Wood Green facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wood Green |
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| District | |
  From top to bottom: Shopping City centre; Wood Green Crown Court
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 Wood Green
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| Population | 28,453 (Noel Park and Woodside wards) |
| OS grid reference | TQ305905 |
| • Charing Cross | 6.7 mi (10.8 km) S |
| London borough | |
| Ceremonial county | Greater London |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | LONDON |
| Postcode district | N22, N8, N15 |
| Dialling code | 020 |
| Police | Metropolitan |
| Fire | London |
| Ambulance | London |
| EU Parliament | London |
| UK Parliament |
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| London Assembly |
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Wood Green is a lively area in London, England. It is part of the Haringey borough. This area is known as a major shopping and business hub in north London.
Wood Green used to be part of Tottenham and the county of Middlesex. In 1965, it became part of Haringey and Greater London. It is located just east of Alexandra Palace. Wood Green is about 6.5 miles (10.5 km) from Charing Cross in central London.
Contents
What's in a Name?
The name Wood Green comes from an old Saxon word, 'Woodlegh' or 'Woodlea'. This word means "open ground near a wood." In this case, it referred to an open space in Tottenham Wood. This was a large forest that once covered much of the area.
The oldest record of 'Woodlegh' is from 1256. It was found in documents about Ducketts Manor. This manor was located near where Wood Green High Road is today.
A Look Back in Time
People started settling in Wood Green after the Norman Conquest in 1066. There is some proof of Roman activity here. However, there is no sign of early Saxon villages.
From the late 1300s, several estates grew in Wood Green. These included Ducketts Manor and other smaller properties.
Early Growth and the New River
In the early 1600s, a survey of the land showed Wood Green had only 16 houses. About 50 people lived there at that time.
Around the same time, the New River was built through Wood Green. This new water supply made the area more appealing. Between the 1600s and early 1800s, many large homes were built. These were often country getaways for rich Londoners.
By 1798, Wood Green still had only about 100 residents. The community was spread out around Wood Green Common.
The Victorian Era and Shopping Boom
In the early 1800s, Wood Green's population began to grow quickly. By the mid-1800s, it reached 400 people. The area's center shifted north and east. More buildings appeared around St Michael's Church.
The opening of the Great Northern Railway station in Wood Green in 1859 helped the area grow even more. By the end of the 1800s, most of Wood Green was built up.
Wood Green became a mix of homes and businesses. Factories like E Welch & Co Tobacco and Barratts confectionery arrived in the 1860s and 1880s. Barratts became a very large sweet maker.
The High Road became a popular shopping street. By the early 1900s, it was a major shopping center for North London. By 1976, Wood Green was the biggest shopping center in North London.
Modern Wood Green: A Shopping Hub
In the 1960s, Haringey Council was formed. It combined the areas of Wood Green, Hornsey, and Tottenham. The new council wanted to make Wood Green a "Heart for Haringey." This meant creating a strong local center to compete with central London.
The Shopping City was built between 1976 and 1981. It is now known as The Mall Wood Green. It is one of London's main shopping centers.
Entertainment History
Alexandra Palace, located in Wood Green, played a big role in early television. Today, it hosts many events, concerts, and sports.
Wood Green also had a part in commercial TV history. In 1955, the Wood Green Empire hosted TV variety shows. Only the front of this building remains today.
Wood Green Today
Wood Green is currently undergoing big changes. The London Borough of Haringey has two major plans for the area.
The Haringey Heartlands plan will create 1,700 new homes. It will also add shops and offices. There are also plans for new public spaces.
The Wood Green Area Action plan aims to transform the town center. It includes 6,400 new homes and 4,000 new jobs. There will also be many new tall buildings.
Blue House Yard is a new project. It turns a former car park into creative workspaces and shops. It also has a public square for markets.
Wood Green is also a possible station for the new Crossrail 2 transport line.
Where is Wood Green?
Wood Green stretches from Turnpike Lane in the south to the borough border in the north. Its exact boundaries have changed over time. Some people think Alexandra Park is still part of Wood Green.
The area's height above sea level ranges from 66 feet (20 meters) to 98 feet (30 meters).
Local Life
Wood Green has different types of areas. West of the High Road, near Alexandra Palace, has mostly middle-class homes. East of the High Road, towards Tottenham, has smaller homes. These were built for railway workers or as social housing.
The High Road and shopping mall have many different shops. New restaurants have also opened along the High Road. Many streets behind the High Road have attractive Victorian houses.
North and west of the tube station, there are many green spaces. These include smaller parks and larger open areas.
Haringey Civic Centre on Wood Green High Road is the main office for the London Borough of Haringey. It opened in 1958 and is a historic building.
People of Wood Green
Wood Green is made up of several local areas called wards. A large part of Wood Green is in the Noel Park and Woodside wards. The population of these wards was 28,453 in the 2011 Census.
The census showed that white groups make up 55% of the Noel Park ward. In the Woodside ward, 30% are White Other, 23% White British, and 14% Asian. Other groups include Black African, Black Caribbean, and various other ethnic backgrounds.
Shopping and Business
Wood Green is a busy place with a large shopping area. It has two cinemas, bars, nightclubs, and many restaurants and cafes. The Mall shopping center is close to the tube station.
The High Road is the main shopping street. It runs from Wood Green tube station to Turnpike Lane. It is full of shops along its entire length.
The Chocolate Factory was started in 1996. It provides studios for 200 local artists. It also has music, film, and photography studios.
Green Spaces to Enjoy
Wood Green has many parks and green areas for people to enjoy:
- Alexandra Park
- Avenue Gardens
- Barratt Gardens
- Caxton Gardens
- Chapmans Green
- Cranbrook Park
- Crescent Gardens
- Finsbury Gardens
- King George VI Memorial Garden
- Nightingale Gardens
- Riversdale Gardens
- Russell Park
- Trinity Gardens
- White Hart Lane Recreation Ground
- Wood Green Common
- Woodside Park
Getting Around Wood Green
London Underground
Wood Green has two London Underground stations on the Piccadilly line:
- Wood Green tube station (at the northern end of High Road)
- Turnpike Lane tube station (at the southern end)
Trains
Alexandra Palace station (once called Wood Green) is on the East Coast Main Line. Trains go to Kings Cross and Moorgate. They also go to Hertford and Welwyn Garden City. Bowes Park station is also nearby.
Buses
Many London Buses routes serve the Wood Green area. These include routes 29, 67, 121, 123, 141, 144, 184, 221, 230, 232, 243, 329, N29, N91, W3, and W4. Some routes run 24 hours a day on weekends.
Public Services
Wood Green Crown Court is located on Lordship Lane.
Schools in Wood Green
Wood Green has many schools for different age groups.
Primary Schools
- Belmont Primary
- Noel Park Primary
- Alexandra Primary
- Earlham Primary
- Lordship Lane Primary
- Nightingale Primary
- St Michael's C of E Primary
- St Paul's RC Primary
- Rhodes Avenue
Secondary Schools
- Heartlands High School
- Alexandra Park School
- St Thomas More Catholic School
- Woodside High School
Places to Worship
Wood Green has several places of worship:
- St Michael's Church of England Church (built 1844)
- St Paul's Roman Catholic Church (first founded 1882, rebuilt 1971)
- St Mary's Greek Orthodox Church, Wood Green (also known as The Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Dormition of the Mother of God)
- Wood Green Fatih Mosque (on Caxton Road)
Sports and Activities
There are many sports facilities in Wood Green. You can find indoor and outdoor tennis courts. There are also all-weather football pitches, an athletics track, and gyms at New River Stadium. Local parks offer great places for running and other sports. Many parks also have tennis courts.
London Skolars is a semi-professional rugby league team. They play at New River Stadium in Wood Green. They also host an annual rugby league tournament called the Middlesex 9s.
Wood Green in Pop Culture
Wood Green has been mentioned in books and songs:
- Nick Hornby's book, High Fidelity
- Razorlight's song "Los Angeles Waltz"
- Pablo Gad's song "Black Before Creation"
- Sway DaSafo's song "Up Your Speed"
- Juan Maria Solare's music piece "Woodgreen Walk" (2011)
- The film Momma Don't Allow (1956) featured a jazz night in Wood Green.
Images for kids
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Wood Green public library
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Vue cinema
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Haringey Civic Centre
