Why I live in Wood Green: Turkish feasts, creative hubs and Ally Pally on the doorstep, designer Adrian Bergman gives us a tour

Adrian Bergman, the design manager of kitchen connoisseurs British Standard, on why Wood Green is the go-to hub for creatives
Amira Hashish5 August 2022

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.

The Prince on Station Road
Adrian Lourie

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.

Japanese restaurant Oita
Adrian Lourie

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.

Alexandra Palace is around a 20-minute walk away
Adrian Lourie

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

Source: Hamptons & ONS

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