Wood Green is a diverse area and there’s so much on your doorstep, whether that’s shopping or entertainment.
I have lived here with my wife Kate for three-and-a-half years. We have a three-bedroom Victorian terrace that was built around the late 1800s. We were looking to either move east or north, in part down to our jobs at the time but largely because our families both live in north Hertfordshire so being able to visit them easily was a must for us.
After exploring areas like Walthamstow and Wanstead we sort of stumbled across Wood Green. Following a bit of research we started to discover a few hidden gems. Our house popped up and as soon as we visited it we fell in love with it.
Best places to eat and drink
Being so close to Green Lanes we’re spoiled with Turkish restaurants. I’m yet to try a bad one but our favourites are Crystal and Kervan. You will not be going home hungry.
On Station Road, The Prince is a great pub that specialises in craft beer. The drinks menu changes regularly so it’s an ideal place to spend the day sampling independent breweries from all over the country.
Bean and Brew is an independent coffee shop by Wood Green station for your morning caffeine fix. Our local brewery called The Goodness Brewing Co in Clarendon Yard. The tap room serves beer and my favourite pizza in the area.
On a Sunday it’s family friendly and they set up the bouncy castle.
Where I work out
There are a few gyms in Wood Green but I prefer to go for a run in Ally Pally, especially when the sun is shining.
For a culture fix
Blue House Yard is a hub for local creatives. They offer studio space and worksheds for small businesses. They have a platform for start-ups with low-rent physical retail spaces. Nearby is an old London bus known as Ludo’s which has been converted into a bar and venue.
Green Rooms on Station Road is an arts hotel and a social enterprise which offers accommodation and events spaces to hire. As well as the hotel they have a Japanese restaurant on the ground floor called Oita. It’s always busy and has a great atmosphere inside.
On the outside they’ve completely transformed what was a grungy car park into a little oasis just off the high street, filling it with greenery which makes alfresco dining very pleasant.
To commune with nature
Possibly the best thing about living in Wood Green is having Ally Pally on our doorstep. It’s about a 20-minute walk to music, theatre, festivals, outdoor cinema, ice skating, golf and green space.
If you head to the north-west corner of the park towards Muswell Hill, it connects to the Parkland walk which follows the course of the old railway line.
Grocery shopping
There’s a good selection of chain supermarkets but my favourite place to go is Y&S Mini Market on the High Road. It has loads of great fruit and veg and I often treat myself to a spanakopita. There are a few other good places nearby; Mum’s Whole Food and Harringay Local Store.
Getting around
I try to cycle as much as I can but there are excellent transport links with buses or the Piccadilly line.
Dream street
I think the most picturesque streets in Wood Green are in Noel Park. It’s a conservation area and one of the earliest garden suburbs ever built.
Something you only see in Wood Green
The Mall. Although it’s not the most attractive Seventies development, it does provide us with some useful shops.
What’s the catch?
The high street is one of the busiest in London so it can feel quite frantic at times. There are too many fast-food restaurants and dark kitchens which means it is often all too tempting to pick up a takeaway.
In three words
Diverse, up-and-coming, busy.
Adrian and the British Standard team will be popping up at design events in and around London in The Roving Showroom; a small but mighty kitchen in the back of a van @britishstandardcupboards, britishstandardcupboards.co.uk
Schools
Wood Green has several primary schools rated outstanding including Rhodes Avenue Primary School, St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School and Noel Park Primary School. For secondary education, Heartlands High School and Greig City Academy are deemed good by Ofsted. The Greek Secondary School of London is an independent option.
What it costs
Buying in Wood Green
- Average flat price: £393,100
- Average house price: £710,600
Renting in Wood Green
- Average one-bedroom home: £1,110 pcm
- Average three-bedroom home: £1,990 pcm
