This neighbourhood is only a quick walk across the Vauxhall Bridge from Pimlico. On the cusp of the Vauxhall and Kennington areas, it’s a residential oasis amongst the hustle and bustle of central London. Despite being home to major tourist attractions like the Kia Oval Cricket Club, or the Beefeater Gin Distillery that’s housed in a stunning old Edwardian building, the neighbourhood has retained a rather local feel. A walk through the historical Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens park will reveal a plethora of independent shops and restaurants, like the Tea House Theatre Pub that dates back to the 19th century. For residents seeking artistic outlets, they’re able to pop into a gallery show at Gasworks Art Space, or dance into the late hours at the beloved drag and cabaret club, the Royal Vauxhall Tavern. The neighbourhood caters for more than just young professionals however. Home to the Vauxhall Gardens Community Centre, and varied housing options – from Victorian terraced houses to more modern tower blocks – many families are drawn to the Vauxhall & Kennington area as well. Between all of this, as well as the area’s multiple tube stations nearby, it’s no wonder that this neighbourhood continues to see interest from developers and investors.

Back in 1337, Kennington served as the site of Edward the Black Prince’s manor and royal palace. It wasn’t until 1622 however, that parts of the manor began to be leased out to local residents. Having begun to build upon the properties, the neighbourhood became even more popular and developed when the construction of Westminster Bridge was completed in 1750, which in turn provided easy access to the neighbourhood. Following WWII, Lambeth Council built social housing in the area, the neighbourhood began to be appreciated for the diverse architectural landscape that it’s known for today - a mix of not just Victorian terraced houses, but also large council tower blocks.

Renowned army official, Viscount Montgomery of Alamein, lived in Kennington. Affectionately known as Monty, he served as Commander in Chief under General Eisenhower for the Normandy landings. This area is also infamously known as the site where the first person from Britain was to die in a parachute accident: Robert Cocking was taking part in a jump in Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens on Grand Fete Day in 1837. Whilst the accident tragically shaped this space, there are also several more positive associations that can be noted. For example, scenes from the 1990’s Brad Pitt film Snatch were filmed at the Vauxhall Gardens Community Centre.

The neighbourhood’s crime rate is slightly higher than Lambeth Council’s average. The majority of the crimes that took place in Kennington over the past couple of years were classified as theft. Crime rate aside, the area takes pride in its high rates of employment and high degree level qualifications. The area’s residents have formed a tightly knit community in the neighbourhood, which has allowed places like the Vauxhall Community Centre to thrive. This centre has been around for over 30 years, and continues to offer local residents the opportunity to partake in affordable activities, serving as a space for community engagement.

This neighbourhood sits in the centre of Lambeth Council’s Oval and Kennington Development Area. The most notable upcoming change will be the repurposing of the long derelict Oval gasometers. These local landmarks will be integrated into the expansive Oval Village development, retaining their original industrial form. Set to be completed later in 2022, this will be joined by an assortment of other residential led mixed use buildings which centre around an abundance of public open space. The development also boasts views across the neighbouring Oval cricket ground, especially for residents who will be at the top of the 18-storey Pinnacle tower. Nextdoor, at 275 Kennington Lane, a local Tesco is being redeveloped by GRID Architects. The three new buildings will range from 4-17 storeys and provide 571 residential units as well as ground floor retail units for a replacement supermarket.