Corporate Accommodation in Angel
Angel is increasingly becoming one of the most popular areas in London to use as a base for business travellers. It is within touching distance of the City yet it still manages to seem like it’s in another place altogether. Not a town or a village, but a whole other culturally rich micro city next door.
Business travellers of today are demanding a home from home, that firstly means accommodation in a place they’d like to live in.
Secondly it means that the accommodation should remind them of the comforts of home. Something that all of the serviced apartments in Angel offered by TheSqua.re can claim to do.
There’s plenty of accommodation to choose from, in and around Angel, each one has its own unique appeal. However, every apartment has a long list of mod-cons and amenities that they must offer in order to be listed by TheSqua.re. These include things such as high speed wi-fi throughout, a flat screen TV and entertainment facilities, a lounge area plus a fully fitted kitchen, complete with all the equipment and utensils needed to cook a meal for one, or to cater for a group.
Holiday Accommodation in Angel
Holiday accommodation should be in a location in which people would be happy to go out in, in case they weren’t inclined to go further afield on a particular day. Angel is such a place, somewhere which people from all over London choose to visit on a day or night out.
This is because Angel is one of the most vibrant parts of London, especially in the evening when it bursts into life.
There are restaurants of every conceivable cuisine, trendy bars and clubs and a friendly culture filled with an eclectic mix of the achingly artistic and city workers. This is reflected in the range of shops available too.
In the likely event that a visit to London isn’t all about going out in Angel, that’s OK too, all of the major attractions are either on the doorstep or a short trip on public transport away.
The serviced apartments in Angel aren’t bad for holidaymakers either. Tastefully decorated, luxury interiors and much more space than staying in a hotel room.
High speed Wi-Fi, often a paid for added extra in alternative types of accommodation, is provided as standard in every apartment. Some even have gyms and concierge included.
Where to Stay in Angel
Although Angel itself is a fairly small area, in real terms it is locally identified as anywhere which is within reasonable walking distance of Angel underground station. It is officially recognised as the area between Islington Green and Liverpool Road.
Places in London are geographically placed in order of their distance from Charing Cross, considered the centre of the capital. Angel is two miles away to the north east, but more significantly it is itself considered by the ‘London Plan’ as one of the 35 major centres of Greater London.
Other popular places to stay around Angel include Clerkenwell, Pentonville and of course Islington itself.
Facts About Angel
The area of the Angel maybe a hip and modern hangout on the fringes of the centre of the capital, but it also has a long and fascinating past too. Having been around for a number of years it’s inevitable that a number of interesting things would have happened in the area. Here are a few facts about Angel and the area around it.
- The name ‘Angel’ comes from an inn originally built in the early 1500s, renamed The Angel in the 1600s. It was a stopover on the way to the City.
- The Angel Islington is on the original Monopoly board. This may be because when the creators of the game were discussing the contents, they were sitting in Lyons Corner House, the building built on the place that the original Angel Inn occupied.
- The escalator at Angel tube station is the longest in Europe.
- Angel, and the surrounding Islington area, apparently has more restaurants than there are days in the year.
- Some of the characters from Hitchhiker’s Guide were based on people Douglas Adams knew in the area. A flat in Islington is also a location used in the books. Twelve Grimmauld Place from the Harry Potter books was also in Islington.
- Angel is located in the London Borough of Islington, which was the first London Borough to get fresh water delivered.
- The ex-British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, originally lived in the area before moving to Number 10.
Cost of Living in Angel
Angel admittedly isn’t one of the cheaper areas of London, although that is to be expected. Adding together a fantastic central location, wonderful buildings and culture, and more restaurants that anyone could hope to visit, equals a place that is going to be in very high demand.
Traditional rentals can cost fifty percent more than their equivalents elsewhere in London. Some two bed rentals in Angel and the surrounding Islington area have been known to cost as much as £6k per month!
It’s therefore not surprising that serviced apartments in Angel are becoming increasingly popular, especially for those who are looking to stay for the short or medium term. They not only provide luxurious accommodation, they also give value for money and less of the hassle, paperwork and tie ins that are associated with traditional rentals.
Tips for Visiting Angel
Staying in Angel means staying slap bang in the middle of one of the most iconic cities in the world, Zone 1 of London, diversity and culture reign supreme. Not only is Angel a sought after destination in itself, it also provides fantastic access to the rest of London and the endless list of world famous attractions it boasts.
Angel and the rest of London are very busy places, and the sheer size of the city can be a little overwhelming at first. Here are some tips as to how to make the best out of a stay in Angel.
- An Oyster Card is the cheapest and most efficient way around London and should be purchased and charged upon arrival. However, Angel is in Zone 1, as are most of the main attractions, as an alternative it may be possible to travel on a Zone 1&2 Travelcard on some days.
- Is it walkable? Angel is so centrally located that attractions may well be in walking distance. Changing tube lines may also be pointless as the alternative tube station might also be close by.
- Experience a ‘Theatre Pub’. Similar to the kind of thing available in the days of Shakespeare it’s exactly as the name sounds. Angel has a few examples.
- Visit Camden Passage. A wonderful street, free of cars, filled with antique and contemporary shops.
- Have a night out in Angel. Seems obvious, but most are tempted by the bright lights of the City and the West End. There are endless choices for restaurants and bars in the local area.
- Go somewhere via the canal. It’s there, it’s beautiful, use it to get somewhere like London Zoo.
Things to Do in Angel
As mentioned, Angel is a great location to use as a base when visiting the long list of landmarks, sights and attractions that London can offer. However, Angel and the surrounding area have a lot going for it too.
Q. What are the most popular landmarks in Angel?
There’s plenty of landmarks to see nearby, here are some of the best places to visit, or just get a photo of.
- Islington Waterways.
- The Angel, Islington (the corner building, now a Co-Op, the original site of the Angel Inn).
- Little Angel Theatre.
- Camden Head (comedy club).
- O2 Academy Islington.
- Screen on the Green.
Q. What are some free things to do in Angel?
Free in Angel and London as a whole is a rare find. It’s worth making a list of free things to do when visiting, in order to organise some cheaper days out.
- Go on a canal walk.
- Culpepper Community Garden.
- Browse the shops in Camden Passage.
- Freightliners City Farm.
Q. Are there many excursions to be had from Angel?
Endless. For a start the Angel tube station is located in Zone 1 of the Northern Line. Right in the middle of the Northern Line in fact, so not only are the outer reaches of North London accessible, so are places like Wimbledon in the south.
Failing that, it is just one or two stops away from London King’s Cross / St Pancras and London Euston. The three mainline stations that cover almost all of the north of England and the major cities of Scotland.
Q. What are the most family friendly things to do in Angel
Angel is quite rightly seen by many as a bit of an ‘adult playground’ with all of its bars and restaurants and a thriving nightlife scene. However, that masks the fact that it is a suitable area for families too.
Although there is less greenery than other areas of London, it’s still about for people who know where to look. Highbury Fields and Barnard Park are very popular spaces for kids to run around in. There’s even a treehouse in Arundel Square.
There are many family friendly eateries but some, like Full of Beans, are specifically aimed at younger children.
Places to Visit in Angel
Some of London’s most famous attractions are very close by, but there are also some of the capital’s hidden treasures located within Angel and the surrounding area. Here’s a list of attractions that are nearby.
- Hen & Chickens - an intimate theatre bar that often has some big comedy names on the bill.
- Camden Passage Antiques Market - open on Wednesdays and Sundays.
- Sadler’s Wells - a world famous dance venue.
- Ottolenghi - a restaurant and cake shop, possibly more famed for its mouth-watering window displays.
- The Screen on the Green - a unique place to see a movie.
- Exmouth Market - the standard London foodie market.
- O2 Academy Islington - a more intimate venue than its namesake.
Places to Eat in Angel
As already alluded to, there are countless places to eat in and around Angel. If someone was to eat out every day of their lives it would still take a very long time to sample every eatery. That’s why picking eight of the best is impossible. However, these do come highly recommended.
- Comedor Grill and Bar.
- The Breakfast Club.
- Chilango.
- Afghan Kitchen.
- Pix.
- Le Mercury.
- John Salt.
- Frederick’s.
Shopping in Angel
London is a place to come and shop, any shopaholic will attest to that. The world famous shopping streets and the large modern malls are the obvious places, but Angel has a few close by to try, including some of the more original places to shop.
- Camden Passage (a bit of a time warp mis-match of antiques and vintage clothing).
- N1 Shopping Centre (all the high street names plus a a few more quirks).
- Angel Central (shops, restaurants, cinema and live music).
- Broadgate Circle (centrally located shopping centre).
- The Brunswick Centre (Grade II listed shopping centre in Bloomsbury).
Transportation in Angel
A great deal of the time, public transport could be a secondary option as so much is walkable from this central location. However, London is a big place and inevitably a tube, train or bus is necessary at some point. Serviced apartments in Angel from TheSqua.re are always near to transport hubs. Here are some stations in and around Angel.
Nearby stations to the London Underground include:
- Angel (Zone 1 - Northern).
- Farringdon (Zone 1 - Circle, Hammersmith & City, Metropolitan).
- King’s Cross St Pancras (Zone 1 - Circle, Hammersmith & City, Metropolitan, Northern, Piccadilly, Victoria).
- Old Street (Zone 1 - Northern).
Some of the mainline stations include:
- Essex Road.
- Farringdon.
- King’s Cross.
- St Pancras.
The latter includes St Pancras International, which serves cities in mainland Europe.
Weather in Angel
As with the rest of London, Angel enjoys a fairly mild climate all year round, with the occasional hot day and the occasional cold day. The recommendation for London is always plenty of layers, that can be put on and taken off when needed. And of course, an umbrella!
