Pentonville is a diverse and unique area on the Northern fringe of Central London. It is situated between Barnsbury, an area in Islington that consists of writers and journalists, lovely Georgian homes on quiet squares, little green enclaves like Barnsbury Wood, and convenient location - and Clerkenwell, a trendy neighbourhood with no shortage of ancient pubs and chic new coffee shops and everything in-between. Pentonville itself has been one of the neighbourhoods in this area with less caché over the years, but has improved.
Islington in general inspires loyalty from its residents. Some would argue that the fact that locals and people starting families move out and get replaced by City bankers and lawyers is to the detriment of the area's community feel. There are several different communities in the general area, however - including groups like City University students.
Crime in this area ranges, from average to high around Kings Cross and the Angel. The violence against the person rate is also higher than for London overall.
In this built-up area of London, parking can be difficult. The rate of car ownership in this area is about half that of London overall.
Because many of its visitors throughout the week who work nearby but live elsewhere, a lot of the surrounding area is shuttered at the weekend. However, there are pubs about, and some even open at 6am to serve those who worked the night shift at Smithfields meat market. Pentonville is also located within walking distance of areas with more on in the wee hours.
There is a fair proportion of children aged 0-15 in this area - about 12%, which is low for London. Schools in this area have vastly improved in recent years, and most are good or better now. This area is not especially green, although there are garden squares around. Families tend to move further out to Finsbury, while young City professionals live in Clerkenwell.
With some several green squares and canal access nearby, and a mix of flats and houses, it is possible to own a dog in this area.
Exceptionally good transport is one of the main benefits Pentonville has to offer. For the Underground, residents can walk to Kings Cross St Pancras, which is on the Circle, Hammersmith & City, Metropolitan, Northern, Piccadilly, and Victoria Lines (Zone 1). Angel is on the Northern Line (Zone 1), an Caledonian Road & Barnsbury is on the Overground (Zone 2). Kings Cross and St Pancras stations offer rail services, including the Eurostar. There are numerous buses serving the area 24/7, and residents will be able to walk or cycle to many areas of interest.