Living In Vauxhall – Five of my favourite things
Vauxhall is a part of London which is not given much thought by people, but this contributes to the many reasons why it is an excellent place to live.
I have been a resident for seven months now and have not regretted my decision to locate to this busy central London neighbourhood.
I feel it is one of the safest areas south of the river as I’ve walked home late at night multiples times, but of course that does not stop me from saying to be careful with your belongings wherever you are in London.
What makes me the happiest about living in Vauxhall that it is home the Royal Vauxhall Tavern, an iconic LGBT venue.
The tall buildings located in Vauxhall are something I really like about the area. They add a New York skyscraper vibe, and one that I particularly like is St George’s Wharf Tower – a residential block that is the 18th tallest building in London.
One of the downsides of living in Vauxhall is the heavy traffic congestion. The street in front of my accommodation is the main through road and is often packed with cars and buses, which can make crossing it difficult, especially if you are in a rush.
I live close to Vauxhall rail station and can see the trains running through it from my kitchen window, so noise pollution is also a nuisance factor, especially during the day.
Despite the noise and congestion, here are five things I love about living in Vauxhall.
Albert Embankment
Taking walks along River Thames is probably my favourite thing to do in Vauxhall, with great views of the London Eye and Houses of Parliament.
The Embankment offers benches so you can also sit and take in the sights. As spring approaches, it would serve as the perfect spot for a picnic.
Along the Embankment is a boat which has a bar inside. At night, when the boat is lit up, this stretch of the riverside looks even prettier.
Market Place Vauxhall
Step this way for the best comfort and affordable street food In Vauxhall! Situated right next to the train station is Market Place Vauxhall, which has around 12 different restaurants featuring cuisines from around the world.
These range from wood-fired pizzas to freshly-baked items from Bread Ahead, Indian street food at Curry On Naanstop, delicious Mexican fare from Hermanos Taco House, and bubble tea from East And Tea Co. For lovers of Italian cooking, Mamma Mia offers some mouthwatering pasta dishes. Last but not least, there are really yummy kebabs from Farm House Kebab and delicious Thai goodies from Momo Thai.
The Market Place also features a bar, a DJ booth and seating for 200 people. It is one of my favourite outings on a Sunday evening when I don’t feel like doing too much except going somewhere on my doorstep for great music, great food and great vibes.
Vauxhall bus station
From Vauxhall you have an easy journey to just about anywhere and everywhere in London. It is said to be the second busiest bus station in the city.
Directly next to to the bus station is the London Underground station for the Victoria line and the national rail for South Western trains.
However, there is an ongoing controversy about the bus station being demolished and replacing it with yet more tower blocks. This has sparked local protests but these look to have failed, and the development is set to go ahead.
The MI6 Building
The iconic headquarters of Britain’s Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) is located on the Albert Embankment beside Vauxhall Bridge. All 007 fans will recognise it instantly as the building has been featured in many of the James Bond movies.
It is one of the landmarks for which Vauxhall is best known but is, of course, off limits to the public. I had always wondered when watching Bond films where this building was in London, and who would have thought I would one day be living in Vauxhall and pass it on my daily route to university and work.
Vauxhall Comedy Club
A new space for comedy in London is the Vauxhall Comedy Club. Open seven days a week, it features stand-up routines from a host of comedians, with fresh material every week.
Located just two minutes away from Vauxhall tube station, it is already renowned as one of London’s best comedy clubs, with no booking fee, cheap tickets and entry with a free drink as an added incentive to visit with your friends.
I would recommend Vauxhall as a great place to live, especially for all those young professionals and students out there. Although prices have increased this year it is still relatively affordable for such a central London neighbourhood.