Wandsworth

About Wandsworth

Wandsworth is located in south-west London on the River Thames and is a rapidly developing area with the Council and Wandsworth Challenge Partnership investing £17.5m in its regeneration. Wandsworth’s has a unique heritage and boasts numerous historical interests and listed buildings. The town offers diverse shopping and entertainment facilities. Apart from Southside, shoppers can enjoy a varied selection of specialist's shops, boutiques, cafés, bars and restaurants to enjoy. Getting to and from Wandsworth is easy with the town centre well served by major roads and public transport with 10 bus routes and national rail services.

Things to see

The Parish Church – All Saints
All Saint's Church in Wandsworth High Street is said to date back to 1159 when it was constructed from wood but parts of the current building date from 1780. The first mention of the Church was in 1234, when the vicar John de Panormo was granted a dispensation from Pope Innocent IV to hold the Church of Wandlesworth in the Diocese of Winchester. The 1859 stained glass window depicts the Transfiguration and there is a marble font dating from 1572. The earliest parish registers date from 1603 and are a useful method of finding information.

Bars & Restaurants
There are bars, cafes and restaurants in Wandsworth to suit all tastes and budgets. (See Food and Drink section to see the restaurants in Southside). Food ranges from international cuisine through to the many traditional pubs and modern bars some with attractive gardens which come into their own during the summer. You will find these restaurants just about everywhere in Wandsworth Town Centre but most can be found situated by the River Thames on Point Pleasant or the riverside quarter, Old York Road, Wandsworth High Street, Garratt Lane, and East or West Hill.

De Morgan Exhibition
The De Morgan Centre is a Gallery and Exhibition Centre housing the most complete collection of the work of William De Morgan, the most important ceramic artist of the Arts and Crafts Movement, and his wife Evelyn - one of the most important woman painters of the Pre-Raphaelite period. The gallery holds regular exhibitions on topics related to the 19th Century, contemporary crafts and antiques from the period of the De Morgans. Open Mon- Wed 12 noon to 18.00, Fri/Sat 10.00. -17.00 Closed Thurs/Sunday. Admission is free. 38 West Hill, London SW18 1RZ. Tel 020 8871 1144

Wandsworth Town Heritage Trail
There are two heritage walks that let you explore Wandsworth's past and discover its new developments. Both walks begin in Wandsworth High Street on the Wandle Bridge outside the Southside Shopping Centre. You can go East or West. The walks take approximately 20 minutes each. For a free copy of the Heritage Trail booklet, please phone 020 8871 8277.

The Huguenot Burial Ground
Many Huguenots, French Protestants, left France in the 1600's and moved to England where they could enjoy freedom of worship. Many settled in Wandsworth. Over the years they prospered and integrated into English society. In 1910 a collection was started to provide a monument to Wandsworth's Huguenots and within a year, enough money was collected to erect a stone memorial. It was unveiled in October 1911 by Mr St Aubyn Roumieu, President of the Huguenot Society of London. The monument is located 400 metres up Wandsworth High Street into East Hill, it's situated behind Book House at the junction of East Hill and Wandsworth Common Northside

King George’s Park
King George's Park was opened in 1936 by King George V, and has grown to 55 acres with a restored lake, ornamental areas, sports pitches, tennis and bowling, Trim Trail, children's playground, BMX and adventure playground, and One O'Clock Centre for younger children. The River Wandle forms part of the eastern boundary of the park. There is a riverside walk, alongside which there are ecological areas. The Adventure Playground is found in Kimber Road. Opening times are: Term Time Tuesday-Friday 3.30-7.00pm Saturday 11.00-6.00pm. Holidays: Monday-Saturday 11.00am-6.00pm. The entrance to the park is off Buckhold Road.

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