Arsenal station | London Arsenal guide

Arsenal Station is in Highbury, north London.  It’s on the Piccadilly Line, in Zone 2.  It opened in 1906 and was originally called Gillespie Road (the tiled walls still bear this name).  Arsenal Football Club moved to the area in 1913 and set up their grounds on an old college playing field.  In 1932, due to the club’s longstanding connection with the area, the name of the station was changed to Arsenal.  It’s the only tube station to have been named after a football team.  The club is still located in the area and, on match days, the station gets very busy.

Attractions

Highbury Stadium closed in 2006.  The grounds have now been made into luxury apartments.  The new Emirates Stadium is about 500 yards away from Arsenal Station.  Drayton Park and Holloway Road stations are actually closer, but the former is closed on weekends and evenings and at the latter, trains don’t stop before and after matches to stop overcrowding.  Aside from attending a game, fans can also book a tour of the stadium or visit the on site museum. 

Sobell Leisure Centre is another nearby attraction.  It has an ice rink offering skating, hockey and lessons.  The Nag’s Head Market has 53 shops and 23 second hand stalls.  It’s an interesting undercover market open throughout the week with an eclectic mix of stuff on sale including clothes, food and technology.

Highbury Fields is not too far away.  This is a 29 acre open space with parkland, tennis courts and a fitness centre with an indoor swimming pool.