Highbury can be explored through its football history, architecture and connection to parks. Highbury Stadium, also known as Arsenal Stadium, was the home ground of Arsenal Football Club from 1913 to 2006. For planning your trip, it is helpful to distinguish between these topics: the stadium’s history has specific dates, while its architectural history encompasses individual stands, façades and other named buildings.
Park and Victorian Villas
Highbury Fields is the largest park in Islington. To the north, notable Victorian villas extend from Highbury Hill to Aubert Park. This makes landscape and architecture distinct interests for visitors: the park is defined by its size within Islington, and the villas by their period and geographic extent. If you’re interested in residential architecture as well as football, this area offers a focus of its own.
The History of Highbury Stadium
The first match at Highbury Stadium took place on 6 September 1913 and ended in a 2–1 win against Leicester Fosse. Highbury served as Arsenal Football Club’s home ground from 1913 to 2006. These two date ranges answer different questions: 6 September 1913 marks the first match, while the years 1913 to 2006 define the club’s tenure there as its home ground. This lets you distinguish a single matchday from the stadium’s longer history as the club’s home.
Stands and Preserved Façades
The Art Deco East Stand opened in October 1936 and is a Grade II listed building; its façade was retained during the redevelopment. The façade of the locally listed West Stand was also preserved during the redevelopment. The new North Bank Stand opened in 1993. These details are not interchangeable when considering the site’s architectural history: the East Stand combines its style, opening date, listed status and preserved façade; the West Stand is described as locally listed, with its façade preserved; and the North Bank Stand has its own opening date.
More Historical Details
Another specific façade description applies to the Highbury Barn Public House. Its façade is rendered and combines timber elements, decorative pilasters, and plaster and tile cladding. The Highbury Clock Tower was donated by Alfred Hutchinson in honour of Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. This dedication provides a different historical focus from the stadium chronology: it commemorates a royal jubilee, while the stadium details cover the club’s use of the ground and its construction phases.
Highlights for Your Stay
When planning your trip, you can weigh up these themes: if you prioritise football history, the first match and the years as the club’s home ground offer different points of reference. If architecture is your main interest, you can distinguish the Victorian villas, the Art Deco and locally listed façades, and the described façade of the Highbury Barn Public House. Highbury Fields adds the setting of Islington’s largest park to these themes.
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