London folks: What sort of neighborhood is Holloway Rd?

When I was in London last summer I didn’t get out nearly as much as I should have (I only had a week, I was by myself, I have anxiety issues sometimes).

I was staying near St. James’ Park station, and I took myself out to Holloway Rd. to go to a club. Except that I should have been in Camden instead. (And in Islington later, but I had guidance for that.)

Since I didn’t know where I was supposed to be, I walked far from the tube station to try to find the place that was in a totally different part of town. I noticed that people were generally friendly as far as helping me, but that the area also seemed more…gritty than what I had seen. Or, really, more like the areas that tourists don’t go to. Actual passed out drunk people, etc.

How is this area regarded by people who live in London, or the UK in general? I got the feeling that the further east you are in London, the worse the neighborhood. So, how do people think of this one?

(And damn…even though I spent two whole days holed up in my hotel room and couldn’t eat right most of the time I was there, I think another trip there would fix me right up. Why do you people have to be so expensive? Next time I’m going to Generator or something.)