This area guide to Wandsworth offers a brief overview of the district, including its local shops, attractions, properties, schools and higher educational institutes, history, council tax and public transport links.

Wandsworth Overview

Wandsworth, on the South Bank of the Thames in South West London, is a largely residential district with a community spirit and a welcome relaxing escape from the hurly-burly of central London .

Wandsworth is part of the Borough of Wandsworth and the main postcode in Wandsworth is SW18.

Wandsworth Shopping

There is a wide selection of high street shopping facilities in the Wandsworth area, along with the Southside shopping centre, which offers a pleasant mix of big name fashion stores and places to eat.

Wandsworth Attractions

There is no shortage of things to see and do in the area. There are some fabulous waterside walks, an array of art galleries, the Wandsworth Museum filled with various artefacts and collections from Wandsworth’s rich history, and historic green spaces, including Wandsworth Common.

Wandsworth Food and Drink

There are a decent number of trendy pubs, bars and restaurants in Wandsworth to suit all tastes.

Chez Bruce on Bellevue Road, Brady's on Old York Road, and China Boulevard on Smugglers Way, are among just a few of the vast selection of popular restaurants in Wandsworth.

Wandsworth also has its fair share of modern and historic places to go out drinking. The Old Sergeant, a popular local pub on Garratt Lane, has existed since 1785, while The Ship Inn, located along the riverside, is the perfect place to chill out. Elsewhere, there are many more modern bars, some of which serve funky cocktails, such as the Lost Society on Wandsworth Road.

Wandsworth History

Wandsworth, which was an industrial hub in the early nineteenth century, has been subject to waves of immigration since the sixteenth century up to the modern day, with many people having moved into the area from across Europe, most notably the Dutch in the sixteenth century and the French in the seventeenth century.

For further information on the history of Wandsworth, there are historical localised talks and lectures held by the Wandsworth Historical Society on the last Friday of the month at the Friends' Meeting House on Wandsworth High Street, SW18.

Wandsworth Property Market

Wandsworth offers some of the most luxurious homes in London – some of which were featured in the UK hit movie Love Actually in 2003. Consequently, it comes as little surprise that the Wandsworth property market attracts many affluent Londoners.

Large terraced, semi-detached and detached housing situated in and around Earlsfield Road, East Hill and West Side Wandsworth Common attract the greatest level of demand among people seeking to buy property in Wandsworth. Smaller terraced houses - known as The Tonsleys – located behind Old York Road, are also extremely popular, which is reflected in the high asking prices they generally command.

More affordable housing, including some high-rise ex-local authority apartments, is located at the bottom of East Hill.

Wandsworth Council Tax Rates

Wandsworth council tax levels are the lowest in the UK. The annual rate of council tax varies and is dependant on the valuation band, which is determined by the value of the property and the current rates for the local council.

Wandsworth council tax:

Band GradeValueAnnual Council Tax Cost
Band AUp to & including £40,000£454.54
Band B£1200.34 £530.30
Band C£1371.82 £606.06
Band D£1079.12 £681.81
Band E£1318.93 £833.33
Band F£1558.73 £984.84
Band G£1798.54 £1136.36
Band H£2158.24 £1363.62

Wandsworth Education

The schools in Wandsworth vary but all generally offer a high quality education. Here is a list of schools and colleges in and around the area:

  • Albemarle Primary School
  • All Saints CE Primary School
  • Balham Nursery
  • Belleville Primary School
  • Broadwater Primary School
  • Christchurch CE Primary School
  • Earlsfield Primary School
  • Falconbrook Primary School
  • Franciscan Primary School
  • Gatton Primary School
  • Heathmere Primary School
  • Hillbrook Primary School
  • Honeywell Infants School
  • Hotham Primary School
  • Our Lady of Victories RC Primary School
  • Penwortham Primary School
  • Riversdale Primary School
  • Ronald Ross Primary School
  • Sacred Heart (Roehampton) RC Primary School
  • Shaftesbury Park Primary School
  • Sir James Barrie Primary School
  • Somerset Nursery School
  • St Anne's CE Primary School
  • St Boniface RC Primary School
  • St George's CE Primary School
  • St Mary's CE Primary School
  • St Michael's CE Primary School
  • The Alton Primary School
  • West Hill Primary School
  • Wix Primary School
  • Alderbrook Primary School
  • Allfarthing Primary School
  • Beatrix Potter Primary School
  • Brandlehow Primary School
  • Chesterton Primary School
  • Eardley Primary School
  • Eastwood Nursery School
  • Fircroft Primary School
  • Furzedown Primary School
  • Granard Primary School
  • High View Primary School
  • Holy Ghost RC Primary School
  • Honeywell Junior School
  • John Burns Primary School
  • Our Lady Queen of Heaven RC Primary School
  • Ravenstone Primary School
  • Roehampton CE Primary School
  • Sacred Heart (Battersea) RC Primary School
  • Sellincourt Primary School
  • Sheringdale Primary School
  • Smallwood Primary School
  • Southmead Primary Schools
  • St Anselm's RC Primary School
  • St Faith's CE Primary School
  • St Joseph's RC Primary School
  • St Mary's RC Primary School
  • Swaffield Primary School
  • Trinity St Mary's CE Primary School
  • Westbridge Primary School
  • Ashcroft Technology Academy
  • Burntwood School
  • Elliott School
  • Graveney School
  • Saint Cecilia's, Wandsworth School
  • Battersea Park School
  • Chestnut Grove School
  • Ernest Bevin College
  • John Paul II RC School
  • Southfields Community College
  • Salesian College

Wandsworth Hospitals

The nearest hospital is St George’s on Blackshaw Road in Tooting, SW17.

Wandsworth Transport Links

Wandsworth benefits from superb transport links, both mainline and underground, with Waterloo and Clapham Junction located within close proximity. Vauxhall Station, SW8, is also an option for people commuting to and from the area.

There are a number of trains from Waterloo station providing regular services to other parts of England. The station’s Underground is conveniently served by the Bakerloo, Jubilee, Northern and Waterloo & City lines.

Vauxhall station is served by the Victoria line, while Clapham Junction – one stop from Waterloo – is one of the busiest stations in Britain.

Buses and taxis are also readily available, with a number of services operating in the Wandsworth area.

This area guide is intended to give a general overview of the area, whilst the information contained is believed to be accurate at the time of publication no responsibility is accepted for any errors or subsequent alterations.