Archway - Definition and Overview

Archway is an area in North London in the London Borough of Islington. Formerly North Holloway it became known as Archway when the construction of a tunnel for the Great North Road to Scotland failed due to repeated collapses and a large cutting designed by Thomas Telford as part of his improvements of the road to Holyhead was constructed instead. The high bridge constructed over the cutting, connecting the villages of Highgate and Crouch End, give this colloquial name to the area.

Highgate Hill, between Archway and Highgate village, was the route of the first cable car to be built in Europe. It operated between 1884 and 1909.

As the area at the base of the steep hill to Highgate, and the nearest point at that time served by public transport other than the cable car, upon the arrival of the Northern Line underground in 1907 the station constructed to serve the area was named Highgate, as had been the destination for tram services.

Sites of interest in the area include the Whittington hospital, at Highgate Hill, named for Richard Whittington.

Nearest places:

• Highgate
• Muswell Hill
• Tufnell Park
• Kentish Town
• Holloway

Nearest tube stations:

• Archway tube station