Lady’s 5 Things to Do in Vauxhall, London

There are good London neighborhoods, and there are great ones. There are up-and-coming neighborhoods, trendy ones, and quirky areas with lots of personality. And then there’s Vauxhall, London.

Vauxhall, London

Vauxhall is one of the hardest neighborhoods in London to define. It sits right on the south bank of the Thames in the heart of the city, and yet there never seems to be a lot of things to do in Vauxhall.

It’s home to intelligence agency MI6, but it lacks the sexy James Bond vibe one would expect from such a place. In fact, the best-known part of Vauxhall is the ugly roundabout that’s perpetually clogged with traffic.

Things to Do in Vauxhall

So what’s a lady in London to do in Vauxhall? As it turns out, a lot.

1. New Covent Garden Flower Market

First there’s the New Covent Garden Flower Market in Vauxhall, which I discovered years ago and came to appreciate as one of the best places in London to buy flowers and everything related to them.

This floral extravaganza is one of the best markets in London, and it’s a great place to come if you’re a serious flower enthusiast.

2. Vauxhall Pubs

Then there are the Vauxhall pubs. There are some surprisingly good pubs in Vauxhall if you know where to find them.

The best is Brunswick House. It sits right on the aforementioned roundabout, a tiny old brick building surrounded by new riverfront skyscrapers just like the home in the children’s book The Little House.

Outside is a sunny terrace brimming with an eclectic mix of for-sale art, sculptures, and garden ornaments.

Inside is a great quirky ambiance that feels as hip as anywhere in east London. Having a drink at Brunswick House is one of my favorite things to do in Vauxhall.

Not far away is The Black Dog, another good Vauxhall pub with outdoor picnic tables and a solid selection of beers.

Down Fentiman Road towards Oval is the Fentiman Arms, a cozy pub in Vauxhall with nice decor and a terrace in the back.

And if you want something really unique, Tamesis Dock is a floating pub on a barge in the Thames. Painted in bright colors and offering stunning views of the Houses of Parliament, it’s one of the most exciting Vauxhall pubs.

3. Vauxhall Streets and Squares

Next on my list of things to do in Vauxhall comes exploring the streets and squares. This area has great side streets and pretty houses to discover.

One of my favorite places to walk in Vauxhall is Bonnington Square. This leafy residential square is lined with brick houses and cafes. It’s a haven of peace away from the busy roundabout and riverfront area.

Not far away from the square, there are great houses with colorful doors on Harleyford Road and Vauxhall Grove.

If you like the water, Riverside Walk on the Thames is fun to stroll along. It goes past lots of open-air restaurant and pub terraces where you can stop for a drink or meal. It also leads to Nine Elms and the US Embassy in London.

4. Vauxhall Parks

Beyond the streets and squares, Vauxhall has two big parks. The Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens are a sunny green space, and adjacent to them is the Vauxhall City Farm.

Its sheep are always happy to see me (or so I tell myself), and it’s fun to take a look and see what animals are out when I visit.

The other park is Vauxhall Park, which has the most beautiful secret lavender garden tucked away in a hidden corner.

In the summer months the lavender grows tall and fragrant, and I love sitting on the benches that surround it to soak up the scents of the season. It’s one of my favorite secret places in London.

5. Vauxhall Restaurants and Cafes

But the smell of food is also a lure, and in addition to the pubs in Vauxhall, there are a few quirky restaurants and cafes that are worth a visit.

One is the Tea House Theatre, which sits on the edge of the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens and is housed in a Victorian public house that opened in 1886.

It has a cute, comfy interior with wooden chairs and pretty teacups, and is a great place for a light lunch or tea and cake.

There are also some great delis and a number of good Portuguese restaurants and bars in Vauxhall thanks to the presence of some members of London’s Portuguese diaspora.

And speaking of European places, Italo is a great Italian deli and coffee shop hidden away on Bonnington Square.

As if that’s not enough, Vauxhall’s restaurant and pub scene is enhanced by the presence of the Vauxhall Food & Beer Garden, an open-air market by Vauxhall station.

With London’s biggest beer garden, lots of international street food, and a great atmosphere, it’s a fun place to spend time in this London neighborhood.

And that’s to say nothing of Market Place Vauxhall, another cool market under the railway bridge. With food vendors, a bar, a DJ booth, and plenty of seating, it’s a great place to meet friends.

Vauxhall

If food markets aren’t enough to bring me back to Vauxhall, nothing is. But the area’s eclectic mix of pubs and restaurants, gardens and farms is always a lure.

And given the neighborhood’s location in central London, I find myself going back more and more often. The area may still be hard to define, but given it’s changing all the time, it’s getting easier to find lots of things to do in Vauxhall.

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