The name is rather misleading, as this is a distinctly urban part of north London. The High Road is a big, chaotic high street which is great for bargain hunting at places like Traid for second-hand clothes or just regular household bits and bobs in the 1960s Mall Shopping City. Although it’s not an obvious place to visit or hang out, there are cool things to be found if you look beyond the surface.
There is a growing artistic community in the area with the development of Wood Green Cultural Quarter and the opening of places like Kabaret and Green Rooms hotel for artists which both host free events. The Chocolate Factory is occupied by arts development and regeneration charity Collage Arts, along with over 200 artists and creative business. Activism and independent spirit have been alive in the neighbourhood for a long time. Wood Green Social Club opened in 1910 as a place for activists, including Suffragette and the area’s first female Mayor Jenny Bolster. The Big Green Bookshop is a more recent fixture, but regularly hosts events live comedy, literary talks, music jams, writing groups, and a free board games afternoon on the last Sunday of every month.
There are plenty of decent places for hungry cheapos too. Scattered among the Mc High Street vibes of the main drag are places to eat cheap, great food like Paramount Indian Restaurant, Fatisa Cafe Pizzeria and Wood Green Chinese
