London's Pocket Parks: Canalside Square, Islington, N1

"This part of London, just north of Old Street, was originally laid out with neat rows of Victorian houses, but post-war clearance of what was by then slum housing saw the area cleared and replaced with council blocks. The blocks were very much of their time, long cruciform blocks with large municipal private lawns between them, but often overshadowed by the housing that surrounded the lawns."

"So the square, which is actually a long rectangle and is more open to the public than the old semi-private gardens were, is basically a long lawn with a winding path through the middle. Still young trees are dotted along the route, and plenty of benches to sit on. Originally laid as lawn, it had to be reseeded in 2023 after the heatwave decimated what was left, and was looking a bit rough again in 2025, but should have received after the autumn rains."

A pocket park beside the Regents Canal was created just under a decade ago as part of the Packington Estate regeneration. The area north of Old Street once had neat Victorian terraces but post-war slum clearance replaced them with long cruciform council blocks and municipal lawns. The estate transferred to Hyde Group in 2006 and was redeveloped, with the new park opening in November 2016. The park is a long rectangular lawn with a winding central path, young trees and benches. The lawn was reseeded after the 2023 heatwave and showed wear in 2025 pending autumn rains. A large circular mosaic by Islington artist Tessa Hunkin decorates the northern end. Nineteen photographs were taken but none captured the mosaic.

Read at ianVisits