It’s a rather wet day but not too cold (around 11°C).

Angel Crossroads

This photo taken at the Angel crossroads will give you an idea of the conditions.

Walking down St John Street

We could have caught a bus but as the object was to walk (and “close the ring” on Tigger’s walk app), we set off on foot down St John Street.

Islington Museum

Reaching Finsbury Library, we went down the steps to the basement where Islington Museum is found.

Figure of Joseph Grimaldi
Photo by Tigger

Among the exhibits, we found this charming miniature representation of famous Islingtonian, Joseph Grimaldi, known as “the father of clowning”. It was probably made in Staffordshire in the 1840s or 1850s.

Lloyd’s Milk Cart

Lloyd’s set up business in Amwell Street in 1914 and continued trading until 2007. They used this cart to supply milk to customers around the neighbourhood from their beginnings until 1947 when bottled milk delivered to the doorstep superseded milk ladled from churns into customers’ jugs.

Bust of Lenin
Berthold Lubetkin

As I moved around the museum, I was aware of a Paddington-Bearesque “hard stare” from Vladimir Lenin. The bust, by Berthold Lubetkin, was part of a monument erected by the now defunct Finsbury Council in 1942. Lenin occupied premises in Clerkenwell Green that today house the Marx Memorial Library.

Continuing down St John Street

Leaving the museum, we braved the rain once more, continuing down St John Street.

Crossing through Brewhouse Yard

We crossed through Brewhouse Yard. The rain was now so heavy that we sought shelter in a doorway until it eased off somewhat.

Into Goswell Road

Our path led us into Goswell Road where we decided to take temporary refuge from the wet weather in…

Costa

…a branch of Costa Coffee. We hung our dripping coats on the backs of our chairs to dry off.

Near the Barbican Estate
Photo by Tigger

We passed along one edge of the Barbican Estate, that icon of “Brutalist” architecture, where…

Relief

…I paused to photograph this artwork in relief, though I’m sure I’ve photographed it before.

St Bartholomew the Great

We entered the precinct of the Church of St Bartholomew the Great, originally a Medieval priory church but much altered and rebuilt since.

Main gate

We left by the picturesque main gate.

Grounds of St Bartholomew’s Hospital

While walking, we had be prospecting for lunch but all the cafes seemed to be shut. We entered the grounds of St Bartholomew’s Hospital in the hope that there would be a cafe. However, our search proved fruitless.

Aboard the 56

We decided to try our luck elsewhere and as Tigger had “closed the ring” on her walking app (in fact, it was a quarter of the way round the second loop!), we felt it was legitimate to take the bus. We caught a 56 and then a 63 to Upper Street.

The Workers Cafe

We planned to have lunch in the Workers Cafe in Upper Street. This is a good cafe and one of our favourites but we found it was full and people were queueing for tables. So we walked on, looking for an alternative.

Le Mercury

Most places were crowded until we reached Le Mercury where we had eaten once before. There was a table free so in we went. We chose one of the two fixed-price menus. The main course was Cauliflower Steak (vegetarian). Unfortunately, it was heavily laced with chilli and Tigger couldn’t eat it. Being of a tougher constitution (or less sensitive – take your pick), I ate both. We had crème brûlée to finish, which also helped calm the chilli fire. (On the way home, we bought a little something from Wenzel’s Bakery to make up for Tigger’s missed main course.)

Diverting through “Islington Square”

Upper Street was unpleasantly crowded so we diverted through the complex with the ridiculous name of “Islington Square”, which is a combination of residential properties with retail outlets and restaurants. Not a “square” by any stretch of the imagination.

Old Royal Free Hispital

We emerged into Liverpool Road and passed the picturesque Old Royal Free Hospital, now a residential estate.

Chapel Market

We walked through Chapel Market from where we were soon home. It was a relief to be in the dry once more and to relax with a nice cup of tea.