Angel to Old Street walk

Angel station has a history dating back to its origin with the City & South London Railway in 1901. Originally, it served as the northern terminus of a new extension from Moorgate. Interestingly, it is one of five stations on the Underground named after a public house – in this case, the famous Angel inn, which has a history dating back to at least 1638.

It was a Lyons Corner House in 1935 and is reportedly where Watson and Phillips stopped for lunch.

Initially, the station was constructed with a single central island platform accommodating two tracks, a design still evident at stations like Clapham North and Clapham Common. Access from street level was provided via lifts.

Over the years, Angel station faced persistent issues including congestion, overcrowding, and passenger discomfort due to its very narrow island platform, measuring barely 3.7 meters in width. This posed significant safety concerns.

In response to these challenges, the station underwent a comprehensive reconstruction and reopened in 1992. The lifts and the original ground-level building at the corner of Torrens Street and City Road were closed, and a new station entrance was established around the corner on Islington High Street. To bridge the distance between the new entrance and the platforms, two flights of escalators were installed, intersecting at approximately a right angle. Angel station boasts the third-longest escalators in Western Europe, with a vertical rise of 27 meters and a length of 60 meters.

Beyond its transportation role, the station serves as a gateway to various Off West End, or fringe theatre, venues such as the Old Red Lion Theatre, The King’s Head Theatre, and Almeida Theatre. Additionally, it is the designated station for Chapel Market, a bustling street market in London. Situated between Angel and Old Street stations is the disused City Road station.

Walk up Islington High Street and Upper Street to Islington Green. The former Collins Music Hall was roughly where Waterstones is now.

Head down Camden Passage all the way to Duncan Street. At the end, we’re on the Regents Canal towpath – take the south one. On Vincent Terrace/Graham Street we have to avoid Crystal Wharf but can otherwise follow the canal into City Road Basin all the way to City Road.

Opposite, back the way, City Garden Row was the former City Road station.

But now walk along City Road to Old Street.