London Borough of Culture 2025
Wandsworth
Battersea Power Station, 200 acres of riverside park and England's largest lido — strung along the south bank of the Thames from Battersea to Putney.
Free £10 welcome bonus when you sign up · 100% free samples, £0 cost, UK brands at FreeSamples.co.uk
- 327,506Residents
- 200 acresBattersea Park
- 91mEngland's largest lido
- 2025Borough of Culture
Welcome to Wandsworth
Four chimneys, two commons and eleven miles of river
Wandsworth is one of London's largest inner boroughs, running along the south bank of the Thames from Battersea to Putney — and in 2025 it holds the Mayor's London Borough of Culture title.
It's home to 327,506 residents across communities that each keep their own character: Battersea and its rebuilt power station, Balham and Tooting with their markets and food halls, riverside Putney, Wandsworth Town around the old Young's brewery, plus Earlsfield, Southfields and Roehampton.
With Clapham Junction — one of Britain's busiest railway stations — at its centre and river buses stopping at Battersea Power Station Pier, it's unusually easy to reach. This guide covers getting here, the main attractions, where to eat and your bin collection dates.
Getting here
Getting to Wandsworth
Tube, train, river bus or road — and Clapham Junction if you're coming from almost anywhere else.
By tube
Northern line: Battersea Power Station, Balham, Tooting Bec, Tooting Broadway.
District line: East Putney, Southfields, Putney Bridge.
By train
Clapham Junction is one of Britain's busiest stations, served by South Western Railway, Southern and London Overground.
Also Wandsworth Town, Putney, Earlsfield, Balham and Wandsworth Common.
By river
Uber Boat by Thames Clippers serves Battersea Power Station Pier and Wandsworth Riverside Quarter.
About 20 minutes from Embankment — the best arrival if it's your first visit.
By bus
An extensive network including routes 37, 39, 44, 77, 87, 156, 170, 319, 337, 344 and 436, connecting all areas of the borough.
Where Wandsworth is
Area: South West London — SW11, SW15, SW17 and SW18.
The borough stretches along the south bank of the Thames, bordered by Richmond, Merton and Lambeth, and faces Hammersmith, Kensington & Chelsea and Westminster across the river.
Main areas: Battersea, Balham, Putney, Tooting, Wandsworth Town, Earlsfield, Southfields, Roehampton.
Getting to Battersea Power Station
Battersea Power Station tube station sits on the Northern line extension, a short walk from the building itself.
By water, the river bus from Embankment takes about 20 minutes to the pier outside. Both drop you at the same riverside entrance.
Borough of Culture 2025
A year of creativity and culture
Wandsworth was named the Mayor's London Borough of Culture 2025, with over £1.35 million in funding for a year of events — from Strictly Wandsworth dance spectaculars to Battersea Park in Concert with Jools Holland, the Wandsworth Arts Fringe and Heritage Festival walks.
The borough's venues run year-round too — the list opposite is where to look first.
-
Strictly Wandsworth
200 dancers unite in the borough's biggest dance event ever.
-
Battersea Park in Concert
A bank holiday weekend with Jools Holland and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
-
Wandsworth Arts Fringe
180 events across 65 venues over 17 days.
-
Battersea Arts Centre
Award-winning experimental theatre in a Grade II* listed former town hall.
-
Theatre503 & The Clapham Grand
Theatre503 has championed new writers since 1982; the Grand is a 1,250-seat 1900 venue for live music, comedy and club nights.
Things to do
Top attractions in Wandsworth
The landmark, the park, the lido and the towpath — start here.
Battersea Power Station
The Grade II* listed landmark reopened in 2022 after a £9 billion transformation. Inside: 150+ shops and restaurants, a cinema, Apple's UK headquarters, and a glass lift that climbs one of the four chimneys for 360° views.
Battersea Park
A boating lake, playgrounds, a miniature railway, Go Ape, the Children's Zoo and the riverside Peace Pagoda, with Thames views throughout.
Explore the park 91 metresTooting Bec Lido
The largest freshwater open-air swimming pool in England, open since 1906 and still the best thing in the borough on a hot day.
Find out more Wandsworth TownThe Ram Quarter
The former Young's brewery site, redeveloped into shops, restaurants and a weekend market, with the brewery heritage still visible.
Discover the quarter RiversideThe Thames Path
A scenic walking route along the south bank, linking Battersea to Putney with some of the best city views in South London.
Walk the path 175 acresWandsworth Common
A large common for picnics and long walks, with a playground, skatepark and the Victorian streets of "the Toast Rack" around it.
Explore the commonGreen spaces
Parks, commons and the riverside
From formal riverside parkland to sprawling commons and heath.
Battersea Park
200 acres on the Thames with the boating lake, Peace Pagoda, Go Ape and the Children's Zoo.
Battersea ParkWandsworth Common
175 acres of open common, one of the borough's best walking and picnic spots.
Wandsworth CommonTooting Common & Putney Heath
Tooting Common wraps around the Lido, while Putney Heath connects to Wimbledon Common for genuinely wild walking within Zone 3.
Eat, shop & services
Where to eat, drink and shop
A Michelin star in Balham, food halls in Tooting, and 150+ shops inside a power station.
Restaurants & dining
Fine dining: Chez Bruce, Michelin-starred since 1999, plus Smoke & Salt and The Waterfront.
Markets: Tooting Market and Broadway Market — multicultural food halls with cuisines from around the world.
Eat & drink in WandsworthShopping
Battersea Power Station: 150+ shops and restaurants under the turbine halls.
Also: Southside in Wandsworth Town, Putney Exchange, and the high streets in Balham, Tooting and Northcote Road.
Shopping in WandsworthLocal services
Find local businesses, tradespeople, professionals and essential services across the borough.
Browse servicesHotels in Wandsworth
From art'otel at Battersea Power Station to boutique B&Bs and riverside stays.
Find a place to stayFreebies
Free cash offers for Wandsworth residents
Sign up in minutes and start earning — no cost, no catch.
Join and get £10 in cash, paid within just 48 hours. No fees.
Get freebie- Click Get freebie
- Fill in your details and press “Start Earning Today”
- Complete simple tasks such as games and surveys
- No fees — you could earn £10 in as little as two days
Get a £10 welcome bonus free, plus up to £2.50 more for four quick questions.
Get freebie- Click Get freebie and sign up — the £10 bonus is free
- Answer 4 quick questions for an extra £2.50
- Complete more activities (15 levels) to add to your earnings
- Cash out — they pay members 3 times a week
Claim free beauty samples, food & drink, household products and more, delivered to your door.
Visit FreeSamples Calling all new mums in WandsworthFree, practical tools and gentle guidance for pregnancy, birth and early motherhood, made for UK mums.
Visit NewMumsWandsworth bin collection dates
Essential for all Wandsworth residents. Find out when your refuse, recycling and food waste is collected, check dates for your postcode, and see what goes in each bin.
On the map
Find Wandsworth
South West London, along the south bank of the River Thames.
Load interactive map
The Google map loads only when you ask for it, which keeps the page lighter and faster on mobile.
Explore the guide
More on Wandsworth
Welcome to Wandsworth
Start here: how the borough fits together and what each area is known for.
Read the introductionHistory of Wandsworth
From the River Wandle's mills and the Young's brewery to the power station's rebirth.
Read the historyThings to do
The full list of attractions, activities and local events for all ages.
See everythingQuestions
Wandsworth FAQs
Quick answers to the questions visitors and new residents ask most.