is also the remarkable Tower of St. George in Bloomsbury. Bloomsbury has beautiful Georgian family houses, stylish Victorian and Edwardian houses with red brick blocks. Bloomsbury has a wide variety of business properties and commercial estates, government owned buildings and residential properties most of which has a historic feel. Residential properties include flats, homes, apartments and terraced housing.

There are many places of gastronomic delights in Bloomsbury such as the Court Restaurant at the British Museum which flaunts a charming historic setting and the sumptuous seafood cuisine at Back to Basics. Bloomsbury has many great shopping areas like on the Brunswick where stores including Coast, Joy, Hobbs, LK Bennett and French Connection are located.

Being the home of many students and young professionals, Bloomsbury has many opportunities for entertainment; you can visit shows, concerts or cinemas or have a drink at places such as the Museum Tavern, Fitzroy Tavern, the College of Arms, the Pint Pot and the Lord John Russell. Other popular entertainment spots include the Atrium Lounge, Gala Casino, Cochrane Theatre Bar and All Star Lanes.

More importantly, the area is well known for its numerous statues and open spaces most of which are dominated by picturesque green fields. The peaceful solace of areas such as Bedford Square and Central Gardens are great for relaxation. Other beautiful open areas include Russell Square, the Queen Square which has several hospitals and Coram’s Field which is a prominent recreational area. Each square is characterised by some building of importance to the area.

Bloomsbury’s population consists of many students, wealthy citizens, professionals and tourists. The Bloomsbury area represents a high level of social and economic development in London, complimented by its beautiful environmental treasures.

Located in Tower Hamlets, London, Bethnal Green can be found in the east end of the city with a very culturally diverse environment. The town also has a vibrant historic setting and many wonderful sights of interest. Bethnal Green has undergone a massive face lift and is now a very pleasant place. Bethnal Green is more popular as the place in which a lot of the Lou and Andy sketches from Little Britain were made.

Haggerston Park and Museum Gardens are among the best open spaces in Bethnal Green. There is also the famous boxing venue of York Hall where exciting events of the sport can be seen. The London Spikers sports club facilitates enjoyable volleyball games. Bethnal Green has a rich blend of people from many different ethnic groups.

The Bangladeshi people account for the highest percentage of people in the population, with the White British next, West Indians, Africans and Arabs falling next in line. Most people living in the area are first time buyers, city workers and local families. Bethnal Green provides a wonderful feel of the different cultural traditions constituting Britain.

The Barbican area can be found in Central London bordering the London Borough of Islington. The area is a large residential estate with many great facilities to accommodate persons living there. Barbican sits at the heart of the city with many creative attributes adding to this flourishing financial district.

Barbican has a high concentration of residential, commercial and financial properties. Buildings here for the mot part have been rated an excellent Grade II for its architecture. The property types consist of a number of terraced blocks surrounding a lake and three of London’s tallest residential towers going up to 42 storeys high. Beautiful penthouse flats are also present in the area.

Barbican is well served by a host of railways, tubes and buses in the London metropolitan area. The nearest rails include that on Liverpool Street, Moorgate and Farringdon while other tubes such as Barbican, Moorgate, St. Paul’s and Farringdon also serve the area.

Barbican is operated by two councils. These are the city of London council and the Islington Council. Council taxes may be as low as £574 to about £2,381 and are subjected to yearly changes.

Barbican’s central location to the city of London and Islington means there are several theatres, cinemas and nightclubs for night time entertainment. Barbican also offers quite a few educational forms of entertainment. The Barbican Centre is perhaps the most popular place in area, and is a popular arts, drama and business venue. Some of Barbican’s most exciting events are held at the centre and includes theatre, dance and music productions. There is also the Barbican public library, the famous Museum of London and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. The Barbican Cinema is very popular especially among young people.

Cafes and bars, pubs and taverns and a variety of lovely restaurants can also be found in Barbican. Popular pubs like the Bishop’s Finger, the Distillers and the Hoghshed are great to relax in while places such as the King’s Head and Sutton Arms are great for enjoying a meal in a relaxed environment. Other great places in Barbican include Club Gascon, Smiths of Smithfield, Hat and Feathers Dining Rooms and Bleeding Heart. Italian, Chinese, West Indian and other cultural cuisines can also be enjoyed in Barbican.

There are also quite a number of great shopping areas which can be accessed from Barbican. These include the mega shopping centres in both London City and Islington. The Barbican Arts Centre, which is one of Europe’s largest, has several great shops available for locals and visitors alike. Jewellery shops, clothes and convenience stores are among the wide variety of shopping facilities available. Many of the shops are concentrated close to the centre as well. The Leadenhall, Smithfield and Whitecross Street Markets are other great shopping locations.

One of Barbican’s most popular open spaces is Lakeside Terrace which features a nice cafe area. The lake itself is another lovely area adding to the natural aura of the locality. From Barbican, you can access many of London’s amazing parks which include the Postman’s Park, Islington Green, St. James and Kensington Gardens.

There are several young professionals and business oriented individuals in the area as well. Barbican offers the best of London’s creative and well thinking side.

Archway is a busy area in northern London, located in the Islington Borough area. It is home to the first cable car route to be built in England, which operated from Highgate Village to Archway via the Highgate Hill route. Archway sits between popular places like Holloway and Highgate.

The town is connected by several tubes, railways and buses and has a concentrated network of shops, restaurants and other noteworthy sites. The Archway tube station is a major form of transportation in and out of the area; it is an underground station on the Northern line. Other means of transport include Tufnell Park; the Overground station is Upper Holloway, Kings Cross St Pancras tubes and the King’s Cross National Rail.

The local authority responsible for Archway’s services is the Islington Council which oversees housing, transport, social services, education and planning operations in the area. Council tax rates are set by the council each year range from £794 to £2,381. Your tax liability is determined by the tax band of your home which is made by Valuation Officers. These rate bands are then used to decide the total tax levied.

The dominant architectural features in Archway are mainly of Victorian origins. The Whittington Hospital at Highgate Hill, named after the legendary Richard Whittington is a major site of interest dating back to the 1800s. The Archway Tavern is another popular spot noted for its music events. The Archway Tower is the main landmark in the area featuring a modern architectural. Archway has its fair share of lavish properties and has some of finest town houses in the northern section of the city, with several 3 and 4 storey town homes located on many of the streets such as in St John’s Grove. Council housing estates can also be seen in the area.

The main shopping areas in Archway can be found along the tube, Holloway Road and around the Archway underground station. Archway is also known for its fabulous Italian restaurants. A popular restaurant is Fabrizio which is known for its fabulous deserts, accommodating staff and superb pizza. The restaurant sits on Highgate Hill and specialises in local Italian cuisines. The Archway Market on Holloway Road is a colourful blend of a wide variety of local produce in a traditional setting.

The Monsoon Indian Restaurant and the 500 Restaurant are nice examples of charming, economic dining areas. Other areas worth visiting include A&I Food and Wine and Marie Curie Cancer Care. Archway is comparatively affordable, and is popular for its multi-ethnicity, which means that there is a wide array of Asian, Greek, Turkish restaurants and stores. A number of bars, internet cafes and pubs can be accessed from the Archway as well.

Entertainment is offered on Islington’s Upper Street. The St John’s Gastropub has a great entertainment package and gastronomic delights available. For a quieter and more informative environment, museums like the Islington Museum, London Canal Museum and the Jewish Museum are ideal points of interest. Theatre and Cinema are an important part of Archway’s culture with places such as the Workhouse Theatre, Graeae Theatre Company and Total Theatre Network. There is also the lively Odeon Cinema, Cineworld and National Amusement along with many other cinemas which provide great night shows. Popular entertainment centres such as Dave’s Barb Dance, Mister Squash, the bingo halls and bowling centres should not be missed.

There are over 127 parks and gardens and adventure playgrounds in the Islington area which are quite accessible from Archway. Archway has produced several notable residents over the years including Andrew Marvell, poet and Member of Parliament, Reggie Yates, radio and TV personality and the sculptor Rachael Witheread among others. Archway’s population is a rich blend of Caucasians, West Indians and people from other ethnic groups. Archway is a wonderful base from which Islington can be explored.

Relevant Links
Islington Local Authority
HM Revenue & Customs

Angel is a major spot in Islington, London and is famous for its art and also its closeness to several of London’s popular business and entertainment districts. The area is named after the Angel Inn which housed famous travellers in recent times and comprises of the Great North Road area.

Angel has an excellent connection of train stations and tubes. These include places such as Old Street where there is a national rail and the tubes in Zone 1; the Angel Tube between Old Street and King’s Cross St Pancras and the Northern line which has the Angel underground station on Old Street. Cabs and buses are also available for getting around the city.

The Islington council is responsible for providing and maintaining local services. In Angel, council tax rates may be as low as £794 and as high as £2,381. The local authority is responsible for setting the council tax and the amount for you to pay is based on your property value and the rates for your local council are set annually.

Angel has a variety of Victorian styled buildings as well as buildings with a fine modern touch. Angel has quite a few interesting places like the historic Angel Inn which was converted to the prestigious Angel’s Cafe Restaurant during the 1900s but which later closed can still be seen in the corner of Pentonville Road, City Road and Upper Street with its remarkable cupola. Several flats are available in the area for rent and flat sharing is quite among young professionals. Multi storey commercial properties are also available at strategic locations in Angel. Loft lets beautiful homes with lawn space and spacious apartments for rent are also available.

The Union Chapel is one of Islington’s most important landmarks while the recently built N1 Shopping Centre is another famous landmark. The shopping area provides modern shopping amenities in a luxuriant environment. The interesting exhibitions at the Business Design Centre and a wonderful shopping experience can also be had at the Chapel Market and on Upper Street. Several excellent restaurants and snack shops exist in Angel; the sushi restaurant Yo Sushi is a modern facility with great meals while places such as the Gufaa Indian Restaurant, the Italian Pane Evino and late night restaurants such as Montmartre French restaurant and Lola’s traditional restaurant are also great places to eat. The Casaba Cafe Bar and Restaurant is another wonderful late night restaurant.

Bars, pubs and clubs are quite popular in Angel and the Islington area at large. Among the most notable entertainment and nightlife hot spots are the Warwick, the Green, Pitcher and Piano and the Castle. There is also the charming atmosphere of the Old Red Lion, the Ruby Lounge and the Shakespeare’s Head among others. The N1 Centre is home to the Islington Vue Cinema while enjoyable shows can also be seen at Holloway Odeon Cinema and Screen on the Green.

Angel provides a number of opportunities to access major open spaces, parks, gardens, sports grounds and other outdoor complexes in Islington. There is the beautiful Highbury Fields with its walks, tennis fields and superb playgrounds, the New River Walk, Whittington Park and Finsbury Square among several others. The famed Arsenal Stadium and Dickens Museum are within close proximity. You can also try swimming at the exciting Anaconda Club. The renowned Regents Canal passes through Angels and facilitates adventurous boat rides through the area. Each year, there is the lively Angels Canal Festival in Angel which features stalls, fun-fair, music, refreshments, boat trips and a tour of the community boats. Angel is home to many important persons and business minded individuals such as artists, actors, journalists and politicians and provides a very professional atmosphere for residents.

Useful Link

Islington City Council