It serves Wood Green Shopping City and the nearby Haringey Council administrative complex as well as a densely populated residential area.

When the Cockfosters extension was planned, alternative names for this station—"Lordship Lane" and "Wood Green Central"—were considered, but rejected.

Located on a corner site, the main frontage is curved and is flanked by two ventilation towers, although these are later additions to the station.

The station tunnels—in common with those of Manor House and Turnpike Lane—are 23 ft (7 m) diameter and were designed for the greater volume of traffic expected.

On 16 March 1976, the station was the site of a Provisional IRA bombing, when a device exploded on an empty train as it prepared to enter the reversing siding, before heading west to pick up football supporters at Arsenal.