A track broadly corresponding to contemporary Green Lanes was first recorded in the 14th century. The name ’Green Lanes’ derives from the series of greens and commons through which it passed.

Here in N8 it passed the southernmost of these commons, Beans Green. This was situated at the junction of Green Lane with Hangers Lane (now St Ann’s Road) which was an ancient route connecting Green Lanes and Tottenham High Road.

The entirety of Green Lanes runs from Newington Green north to Manor House at the eastern edge of Finsbury Park. As it crosses the New River and enters the London Borough of Haringey. It then runs for a mile and a half through the neighbourhood of Harringay. From the junction with Turnpike Lane the road temporarily changes its name and runs through Wood Green as ’High Road’, resuming its Green Lanes identity again after the junction with Lascott’s Road. It then continues north for another two miles through Palmers Green and Winchmore Hill in the London Borough of Enfield, until it reaches the junction with Ridge Avenue and Green Dragon Lane at Mason’s Corner.