Property

This bustling thoroughfare goes all the way from Turnpike Lane tube station to Newington Green (it’s touted as one of the longest roads in London), but it’s the top end that we’ll focus on here. If you’re looking for greenery, you’d be better off south of the river. If, however, you’re yearning for a lively mix of Greek, Turkish, Cypriot and Kurdish communities, this is ideal; a place where you can buy offal, electrical equipment, exotic fruits and elaborate wedding cakes, often in the one shop.

To the west is the Harringay ladder (Harringay is an area in the Borough of Haringey), a lattice of streets between Green Lanes and the traffic-heavy Wightman Road. Crouch End is just the other side of the railway line from the ladder, and the overspill from that middle-class enclave has had a knock-on effect for prices. However, at the time of writing, the market has stuttered slightly, leaving entry-level one- and two-bed flats ripe for offers from first-time buyers. The east of Green Lanes, towards Seven Sisters, is slightly cheaper, with similar Victorian conversions and proximity to the tube (Manor House to the south and Turnpike Lane to the north).
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If you are looking for green spaces, Finsbury Park at the Manor House end has had a commendable facelift over the past few years, and is now home to a children’s playground and café, a British Military Fitness class, a gridiron team, a dog-training school, a duck and swan pond and numerous games of basketball and football. Duckett’s Common nearer Turnpike Lane is more pleasant than it used to be but it’s more for dog-walking than picnics.

But for a genuine, rough-around-the-edges taste of north London, this area can’t be beaten.

A South Haringey School B Salisbury Pub C Parkview Academy D Sainsbury's E Old Ale Emporium

Going out
The Salisbury (1 Grand Parade; 020 8800 9617), on the corner of Green Lanes and St Anne’s Road, is an excellently converted, cavernous former hotel with a restaurant in the back. Also worth a visit is the Old Ale Emporium (405 Green Lanes; 020 8348 6200), which, as the name suggests, usually has decent ales on tap. And, at the end of the night, you have to sample one of the area’s legendary kebabs.

Local shops
Green Lanes is predominantly food focused. There are several purveyors of elaborate cakes and pastries such as Halepi (24 Grand Parade; 020 8800 9272). And you can’t go wrong for fruit and veg; the street is lined with quality Greek and Turkish grocers’ shops. Ditto with halal butchers, where you can also pick up offal. The nearest supermarket is Sainsbury’s (Williamson Rd ; 020 8809 6065) near Manor House tube. For more shops, Wood Green High Road and shopping centre are up the road.

Schools
South Haringey Junior School (Mattison Rd; 020 8340 2757) on the ladder performs well and is much sought after by local parents. For secondary schools, Park View (Langham Rd; 020 8888 1722) is a non-denominational city academy near Turnpike Lane station, rated
as ‘good and improving’ by Ofsted.

Transport
Manor House and Turnpike Lane tube stations are on the Piccadilly Line, in Zones 2 and 3 respectively. Hornsey rail has trains to King’s Cross and Moorgate during the week. The 29 bus goes to Trafalgar Square via Camden.

Estate agents
Castles, 5 Turnpike Lane, N8 (020 8341 6262/castles.uk.com).
Paul Simon, 38 Grand Parade, N8 (020 8800 1155).
Winkworth, 10-11 Grand Parade, N8 (020 8800 4949/winkworth.co.uk).