TTE Lunch 2027 – Le Sacré Coeur, Islington

Over the years, we have recommended Le Sacre Coeur to many of our guests when visiting the Sadler’s Wells area, and the feedback has always been exceptional. Guests particularly love its friendly atmosphere, traditional French food and the feeling that they have discovered somewhere a little different from the usual London restaurants.

This is one of our very favourite restaurants in London and somewhere that holds a special place in our hearts. It has long been a favourite of my Dad, Ken, and my husband, Neil, and it is always a pleasure to return.

The Islington area is particularly special to Dad, as he was born just a few minutes away on Liverpool Road. During our visit, he will be able to point out some fascinating local landmarks and share a little of the area’s history, including the location of a building along Liverpool Road which was once used as an air-raid shelter.

For us, this makes the visit so much more than simply a lovely lunch. It is also an opportunity to discover a part of London filled with history, character and personal memories — something we think makes the day even more special.

We are therefore delighted to include this wonderful little restaurant as part of our TTE Lunch 2027.

We plan to arrive in Islington at approximately 11.45am, ready for lunch at 12 noon. Our leisurely three-course luncheon will finish at approximately 2.00pm, leaving plenty of time afterwards to explore this wonderful part of London before our coach departs.

About Le Sacré Coeur

Tucked away on Theberton Street in the heart of Angel, Islington, Le Sacré Coeur is a wonderfully traditional French bistro with a cosy, warm and welcoming atmosphere.

It is one of the area’s long-established French restaurants and has built an excellent reputation over the years for serving hearty, traditional and indulgent French food in relaxed surroundings.

Charming, quirky, intimate and full of character, it is exactly the sort of place that can make a day in London feel that little bit more special. Rather than a large and impersonal restaurant, Le Sacré Coeur has the atmosphere of a neighbourhood Parisian bistro — a genuine little Islington gem.

Our Three-Course Lunch

Please note: This is a specially negotiated price for our group, so unfortunately we may not be able to accommodate all individual dietary requests or menu changes.

If you have any specific dietary requirements, allergies or special requests, it would be best to email me in advance at nicolahaynes@yahoo.co.uk. I can then speak directly with the chef to see what alternative options may be available.

We will, of course, do our very best to accommodate requests wherever possible, but please understand that alternatives cannot always be guaranteed.

Please remember to add your menu choices to the notes section when booking.

Starter – Choose One

• Soup
• Pâté
• Deep Fried Camembert

Main Course – Choose One

• Grilled Salmon
• Beef Stew
• Chicken à la Provençal
• Salade de Légumes

Dessert – Choose One

• Sorbet
• Crème Caramel
• Chocolate Crêpe
• Vanilla and Chocolate Ice Cream

The price includes all three courses, one glass of wine and the service charge.

Your Afternoon in Islington

Once we have finished our luncheon at around 2.00pm, the rest of the afternoon is yours to enjoy at leisure — and there is far more to discover in Islington than many people realise.

You certainly do not need to rush off anywhere. Islington is a wonderful area to explore on foot, with handsome Georgian streets, attractive squares, independent shops, cafés, historic pubs and all sorts of interesting little corners tucked away from the busier London streets.

Be sure to seek out the historic “Hole in the Wall”, which Dad will tell you a little more about during the day. It is one of those small pieces of local history that could easily be missed unless someone points it out.

Upper Street, Islington Green & Camden Passage

A lovely way to spend the afternoon is simply to wander along Upper Street, one of Islington’s best-known thoroughfares. There are independent shops, boutiques, cafés, bars and restaurants all along the way, so it is ideal for a gentle stroll without having to follow a particular itinerary.

Just off Upper Street you will find Camden Passage, Islington — and despite the name, this is actually in Angel, Islington, not Camden.

For anyone who enjoys antiques, vintage pieces and unusual finds, this is probably one of the best places to head after lunch. Camden Passage is a pedestrianised street filled with antique and vintage shops, specialist dealers, independent boutiques and market areas.

Have a browse around Camden Passage Market, Pierrepont Arcade and Charlton Place, where you may find antique jewellery, silverware, porcelain, old prints, decorative pieces, vintage clothing, collectables and all manner of unusual treasures. The main antiques market days are traditionally Wednesday and Saturday, although the permanent shops make the area interesting to explore at other times too.

It is exactly the sort of place where you can happily lose an hour simply browsing and seeing what catches your eye.

Fancy a Drink in a Traditional Islington Pub?

If shopping is not your thing, you could instead find a comfortable corner in one of Islington’s many pubs and enjoy a drink before we head home.

There are several within an easy walk of the restaurant and Upper Street, including The Bull on Upper Street and King’s Head, also on Upper Street.

Another lovely option is Camden Head, tucked beside Camden Passage, so it works particularly well if you fancy combining a little antique browsing with a drink afterwards. Camden Passage itself describes the Camden Head as a traditional London pub with a large beer garden.

So, if your idea of a pleasant London afternoon is a leisurely lunch followed by a wander and then a pint or a glass of wine in a proper London pub, you will be very well catered for!

For Arsenal Fans – Visit the Emirates Stadium

Football fans may prefer to head a little farther north to see Emirates Stadium, home of Arsenal Football Club.

It is around a 30-minute walk from the Islington/Angel area, or you can take a short bus journey from around Theberton Street. Even if you are not taking a full stadium tour, it is an impressive sight and a great photo stop for Arsenal supporters.

For keen Arsenal fans, the club also offers stadium tours and has the Arsenal Museum, although anyone wanting to do a full tour would be wise to check availability and timings in advance. Price is not included in this event.

Or Venture Across to Camden

Alternatively, if you fancy seeing a completely different side of London, you could make your way across to Camden.

Camden is famous for its markets, colourful shops, street food and lively atmosphere. You can wander around Camden Market, browse the stalls, enjoy the canal-side scenery around Camden Lock, or simply sit with a drink and watch one of London’s most colourful neighbourhoods go by.

It is a livelier contrast to the Georgian streets and traditional atmosphere of Islington and makes an enjoyable option if you would like to fit two very different parts of London into the same day.

Just remember — Camden Passage in Islington and Camden Market in Camden are two completely different places, so you could even manage a little of both!

Returning Home

Our coach will depart from the agreed collection point in Islington at 6.30pm, so you will have approximately four and a half hours after lunch to enjoy the area at your own pace.

Whether you choose to browse the antiques of Camden Passage, wander along Upper Street, enjoy a drink in one of the local pubs, visit Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium or venture over to Camden, there should be something to suit everyone.

Dad, Neil and I would absolutely love to introduce you to this little London gem. It is somewhere that means a great deal to us personally and, with such a lovely three-course meal included, we think it offers wonderful value too.

We hope you will come along, enjoy a relaxed French luncheon with us and then spend a few hours discovering one of our favourite corners of London.