This neighbourhood is situated on the southern bank of the Thames and is made up of parts of Vauxhall, Lambeth and Waterloo. It is one of the most vibrant postcodes in the capital, with a culturally diverse population and is crammed full of restaurants, cafes, and riverside pubs, including a bar on a bright yellow boat known as Tamesis Dock. It has a community feel due to the theatres, numerous local shops, churches, and a park, while simultaneously boasting many significant London attractions, including the London Eye and Sea Life Aquarium. The neighbourhood has an eclectic mix of vintage markets, award winning wine bars, and thriving arts facilities, as well as proximity to nightlife in Elephant & Castle and Borough. It is a youthful area, filled with many young professionals who are attracted to its excellent transport links, its cosmopolitan social scene, and the relatively affordable housing.

Until the 1700s, this neighbourhood was still partly rural, as it was outside the boundaries of central London. This meant that it was not subject to London’s rules and could play host to the seedy entertainment venues, such as bawdy theatres and bear pits. In the early 1800s, due to the arrival of the Industrial Revolution, various industries began to pop up, including timber yards, vinegar works, breweries, and boat building. By the mid 1800s, there was more residential development, but it was still very much the norm to use the river as a means of transportation. It wasn’t until 1888, that residents here got clean piped water and a proper main drainage system installed.

For those of you interested in the darker side of London’s past, this neighbourhood was also home to the Necropolis Railway Station (operating from 1854-1941), that transported London’s dead to a cemetery near Surrey, reaching nearly 2,000 bodies a day at its peak.

Lambeth Bridge is featured in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. When the night Bus is speeding through London, it squeezes in between two red double decker buses on the bridge. William Blake, the acclaimed poet, painter, and printmaker, also lived in this area on Hercules Road from 1790-1800. A series of 70 mosaics celebrating Blake and his work can be seen today on Centaur Street.

One negative thing about living in this area is that there is a higher than average crime rate, with theft and handling being the highest reported crime. This is likely due to the number of tourist attractions in the area but residents report feeling safe walking along the streets as there are always people around.

This neighbourhood area has undergone significant development in recent years. One Casson Square is a recently completed residential development just off York Road housing luxury apartments which start at £4,100,000. A slightly more affordable tower block is currently being completed next door which will include an additional entrance to Waterloo Underground Station. Directly opposite, plans are currently under review for a larger redevelopment of Elizabeth House. The scheme will reimagine the pedestrian environment around Waterloo Station’s northern entrance providing public gardens, residential accommodation and commercial space capable of supporting 11,000 new jobs.