The Regent’s Canal cuts a swathe from Regent’s Park, through Camden and Islington to Angel. Charles Dickens made a home here and it is where, he wrote, Oliver Twist first met Fagin on Clerkenwell Green. Today, Dicken’s house is home to the museum in his name.

Until he moved to Downing Street as Prime Minister, now-ex-PM Tony Blair lived here and was nicknamed ‘Islington Man‘. Thereafter, Upper Street became synonymous with fine dining but before that, Islington was long-associated with radicalism. Vladimir Lenin lived here and is said to have met with Josef Stalin at The Crown Tavern on that same Clerkenwell Green, a few doors away from what is now The Marx Memorial Library.

Camden is better-known for fun times and the shopping experience. There are four markets within a short walk. Camden Lock, with both outdoor and indoor markets, leads via labyrinthine food stalls, to The Stables Market. Further South along The High Street are Camden Market and opposite it, Inverness Street market.

Music venues abound and include The Roundhouse, Jazz Café, Bar Fly and KOKO. The Black Cap on The High Street has a predominantly gay male clientele and is famed for its drag shows.

As well as being home to London Zoo, Regents Park has an Open Air Theatre with performances daily throughout the Summer months.

Lastly and somewhat confusingly, Camden Passage Antiques Market is located close to Islington Green, near Angel, and not in Camden at all.