Address: Leroy House, 436 Essex Road, Islington, London N1 3QP
Nearest stations: Canonbury and Dalston Junction (under 15-minute walk), Angel and Highbury a little further
Meeting rooms: Bookable by the hour, no membership required, at workspace.co.uk
You’ve got a bit more room to breathe at Leroy House. This is a building that straddles the border between the Georgian calm of Canonbury and the more residential charm of De Beauvoir. It’s an antidote to the relentless pace of Shoreditch further east and is just the right amount of north to escape the bustle of central Islington. This is slow-burn appeal, with leafy squares, independent cafés, a modest literary pedigree and a building that's been a hub of small enterprise for more than a quarter of a century.
A short history of Leroy House
Leroy House started life in the 1930s as a watch factory, before switching over to cosmetics manufacturing through the 1940s. After that, the building was carved up into a small business centre, ultimately culminating in a Workspace takeover in May 2022. Architects Piercy & Company were brought in to rebuild and extend it, adding around 2,000 square metres of office, workshop and studio space, and turning it into one of the most sustainable buildings in the portfolio. The new brickwork was chosen to echo the pale Gault brick of St Paul's Church directly opposite, an 1820s listed building designed by Charles Barry, who'd go on to design the Houses of Parliament. What was once a car park along Essex Road is now a café and public frontage, and the finished building became Workspace's first net zero carbon site.
Around Leroy House
Canonbury Square is five minutes' walk away, and carries a bit of literary weight: George Orwell lived at 27b from 1944 to 1948, finishing Animal Farm there and starting work on what would become 1984. The square is also home to the Estorick Collection, the only UK gallery devoted entirely to modern Italian art. St Paul's Church, facing Leroy House across Essex Road, dates from the 1820s and is now a Steiner school. For getting around, Canonbury and Dalston Junction stations are both under fifteen minutes on foot, with Angel and Highbury a little further.
Where to eat, drink and linger
For coffee away from the desk, Leigh's is the pick, a cute café built around good pastries and better toasties. The De Beauvoir Arms does a properly relaxing pint at the end of a hard day, while Alber's specialises in salads sharp enough to impress a client over lunch. For the sweet tooth, the Dreamery is a must.
Leroy House today
The extension gave Leroy House a proper ground floor presence on Essex Road, swapping a car park for a public café and extra outside space. Inside, studios and offices are light-filled and green-edged, with breakout lounges for conversations away from the desk. Meeting rooms come with screens and full remote connectivity, plus soft seating that makes longer meetings more bearable. The building holds a BREEAM Excellent rating, backed up by landscaped green space and daylight-filled floors throughout.
NEED A ROOM, FAST?
If you're already in the neighbourhood and need somewhere to meet, Leroy House has well-equipped meeting rooms available to book on short notice - no membership required. Search availability and book by the hour at workspace.co.uk, and you'll have a screen, full remote connectivity and a decent coffee sorted in minutes.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Leroy House in Islington?
Leroy House is at 436 Essex Road, Islington, London N1 3QP, on the corner of Essex Road and Balls Pond Road, between Canonbury and De Beauvoir Town.
What was Leroy House before it became a Workspace building?
It was a 1930s watch factory, then a wartime-era cosmetics manufacturing site, then a small business centre before Workspace took it over in May 2022 and had it rebuilt and extended by architects Piercy & Company.
What's nearby Leroy House worth visiting?
Canonbury Square is five minutes away, home to George Orwell's former flat and the Estorick Collection of modern Italian art. St Paul's Church sits directly opposite the building on Essex Road.
Can I book a meeting room at Leroy House at short notice?
Yes. Meeting rooms at Leroy House can be booked by the hour with no membership required, via workspace.co.uk.