Friends of Islington Museum

Islington Museum

Explore Islington’s stories of the people, the places and the ideas that created our borough. The Friends of Islington Museum support the museum in all its activities!

Get involved to learn about the borough’s hidden histories, explore our collections and learn about what makes Islington such a fascinating place to live, work, and play.

Islington Museum

Visit to explore Islington’s story through free exhibitions and programming.

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Current Exhibition

Our Islington: Art of the Borough
Celebrating Islington’s artists, with chances to add your own creations. 12/09/24 – 12/01/24
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Islington Archives

Visit to do hands-on exploration of our archive of 100,000+ documents related to the borough.

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Islington Heritage Projects

Learn about how we are conserving Islington’s heritage and bringing art to the borough.

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  • Hollywood by the Canal: A brief history of Islington and Gainsborough Studios

    One hundred years ago, in November 1920, Islington film studios trade-screened its first movie, The Great Day. While the film was not a critical success, it marked the beginning of a distinguished 30-year production run. For those three decades Islington Studios, and then as Gainsborough Studios, produced some of Britain’s best-known early films, such as…

  • A Timeline of the Regent’s Canal

    Since opening on 1 August 1820, the Regent’s Canal has been a waterway for industry, sport and leisure. Take a look below at how the canal has developed over its two-century history. This timeline is from Barging Through Islington: 200 Years of the Regent’s Canal, an exhibition exploring the two century history of the Regent’s…

  • Regent’s Canal Photo Quiz

    Test your knowledge of the Regent’s Canal with this photo quiz! Want to know the answers? Take a peak below: This quiz is from Barging Through Islington: 200 Years of the Regent’s Canal, an exhibition exploring the two century history of the Regent’s Canal.

  • More Changes Over Time: Regent’s Canal

    Much of the Regent’s Canal has changed over 200 years. The following images compare scenes from around the canal at different points in history. Wenlock Basin was at the cutting edge of telecommunications in 1846, when the Gutta Percha (a tree gum like rubber) Company made thetwenty nine miles of underwater telegraph cable which connected…

  • Changes Over Time: Regent’s Canal

    Much of the Regent’s Canal has changed over 200 years. The following images compare scenes from around the canal at different points in history. Horses patiently waited for boats pulled through the tunnel by a steam powered tug. A horse can carry thirty times more weight on water than over land. This made the Regent’s…