Holloway Road Tube Station. Credit: Rachel Banning-Lover
Londoners are busy. Fact. We don’t spend as much time as we should exploring, but in this new feature series, we plan to give you an epic area guide to as many tube stations as we can… telling you the best places to eat, drink, shop, and play that are no further than five minutes from the said underground station. So no matter where you get stuck, you’ll always have an idea where to explore!
First up, is zone two’s fabulous Holloway Road.
SELLING POINT
Just a stone’s throw from the Emirates Stadium, home to Arsenal, few people look beyond the football and Holloway’s numerous fast food outlets selling chicken burgers for as cheap as £1.50, but wander further down the main road, and you’ll find every type of food from Latino to Ghanian and whether you like dressing up, flying planes or want lessons on cooking your own sushi, there’s plenty of things to do when it’s not game day. Also, word to the wise, on game days, the tube station is exit only and best avoided.
VEGAN LOVE
Ez & Moss vegan cafe. Credit: Rachel Banning-Lover
Head right, once out of the station, and halfway beetween Holloway and Highbury, you’ll come across Ez & Moss (183 Holloway Road, N7 8LX), a rather cosy vegan cafe. Alongside a good selection of cakes, it’s their brunch that is why you should go here. As a non-vegan, at first I was a tad suspicious about how tasty the grub would be, but I had the lentil burger with sweet potato fries and a salad, and while that’s probably the least brunchy thing they have on their menu – it was really, really tasty, particularly with the sweet chili salad dressing, but also, a hell lot healthier than my usual Five Guys.
Ez & Moss burger. Credit: Rachel Banning-Lover
Still not convinced?
Monday, Metro (295 Holloway Road, right next to the station) do two large pizza for a tenner. They also have 2 for 1 cocktails.
Metro bar. Credit: Rachel Banning-Lover
FLY LIKE A PLANE
With scaffolding outside the ambiguously named 308 Hobbies shop (308 Holloway Road, N7 6NP) you could easily walk by it, but don’t – stop – turn back, turn back! And look at the wonderous display window!
308 Hobbies. Credit: Rachel Banning-Lover
Child or adult, prepare to be awed by their impressive model planes! Step inside and they have everything to meet you modelling needs as London’s premier and oldest Model shop. Not a model plane fan? You still appreciate the sheer size of the planes, cars and boats they have on display – some of which are even built to ride on.
Planes at 308 Hobbies. Credit: Rachel banning-Lover
VINTAGE ON A BUDGET
Blue 17. Credit: Rachel Banning-Lover
Always wanted a faux fur coat but couldn’t spare £50, need some brightly patterned jumpers to wear but don’t want to pay twice what they were in the 80s? Then Blue 17 (162 Holloway Road, N7 8DD) is for you. The shop’s been going for over 20 years, and while it may look small from the outside, Blue 17 is an Alladdin’s cave of vintage bargains as soon as you step in – with most items typically ranging in the £7 – £25 price bracket.
Blue 17, a vintage treasure trove. Credit: Rachel Banning-Lover
SECRET HOLLOWAY – also don’t miss…
– ARSENAL MEMORABILIA at The Match Day, 14 Hornsey Road (only open match days and weekends)
– SALTED HOT CHOCOLATE at The Sacred Cafe, Highbury Studios, 8 Hornsey Street, N7 8EG
– SUSHI-MAKING lessons at Kuriya Keiko, Studio 7, 6 Hornsey Street, N7 8GR
– PIE at Piebury Corner, 209 Holloway Road, N7 8DL
– LIVE MUSIC & £3.50 COCKTAILS at FIlthy’s Bar, 274 Holloway Road, N7 6NE
– DRESSES FIT FOR A MOVIESTAR at Vivien of Hollywood, 294 Holloway Road, N7 6NJ
Want to explore further? Big Red dive bar is about 15 minutes walk from Holloway station is popular with both bikers and students, and makes for an interesting Friday night out…
Use our interactive map to plan your next adventure in Holloway. And if we’ve missed anywhere awesome, comment below.
Found on the Underground 
304 Holloway Road, where pioneering 60’s record producer Joe Meek (The Telstar Man) lived, worked and died. Subject of the film “Telstar”. There’s a plaque on the building and on the bench outside.