How Green Lanes Became London's Turkish Heartland
The story of how a North London street became home to the UK's largest Turkish community.
10 January 2025•6 min read•By Turkish Food in London
If you want to understand Turkish food in London, you need to understand Green Lanes. This mile-long stretch of North London is home to the largest concentration of Turkish restaurants outside Turkey.
The Waves of Migration
Turkish Cypriots (1950s-1970s)
The first significant wave came from Cyprus, then a British colony. Turkish Cypriots, many with British passports, came seeking work.
Mainland Turks (1980s-1990s)
Political instability in Turkey brought a second wave from Anatolia. Many came from southeastern regions with strong culinary traditions: Gaziantep, Adana, Urfa.
What Makes It Special
Green Lanes isn't just a collection of Turkish restaurants—it's an ecosystem:
- The restaurants: Ocakbaşı grill houses competing on quality
- The butchers: Supplying fresh, properly butchered lamb
- The bakeries: Making baklava with imported ingredients
- The community: Regulars who hold standards high
Ready to explore? See our complete Green Lanes food guide.