Previous exhibitions

Take a look at some of our recent exhibitions.

Undercurrent: Islington’s Lost Waterways (2025)

Undercurrent explores the histories of the Walbrook River, the River Fleet, and Islington’s healing wells. It features new artworks by artists Georgie Fay, Jamie Turner and Erin Robinson—including a digital world for visitors to wander in search of the Walbrook.

Visit the museum to uncover stories of the people that used (and abused) these once vital waterways and discover why they are now hidden beneath Islington’s streets.

Sanctuary and Solidarity: Islington and the Migration Blanket (2025)

Sanctuary and Solidarity showcases art made for and around the ‘Migration Blanket,’ an award-winning piece by artist Salma Zulfiqar that explores identity, community, and histories of refugees in England. It urges visitors to consider their own place within Islington’s vibrantly diverse community and reflect on the ways we can work, live, and act in solidarity with one another to improve Islington and our own lives. It will involve the creation of 2-3 new art pieces made with refugee communities in Islington, which will be displayed in a stand-alone case later in the year. This exhibition partners with Migrant Help and will inform visitors of Islington’s status as a Borough of Sanctuary and how to get involved.

Our Islington: Art of the Borough (2024)

The exhibition celebrated Islington’s artists of all skill levels, and visitors could experience never-before exhibited artworks made in this borough. It featured the stories of local creatives, explored through the art they made at home, at work, and for their communities—and art that visitors added to the exhibition.

Meet Me on the Green: 900 Years in the Heart of Clerkenwell (2023)

Meet Me at the Aggie (2020)

‘Meet Me at the Aggie’ showcases Islington Local History Centre’s collection of Royal Agricultural Hall posters, promoting the amusement fairs held in the 1870s and 1880s. The once World-famous hall is now the Business Design Centre on Upper Street, Islington.

• View ‘Meet Me at the Aggie’ presentation

Black Lives Matter (2020)

Events in 2020 placed a spotlight over racial inequality. The tragic death of George Floyd in America, one amongst many, resonated worldwide with demonstrations in support of Black Lives Matter.

For Black History Month 2020, Islington Local History Centre created an installation and online exhibition exploring how the death of George Floyd and the 'Black Lives Matter' movement affected Islington through acts of solidarity and support, as well as displaying images representing black history and the black community in the borough.

Barging Through Islington: 200 years of the Regent’s Canal (2020)

'Barging Through Islington: 200 Years of the Regent's Canal' celebrates the bicentenary of the canal’s opening on 1 August 1820.

Once providing an essential transport route for industry, many Islington businesses relied on the Regent's Canal for the supply of materials for one and a half centuries. Since the 1970's, the canal has transcended its industrial purpose and become a place of leisure and enjoyment. ‘Barging Through Islington’ highlights the key developments on and around Regent’s Canal over its two-century history.

In the exhibition, discover how the canal was built, how the ice industry the canal supported brought ice cream to the masses in London, and how the glitz and glamour of Hollywood arrived by the canal. Compare key points of the Regent’s Canal through historic photographs and take part in an interactive tour and quiz.
Produced in conjunction with Regent’s Canal Heritage.

• Visit the ‘Barging through Islington’ exhibition homepage
• View the ‘Barging through Islington’ exhibition presentation

Islington as a place of refuge (2020)

Islington is currently home to over 240,000 people, many of whom originally come from different parts of the globe. The stories represented in ‘Islington as a Place of Refuge’ have particular links to the Holloway area. Many more stories, documents and objects relating to migrant history can be found at Islington Museum and Islington Local History Centre.

Presented by Islington Museum and the Cally Clocktower Centre, in conjunction with Islington Guided Walks, ‘Islington as a place of refuge’ is an online tour of sites in Islington that tell diverse stories from its migrant history. Part of Refugee Week 2020.

We’ll Meet Again (2020)

Islington on the Home Front during the Second World War in photographs (1939-45)

With its title taken from one of the most famous songs of the war, and sung by Vera Lynn, 'We’ll Meet Again: Islington on the Home Front during the Second World War in photographs (1939-45)’ portrays Islington and Finsbury’s home-front experience during these six historic years.

Mapping Islington: Historic maps and plans of Islington (2019)

‘Mapping Islington’ showcases a selection of maps and plans (1553-1894) relating to the three former historic parishes that now form the London Borough of Islington.

Maps are a window into the past. They provide historical evidence and offer a valuable insight to bygone streets, industries and landscapes. They are also an important source for local history research and help us to understand the development and changes that have shaped the character and identity of our borough.

Download Mapping Islington (PDF)

Echoes of Holloway Prison: Hidden voices from behind the wall (2018)

Holloway Prison has been an important landmark in Islington for over 150 years. Thousands of women have passed through its doors until it closed in 2016. ‘Echoes of Holloway Prison’ highlights the history and some of the stories of this highly significant place and, even though it has gone, the voices and echoes of Holloway Prison remain.

Visit the Echoes of Holloway website and exhibition

Trade - often copied, never equalled: Celebrating 25 years of after-hours clubbing in Islington (2015/16)

Founded by Laurence Malice, Trade became both highly successful and influential not only on the London gay scene but also on the dance music scene.

Advertised as 'the original all-night bender', it operated from 4am until 1pm on Sundays and was located at the renowned Islington venue Turnmills, on Clerkenwell Road. Trade also held events around the UK and the world, as well as making appearances on TV.

Trade ended its regular Sunday slot in October 2002 but often returned to Turnmills for one-off events until it finally closed its doors in 2008. Trade has continued to 'party' at other venues around London, most recently at Egg on York Way, Islington.

Download Trade - often copied, never equalled (PDF)