Summer at The Highbury Centre

Since we were founded over 125 years ago, our goal has always been to offer restoration and peace to our visitors. In the early years, as the Foreign Missions Club, we played host to many missionaries from overseas who were in great need of peace and rest. Many had come from Africa, where rain was rare and the sun scorched the earth. Our visitors’ books from those times often record the joy these visitors felt in the soft summer rain.

Isaiah 58:11 reminds us that the Lord wants to strengthen and support us, using a beautiful garden metaphor. “He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.”

We have a beautiful walled garden at the back of our property which is ideal for our visitors to relax in. It’s wonderful to soak up the sun while enjoying a coffee and listening to the birdsong. Even though we are close to the centre of London, our garden is as peaceful and relaxing as if you were in the middle of the countryside. For younger visitors, the many bushes and shrubs provide an excellent opportunity to play hide and seek. The children’s play equipment is also very popular.

A five-minute stroll away is the delightful green space of Highbury Fields. There are 29 acres to explore, with enticing paths, grass, wild flowers, shady trees and lots of fun things to do. The coffee hut is great for a pit stop, there is children’s play equipment to enjoy and if you’re feeling a little more energetic, you can enjoy a game of tennis or go for a swim at the Highbury Pool. They have plenty of classes and on Saturdays, there’s a toys and floats session for children.

Highbury Fields is surrounded by beautiful Georgian and Victorian terraced houses. The area has been home to a number of famous people over the years, including the painter Walter Sickert, politician Joseph Chamberlain and writer and women’s education pioneer Molly Hughes. Her four memoirs, “A London Child of the 1870s”, A London Girl of the 1880s”, “A London Home in the 1890s” and “A London Family Between the Wars” offer an unparalleled glimpse into London life in the 19th century (particularly our part of North London).

Slightly further afield, you can enjoy the beauties of Hampstead Heath, Culpeper Community Garden and Highgate Cemetery, a tranquil and fascinating space full of history.

To find out more, visit: http://culpeper.org.uk.

You can ring Highbury Pool on 020 7704 2312.