Friary Way dates from the late 1920s and was formerly a private road.
On 29 February 1936 at the Friern Barnet Council Offices, Mr C B Connell, M.Inst.C.E, an inspector of the Ministry of Health, conducted a public enquiry concerning an application made by Friern Barnet Urban District Council to the Minister of Health for sanction to borrow £8,780 for the work of making up six private streets in Friern Barnet. The streets were Newton Avenue, Church Way, Valley Avenue, Friary Way, Queen’s Avenue and Gresham Avenue.