Vauxhall Gardens

Vauxhall Gardens is a public park in Kennington, in the London Borough of Lambeth, on the south bank of the River Thames. It is a small green space in a dense urban neighbourhood, and its name points back to one of the most famous entertainment venues in the history of London.

What is Vauxhall Gardens today?

The park is a modest urban garden managed by the local council, covering roughly three hectares. It serves residents as a place for a walk, a break among trees and a bit of open space close to the river. Among its features are mature deciduous trees, allotments and Vauxhall City Farm, which makes the place popular with families and with people who like community-run green projects. It is not a grand landscaped estate, and visitors should treat it as a quiet local park with an interesting past rather than a major sightseeing stop.

Why does the name matter?

The present park occupies only part of the area once taken by the historic pleasure garden of the same name. That earlier garden began as the New Spring Gardens and is believed to have been open before the Restoration of 1660. The diarist Samuel Pepys mentioned it in 1662, and John Evelyn also wrote about "The Spring Gardens". The older name survived in official documents for a very long time, even though the public simply called the place Vauxhall Gardens.

At first, entry was free and the owners earned money by selling food and drink. Later, admission was charged. Over the following two centuries the gardens became one of the leading venues for public entertainment in the capital, from the mid 17th century to the mid 19th century.

What went on in the historic gardens?

Visitors came for an unusual mix of attractions: concerts, fireworks, tightrope walkers and hot air balloon ascents. One of the best remembered spectacles was a re-enactment of the Battle of Waterloo in 1817, which involved about a thousand soldiers. The gardens offered crowds of very different social backgrounds a shared evening out, which was unusual for the period.

How did the old gardens end?

The business ran into financial trouble. The gardens closed in 1840 after the owners went bankrupt, reopened in 1841, changed hands in 1842 and closed for good in 1859. The land was built over in the following decades.

How did the park come back?

In the 20th century, slum clearance freed part of the former site, and a public green space was created there. It was first known as Spring Gardens, a nod to the original name, and was later renamed Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens in 2012. The name Vauxhall Gardens is still widely used for it.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Vauxhall Gardens? In Kennington, in the borough of Lambeth, on the south side of the Thames in London.

Is it the same place as the historic pleasure garden? Partly. The park lies on a portion of the old site but is a much smaller, modern green space.

What can I see there? Trees, allotments and Vauxhall City Farm.

Is it worth a visit? It suits a short, relaxed stop, especially if you are interested in London's social history or are already exploring the area around the river.

Do I need a ticket? The park is a public space run by the council, so you can enter it as you would any local park.