Wandsworth Town is a district of South London, within the London Borough of Wandsworth, 4.2 miles southwest of Charing Cross. The area, transformed in the 17th century by the Industrial Revolution, is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London. It has also recently seen profound regeneration, in which a series of large schemes have given Wandsworth a much-needed refresh. Popular with families and packed with great leisure activities, it is one of London’s most affluent and attractive inner suburbs.

1. What makes Wandsworth unique?
2. Wandsworth’s popular attractions
3. Nightlife in Wandsworth
4. Restaurants and Coffee Shops in Wandsworth
5. Shopping in Wandsworth
6. Travel in and around Wandsworth
7. Explore Nearby Boroughs from Wandsworth

1. What makes Wandsworth unique?

Wandsworth is one of the oldest parts of London. The area’s first reference goes back to the Domesday Book when it was a large manor before the ever-encroaching city swallowed it up. Following the Industrial Revolution, Wandsworth built itself up with a gas plant, Young’s Brewery, and the iconic Battersea Power Plant. Today, Wandsworth is very much a cosmopolitan place, filled with museums, parks, and leisure places that make it a place worth visiting.

Famous people of Wandsworth include David Lloyd George, and former Prime Minister Tony Blair used to live in the area.

Photo credit: Herry Lawford via Flickr

2. Wandsworth’s popular attractions

• Chelsea Bridge. One of the most attractive bridges along the River Thames.
• Tooting Bec Lido. The lido is the largest freshwater swimming pool in the United Kingdom at 100 yards long and 33 yards wide.
• Wandsworth Common. At nearly 172 acres, this is the first park in Wandsworth with lakes, fields, a footbridge, and a nature education center.
• De Morgan Center. Dedicated to the art and culture of the 19th Century, this building was founded upon William De Morgan’s ceramics and Evelyn De Morgan’s paintings and drawings.
• Battersea Power Station. One of the most iconic buildings in the city, the Battersea Power Station was a coal-powered electrical station. Today it is getting revamped into a multi-use development with offices, shops, restaurants, and flats.
• Clapman Common. Bisected by Clapham and Wandsworth and presents a triangular-shaped greenspace of 220 acres is the largest of its kind in the area.
• Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum. Tennis enthusiasts should visit this museum which is dedicated to the sport and to The Championships.
• Battersea Arts Center. Focused on art in all forms, this is a Grade II listed structure that is home to plays, lectures, music and more. It is also home to the BAC Moving Museum, which houses a number of collections.
• Battersea Park Children’s Zoo. Made especially for the little explorers in your life. From engaging directly with animals to keepers who get on the kids’ level, the zoo will educate as well as entertain the children.
• Royal Victoria Building. A dramatic, gothic building with a spooky past. It used to function as an asylum for Crimean orphans during the Crimean War.
• St. Mary’s Church. One of London’s joys is knowing that centuries of history are woven into the very fabric of the city.
• Wandsworth Prison. Built in 1851, this is a Category B men's prison. It is the largest prison in London and one of the largest in Europe.

Photo credit: Peter Milton via Flickr

3. Nightlife in Wandsworth

Grab your closest friends and hit the town tonight! Battersea is a fantastic entertainment hub full of some of the best independent bars in South London. Whether you are looking to unwind with your favourite drink or want to put on your dancing shoes and boogie, Wandsworth will certainly not disappoint you.

Famous for taking their drinks seriously, but not themselves, the team at The Southsider Cocktail Club are experienced, innovative and a damn good laugh! With happy hours between 5pm and 9pm, enjoy their specially curated drinks that are truly delicious! The Southsider achieves the goal of creating a fantastic neighbourhood hang-out, where locals can gather and dance away the stresses of the work week. With cosy booths and exposed brick, the theming here is top notch and immersive.

Lost Society is the ‘no nonsense all day hangout’ you’ve been looking for! Whether it is afternoon drinks or late night celebrations, this bar and kitchen is the place to be, with stunning themé, delicious food and specialty craft beers, wines and cocktails. They often have live music at this bar too, so you may even find your new favourite local band here!

Photo credit: Wandsworth Times

Famed for their eccentric garden, raucous roster of live music nights and an adventurous yet comforting menu of delicious dishes, The Magic Garden is a beloved local pub with a varied and amiable clientele. Other than the food, drinks and general warm pub atmosphere, The Magic Garden transforms at weekends into an exciting and independent live music venue. From Jazz, Folk and Bluegrass to Reggae, Soul and Rock 'n' Roll, there is something for everyone’s music tastes!

Tucked away in the backstreets of Battersea, The Woodman is the epitome of your traditional English pub, with exposed brick fireplaces and cosy big armchairs. Treat yourself to home-cooked meals and soothing wines to wash it all down in this calming atmosphere. However, don’t be deceived, as this pub can also be lively and friendly, attracting many locals looking for a good time!

4. Restaurants and Coffee Shops in Wandsworth

Wandsworth is home to a number of great restaurants and a fantastic food scene, ranging from delights, poshed-up gastropubs, and modern European brasseries. You will always find amazing eateries that will fit with every budget.

Italian food in London isn’t hard to come by, but sussing out great Italian food is more of a mission. At Il Girasol, as well as an impressive selection of authentic Italian pizzas, you will find tasty traditional Mediterranean dishes in a cosy, no-frills, lively venue. One of Wandsworth’s more rustic eateries, the décor is simple and sophisticated and the real focus here is cooking.

Photo credit: Brinkley’s

For a contemporary restaurant with an open-plan layout, The Brinkley’s Kitchen is perfect. The food is modern and eclectic, with Mediterranean influences and an East Asian touch to the menu. The interior is light and airy with plenty of light flooding in from the nearby Common, and there is a delightful patio area with a roof that opens during the summer months.

If you want a change of taste, visit The Good Earth, a standout Chinese restaurant that is thoroughly deserving its reputation. The restaurant offers healthy and authentic meals with a traditional Chinese spice that brings a real taste of China to south west London. The setting is sophisticated, sleek and elevates the eating experience to a fine dining standard. Picks from popular favourites include steamed sea bass with spring onions and ginger, the sautéed fillet of monkfish, or ramp up the spice with a bird's-eye chili recipe for Shanghai chilli chicken.

Just a stone throw from Wandsworth Town Station is Wandsworth High Street, where cute cafes are strewn across the street. There are plenty of options if you are seeking coffee with a side of something sweet at a reasonable price. Packed with bright youngsters talking about the newest startups, the high street cafes are quirky and quaint places to catch up with friends or take a quiet moment to enjoy yourself.

Photo credit: Leslie Jones Architecture

5. Shopping in Wandsworth

Shopping in Wandsworth should definitely be on every fashion lover’s bucket list. Here, you will get everything from designer fashion, to antique boutiques which also make it a wonderful location for you to take casual strolls.

Wandsworth was known for its hat industry in the Victorian period, and while hats may not be the borough’s crowning glory today, you can still be a dedicated follower of fashion if you visit the many shops that make up Southside Shopping Centre. Get the high street brands you want while avoiding the Oxford Street crowds. As the day nears an end and your arms can no longer fit another bag, why not take a break and dine at one of the many upstairs restaurants?

6. Travel in and around Wandsworth

By Tube

National Rail services are operated from London Waterloo by South Western Railway to Earlsfield, Putney, Queenstown Road (Battersea), Wandsworth Town and the borough's largest station, Clapham Junction.

London Overground services mainly serve Clapham Junction, which is the southern terminus for the West London Line that has services to Stratford via Shepherd's Bush, though some trains terminate at the West London Line's northern terminus at Willesden Junction. The western terminus for the East London Line also is at Clapham Junction that has services to Highbury & Islington via Denmark Hill.

London Underground services are provided on the District line to East Putney and Southfields and on the Northern line to Balham, Clapham South, Tooting Bec and Tooting Broadway.

Photo credit: Images George Rex via Flickr

Cycling

Wandsworth London Borough Council and Transport for London (TfL) maintain cycling infrastructure in the Borough.

Cycle Superhighway 7 (CS7) is an unbroken, signposted cycle route running through the southeastern portion of the Borough. The route runs along the A24 and A3 roads, through Tooting, Balham, and Clapham. Northbound the route links the Borough directly to the City of London via Kennington, Elephant and Castle, and Southwark. Southbound, the route runs unbroken to Colliers Wood.

Cycle Superhighway 8 (CS8) route runs through the northern edge of Wandsworth, through Battersea. The route runs east-west along the A3205/Battersea Park Road where it begins in Wandsworth Town and runs to Millbank, City of Westminster, passing Chelsea and the Tate Britain.

Although CS8 leaves the Borough to the north, cycling infrastructure is provided along the entire A3205 route between Wandsworth Town and Nine Elms. This means that there is a continuous, signposted cycle route along designated cycle lanes from Wandsworth Town and Battersea to Vauxhall, Lambeth, and the South Bank.

Quietway 4 (Q4) runs from Clapham Common to Earlsfield in the Borough, through Wandsworth Common.

Photo credit: Herry Lawford via Flickr

By Car

Main roads in the area include the A3, also known as the Kingston Road and Wandsworth High Street depending upon which part you are located. There is also the A219 (Putney Hill Road) and the A205 (Upper Richmond Road). Merson Road to the North is found by the river Thames and just over there is the A308 (New Kings Road) and the A217 (Wandsworth Bridge Road).

This area is also covered by the excellent Google Street View where you can literally take a walk along the road.

7. Explore Nearby Boroughs from Wandsworth

Wandsworth is an ideal base for you to start exploring the rest of London’s unique boroughs. Even though it is all a part of the same ceremonial county, Greater London, each district withhold different traditions and cultural heritage that is just worth exploring. From an array of iconic attractions, historic landmarks to stunning countryside, you are just a short ride away.

Lambeth

With a 29-minute car drive, situated directly across the Thames from the House of Parliament and the City of Westminster, Lambeth is famed for its waterfront developments and an eclectic mix of exclusive landmarks. You can also experience some breathtaking views of its open spaces, cultural high points, markets, pubs, and wine bars, as well as its buzzling art facilities. The most notable is its world-class nightlife where you can spend great time at some of London’s premier and legendary venues.

Photo credit: Andrea Pucci via Flickr

Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea

With just a 24-minute car drive, Kensington and Chelsea is an area of historic and architectural interest. Renowned for its beautiful residential streets and squares, it covers five square miles and boasts many embassies and London landmarks. 70 percent of this borough is in conservation areas.

Kensington's royal borough status was granted in 1901 as it was the home of Kensington Palace, where Queen Victoria was born in 1819 and lived until her accession in 1837. This being said, Kensington is one of the most affluent, posh and sophisticated areas of central London. It is an elegant but densely populated area, making it perfect for a Sunday walk or a trip with friends to take on a more bustling atmosphere.

Merton

Merton is a borough in south-west London, a more recent creation born out of the historic parishes of Wimbledon, Merdon, Mitcham and Merton by the London Government Act of 1963.

Today, the city is a mixture of ancient history and future renovation, of rural roots and urban sophistication. Visitors to Merton are also spoiled with an array of activities, whether it is entertainment, shopping, visiting, or eating, this place will surely have something for everyone.