London area of SW8 guide

What to do and where to stay in London's SW8 neighbourhood

The SW8 postcode takes in the area of South Lambeth and Nine Elms, as well as parts of Vauxhall and Battersea. Largely a residential area, SW8 is centred on the New Covent Market, a large wholesale fruit, vegetables and flowers market. The name Lambeth means "landing place for lambs" in Old English and refers to a harbour on the Thames where lambs were either shipped from or to, back as late as the 11th century. There's a large Portuguese community in South Lambeth and many bars and restaurants with a strong connection to both Portugal and Madeira are located on the South Lambeth Road. The derelict Battersea Power Station, with its iconic four towers, is also found in SW8. Vauxhall is renowned for its gay nightlife scene, with the famous pub the Royal Vauxhall Tavern and nightclub Fire particularly popular.

See our recommended nearby SW8 Hotels, Entertainment, Sights and Attractions, Shopping, Restaurants, Pubs, Nightlife, Leisure, Education, and Meeting Venues.

SW8 Hotels

in or near SW8
Dolphin House Serviced Apartments
London > Apartment > Apartment
Dolphin Square, SW1V
Dolphin House is a wonderfully quiet spot.The tranquillity is all the more surprising given its close proximity to Victoria, making it convenient for Westminster and Tate ... More
 
 
 
41 Hotel London
London > Hotels > Luxury Chain Hotel
41 Buckingham Palace Road, SW1W
The tenth best hotel in Europe (according to New Yorker's tourist Bible 'Travel and Leisure') is so close to Buckingham Palace you can almost hear the ... More
 
 
 
The Rubens at the Palace Hotel
London > Hotels > Mid-Range Chain Hotel
39 Buckingham Palace Road, SW1W
This is as close to Buckingham Palace as you can get. It's also nearby Victoria station which is not quite as glamorous but very convenient. There ... More
 
 
 

SW8 Entertainment

in or near SW8
PICK
The Battersea Barge
London > Entertainment > Venue Hire
Riverside Walk, Nine Elms Lane, Nine Elms Lane, Vauxhall, SW8, London SW8
In the shadow of the Battersea Power Station, the Battersea Barge is a unique venue that's open daily for food, drink and ... More
 
 
 
PICK
Above The Stag Theatre
London > Entertainment > Theatres
Arch 17, Miles Street, SW8, London SW8
Above the Stag Theatre, one of London's most successful small theatres, re-opens in a brand new venue on 29th November 2013, in a renovated railway ... More
 
 
 
Arch 50
London > Entertainment > South Lambeth Place, SW8, London SW8
... More
 
 
 

SW8 Sights and Attractions

The best museums, galleries, attractions in or near SW8
PICK
Embassy Gardens
London > Attractions > Sights
Market Towers, 1 Nine Elms Lane, SW8, London SW8
Embassy Gardens, a new-build neighbourhood in Nine Elms on the South Bank, takes design inspiration from the Meatpacking District of New York with floor to ceiling ... More
 
 
 
PICK
Sky Pool at Embassy Gardens
London > Attractions > Sights
Market Towers, 1 Nine Elms Lane, SW8, London SW8
A stunning outdoor Sky Pool links two residential buildings in the Embassy Gardens development, a new neighbourhood in Nine Elms near Battersea Park. High up on ... More
 
 
 
PICK
Tate Britain
London > Attractions > Art Galleries
Millbank, SW8, London SW1P
Overlooking the River Thames, Tate Britain was originally founded through the philanthropy of the sugar magnate Sir Henry Tate. The Tate legacy now encompasses three other ... More
 
 
 

SW8 Shopping

The best shops and markets in or near London's SW8
PICK
Lassco House & Garden
London > Shopping > House and Garden
Brunswick House, 30 Wandsworth Road, Vauxhall, SW8, London SW8
Architectural salvage produces the most gloriously mismatched collection of pieces, all housed in this disused church. Stock changes constantly; look for anything from stuffed animals to ... More
 
 
 
Sainsbury's
London > Shopping > Supermarkets
62 Wandsworth Road, SW8, London SW8
Supermarket ... More
 
 
 
New Covent Garden Flower Market
London > Shopping > Markets
Nine Elms Lane, SW8, London SW8
New Covent Garden Flower Market is where the florists go, meaning that you can buy flowers, plants and foliage at wholesale prices. There are fresh daily ... More
 
 
 

SW8 Restaurants

What are the best dining options in or near SW8 London?
PICK
Goya Pimlico
London > Restaurants > Spanish restaurants
34 Lupus Street, Pimlico, SW8, London SW1V
Spanish cuisine. ... More
 
 
 
PICK
Pizza Express
London > Restaurants > Italian restaurants
46 Moreton Street, SW8, London SW1V
Pizza Express has become something of a London institution. Serving consistently excellent Italian pizzas quickly in pleasant unfussy surroundings, this is always a convenient and acceptable ... More
 
 
 
PICK
Brunswick House
London > Restaurants > British restaurants
30 Wandsworth Road, SW8, London SW8
An elegant Georgian mansion "oddly marooned among the urban ugliness of the Vauxhall gyratory system" (Marina O'Loughlin, The Guardian), Brunswick House is home to the architectural ... More
 
 
 

SW8 Pubs

The best pubs in or near London SW8.
PICK
Nine Elms Tavern
London > Nightlife > Pubs
Riverlight Quay, Nine Elms Lane, SW8, London SW8
On Riverlight Quay near Battersea Power Station stands Young's pub Nine Elms Tavern, named after the neighbourhood created by the regeneration ... More
 
 
 
PICK
The Fentiman Arms
London > Restaurants > Gastropub
64 Fentiman Road, SW8, London SW8
The Fentiman Arms is a special pub in Lambeth a cricket ball's throw way from The Oval. They have a lovely wild garden out the back, ... More
 
 
 
The Vauxhall Griffin
London > Nightlife > Pubs
8 Wyvil Road, Vauxhall, SW8, London SW8
The Vauxhall Griffin is as well known for its award winning ales as it is for events. There's a weekly quiz night, a cinema room and ... More
 
 
 

SW8 Nightlife

SW8 clubs, bars, cabaret nights, casinos and interesting nightlife.
PICK
Fire
London > Nightlife > Nightclubs
South Lambeth Road, Vauxhall, SW8, London SW8
London's biggest and best gay venue, Fire hosts a cluster of different club nights including more and more straight-friendly one-off parties over the weekends. Newly redesigned ... More
 
 
 
PICK
The LightBox
London > Nightlife > 6a South Lambeth Place, SW8, London SW8
A visual feast, Lightbox is three room club in Vauxhall which takes its name from the LED walls and ceiling that cover the club's main room. ... More
 
 
 
ReZ's
London > Nightlife > Nightclubs
1 Nine Elms Lane, SW8, London SW8
... More
 
 
 

SW8 Leisure

SW8 gyms, sporting activities, health & beauty and fitness.
Westminster Boating Base
London > Leisure > Activities
136 Grosvenor Road, SW8, London SW1V
... More
 
 
 
Dolphin Square Sports Club
London > Leisure > Fitness
Dolphin Square, SW8, London SW1V
Fitness Club ... More
 
 
 
Zest! Heatlth and Fitness Spa
London > Leisure > Fitness
Dolphin Square Hotel, Dolphin Square, SW8, London SW1V
... More
 
 
 

SW8 Education

in or near SW8
Pimlico Academy
London > Education > Lupus Street, SW8, London SW1V
Pimlico Academy is a non-fee paying school in South West London. The facilities are often used for community activities and car boot sales on weekends, evenings ... More
 
 
 
Lilian Baylis Technology School
London > Education > 323 Kennington Lane, SW8, London SE11
The Lilian Baylis Technology School is a secondary school in Kennington, it also has a sixth form which opened in 2012. ... More
 
 
 

SW8 Meeting Venues

Where to have your meeting, conference, exhibition, private dining or training course in or near SW8.
PICK
The Battersea Barge
London > Business > Venue Hire
Riverside Walk, Nine Elms Lane, Nine Elms Lane, Vauxhall, SW8, London SW8
In the shadow of the Battersea Power Station, the Battersea Barge is a unique venue that's open daily for food, drink and ... More
 
 
 
PICK
Tate Britain
London > Business > Venue Hire
Millbank, SW8, London SW1P
Conference facilities can accomodate up to 1550 people.... More
 
 
 
PICK
Atmosphere Venues
London > Business > Venue Hire
29th Floor Millbank Tower, 21-24 Millbank, SW8, London SW1P
Book in at this collection of contemporary venue spaces located in Westminster's Millbank Tower, an 118-metre high ... More
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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