Caledonian Park Clock Tower — Attraction in London

The Caledonian Park Clock Tower (commonly called the Cally Clock Tower) is a historic landmark located in the Islington district of north London.

The clock tower is now open for guided tours, where visitors can climb 178 steps to the top for panoramic views of London.

It’s located near Caledonian Road Station (Piccadilly line), and is part of the public Caledonian Park.

Historical Background: The tower was built in 1855 as the central feature of the Metropolitan Cattle Market, which aimed to replace the overcrowded Smithfield livestock market. Designed by James Bunstone Bunning, the tower is an excellent example of Italianate and Baroque revival architecture. It features four clock faces and an original weight driven mechanism, which still requires manual winding.

Decline and Restoration: After the livestock market closed in the 1930s (and meat trading continued until the 1960s), the surrounding area was redeveloped for public housing, and most market structures were demolished except the clock tower.

The tower fell into neglect and suffered vandalism for decades.

Between 2016 and 2019, it was restored with a £2 million grant and officially reopened to the...

Pretty Tower within Caledonia Park, which tends to be relatively quiet, although it is popular with dog walkers.

When the clock tower reopens, it is a free to enter tour, which you have to book in advance, as you are escorted by a steward taking you to the top. You do have to be physically able to climb the 220 steps, which are narrow and open. This means that you have to be confident with heights as well as confined spaces. There are amazing views to see once you are at the top. Visit Islington.gov.uk and type in Caledonia Park clock tower tours to book, once the...

Well what can I say I was born less than a mile away from the tower and raised as a young man literally across the road from the clock tower. Living in the local area it was a key landmark growing up. If you did not know no where Kelly Clocktower was you weren't from the Bits and definitely not from the ends.. it was always where you would find and the kids in the summer holidays riding our bikes up and down North Road around the blocks and plotted up @ Tamworth block... ahhhh *sigh 😪🥲 the fun good old days...