Blackstock Road hosts an array of different shops, cafes and restaurants. At its north end there are a number of public houses and Algerian Cafés, with many restaurants and shops running along its length up towards Highbury Park. Pubs en route include the Blackstock, the Kings Head, the Woodbine, the Gunners and the Bank of Friendship.
Transport
Blackstock Road is very well served by public transport. There are four bus services running along it, the 19, 4, 236 and 106, serving Battersea, Waterloo, Hackney Wick and Whitechapel respectively. Blackstock Road is also in close proximity to Finsbury Park station at its northern end, providin easy access to the Victoria Line and Piccadilly Line. ArsenalonGillespie Road is within five minutes walk of Blackstock Road, roughly a third of the way from it most northerly end.
History
The Hackney Brook flowed through the south westerly end of Blackstock Road from its source in Holloway before emptying into the River Lea at Hackney Wick. Rumour has it that the pub the 'Bank of Friendship' is so named because the people of Highbury used to wave at the folk of Stoke Newington across the river. This is mentioned in the book The Ground Water DiariesbyTim Bradford.
Blackstock Road's original name was Boarded River Lane when it was still a dirt track.
