Barnsbury Wood

Barnsbury Wood is a small woodland reserve in Islington covering 0.35 hectares with sycamore, ash, lime, and horse chestnut trees forming its canopy. The dense vegetation provides shelter for birds and insects that make their homes among the branches.

The site began as a private garden owned by George Thornhill during the 1840s and later became public land when Islington Council acquired it in 1974. That change transformed a forgotten private space into a protected natural area.

The woodland serves local communities as a place to learn about trees and wildlife that thrive in urban London. Groups regularly gather here to understand how nature adapts and survives in the middle of the city.

Access to the woodland is available Tuesday afternoons from 2 PM to 4 PM throughout the year, with extended Saturday hours during warmer months. The entrance point is on Crescent Street, making it easy to find and enter.

This woodland was used as a filming location for the Agatha Christie television series Poirot, specifically for an episode called 'The Clocks' in 2011. That connection to the famous detective stories makes it memorable for fans of the show.

GPS coordinates: 51.54171,-0.11440

Latest update: December 14, 2025 11:03