Car Hire Bounds Green

Bounds Green sits quietly between the broader sweep of North London and the suburban edges of Barnet and Enfield. It’s the kind of place that suits a self-driven day out—with parks, woodlands and neighbourhood corners spread just far enough to make a car useful. The North Circular curves around southern edge of this area with a population of 15 thousand, making the locale surprisingly straightforward to reach if you’re driving in from Wood Green or Turnpike Lane.

Spring is ideal here, especially if you’re planning to stop off at one of the parks—the light hits Bluebell Wood just right and there’s still enough space to park without circling too long. Late summer also brings out the area’s quieter side. With no single landmark or headline attraction, Bounds Green works well when you’ve got a car and a few hours to explore on your own terms—whether that’s dipping into a soft play centre, tracing a woodland path or pulling up beside a bowls club for a quick hit.

Attractions In Bounds Green

Some places are easier to explore when you’ve got a set of keys in your pocket—and Bounds Green is one of them. Its green spaces, play centres and tucked-away woodland paths aren’t clustered together but that’s part of the appeal.

Arnos Park

We pulled in near Morton Way and followed the sound of birdsong into Arnos Park—easily one of the area’s most layered spaces. Wide paths run alongside a series of brick viaduct arches that frame the sky and there’s plenty of open green to spread out. On one side, kids chase each other along the edge of the stream; on the other, joggers carve steady loops through the trees.

Open daily from 8 am to 10 pm, this one suits every kind of stop—whether you’re walking the dog, stretching your legs between errands or just need somewhere quiet to park and breathe for a while.

Clowntown

Approaching from Muswell Hill, this was an easy first stop—right off the North Circular, with parking right outside. Inside, Clowntown is bright, well-maintained and chaotic in the best way. There’s a café where parents can recharge while kids burn through every bit of energy. Weekend hours run to 9:30 am–6 pm but midweek mornings are the quietest.

Scout Park

This one’s different. Scout Park isn’t your average open-access green—it’s a scouting site tucked off Gordon Road, mostly used for events, camps and outdoor skills training. But when it’s open to the public, it becomes something else entirely.

No signage, no fanfare—just a gap in the hedge that leads to woodland clearings and trails softened by years of quiet use. You’d never guess you were a few minutes from a Tube station.

Friary Park

An ideal detour for drivers coming from Hornsey, Friary Park is a well-kept Edwardian space that mixes elegance with family-friendly energy. Rose gardens and tennis courts sit comfortably beside skate ramps and picnic lawns. We found street parking easily and made the most of the open layout, which is especially lovely at golden hour.

Bluebell Wood

You might not spot it unless you know where to look. Bluebell Wood slips behind a residential road, just off Winton Avenue, with barely a sign to guide you in. We parked nearby and wandered in under a low canopy of trees.

It’s compact but enchanting, especially in spring. True to its name, bluebells carpet the woodland floor for a few weeks each year—a burst of colour that almost feels out of place in North London. Even outside those months, it offers a small but welcome detour from the usual circuit.

Tunnel Gardens

Tunnel Gardens is little more than a sliver of calm threaded between back fences and quiet roads—but there’s something about it that lingers. We stepped through an understated entrance off Blake Road and found a simple path curling through tall hedges and mature shrubs.

No playgrounds, no benches, no formal layout. It’s not trying to impress—and that’s the appeal. We stayed fifteen minutes. That was enough.

Southgate Green

Tucked within easy reach of Palmers Green, Southgate Green is small, shaded and quietly elegant. You don’t come here for activities—you come to pause. We grabbed takeaway coffee, found a bench and watched the afternoon drift by. It was exactly the kind of space that resets a day.

Bounds Green Bowls & Tennis Club

Just off Goring Road, the Bowls & Tennis Club feels well looked after without being exclusive. We turned up mid-afternoon and watched a casual game play out on the green before speaking to a staff member who told us drop-ins are welcome most days.

The courts looked sharp, the bowls players cheerful and the space had that gentle hum of a club that locals actually use. Open from 9 am to 11 pm—and yes, plenty of parking nearby.

Oak Hill Wood

We planned a morning outing from Crouch End and made our way north to Oak Hill Wood—and honestly, it felt like we’d wandered into another region entirely. This ancient woodland is layered and soft underfoot, the trees tall and clustered. You could lose an hour here without meaning to. There’s free parking nearby and no gates to worry about—just arrive and wander.

New Southgate Millennium Green

During a visit to Tottenham, we found time to stop by this quiet local patch tucked along Inverforth Road. Millennium Green doesn’t ask much of you—just a slow walk and maybe ten quiet minutes on a bench. It’s not large and it’s not busy. And that’s exactly why it works.

Making The Most Of Bounds Green

Bounds Green is well-suited for drivers—the attractions are spread just far enough to make a car genuinely useful and parking is generally manageable outside peak hours. If you’re staying overnight, Bay Tree House Bed & Breakfast in nearby New Southgate offers a warm, family-run option with easy access to local green spaces. For more budget-conscious travellers, Travelodge London Wood Green and Travelodge London Southgate are both a short drive away and well connected.

This spot draws a lot of interest from people in Finchley who come for the quieter parks and less hurried pace. For food, Hot Milk Café on Myddleton Road serves solid brunches with a community feel and there’s almost always a spot to park nearby. If you’re hiring a car, the road layout is easy to manage—just keep an eye out for school-run traffic and the occasional residential one-way. There’s plenty to discover, especially when you’re not in a rush.