Tucked away on Harleyford Road (the road that links Vauxhall station to The Oval), you’ll find not one but two utterly wonderful community gardens – absolute gems the both of them. The first one is Bonnington Square Pleasure Garden. The other is Harleyford Road Community Garden. Both are a peaceful leafy retreat from the screechy bustle of Vauxhall…and there’s one of the best deli in the world round the corner, too.

Bonnington Square Pleasure Garden: from dereliction to delight

Bonnington Square Pleasure Garden (the name is a nod to Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens nearby) is a tiny sliver of botanical delight. The garden was created from scratch by residents on the site of a derelict playground, which was itself built on a former WW2 bomb site. It’s an exuberant mix of English garden and lush exoticism, with dozens of idiosyncratic touches to enchant visitors and locals alike.

From a marble factory that stood nearby, there’s a reclaimed water wheel peeking from under the shrubbery. Here the curly bits of a metal garden bench can be still be seen amongst the poplars, there you can catch a glimpse of the weathered stone bust of a Roman goddess. Benches are plentiful, and you’ll even find a couple of swings for the kiddies.

Harleyford Road Community Garden: a haven for wildlife

Harleyford Road Community Garden, just round the corner, is similar…and different. It’s several times the size of Bonnington Square Pleasure Garden (although that’s still not very big). It feels larger than it is, though, because of its irregular shape. So many hooks and crannies to explore, so many meandering paths to follow. There’s a play area for children, too.

The garden is enclosed within brick walls, which add to the sense of privacy. You could have stumbled into somebody’s peaceful back garden, all dappled light and muffled sounds. You might spot a cat napping on a picnic table. It’s a tranquil world. It’s as lush as Bonnington Square Pleasure Garden, in a slightly wilder, more organic, slightly decaying and uniquely wonderful way.

Bonnington Square: lush and elegant, with a world-famous deli on the corner

Bonnington Square itself is a pretty, tree lined square, whose houses were originally built in the 1870s for railway workers. It’s bursting with plant life: flowers in window boxes, gardens in front of every house, miniature forests on each corner.

This is a far cry from the state it was in the late 70s, when it was purchased by the Greater London Council (then the ruling body over London). Its residents were compelled to leave, and the area fell into disrepair. In the 1980s, it was revitalized by squatters who moved into the derelict empty houses and set up a volunteer run vegetarian café (which is still going– you can check their latest news on their website), a nightclub, a wholefood shop, and a community garden (the precursor to today’s garden).

Feeling peckish? Pay a visit to Italo deli (open daily, but do double-check the website) for yummy sandwiches on fluffy focaccia and mouth-watering daily hot dishes. They also a unique range of foodstuff (a lot of them Italian…yeah, the name is a bit of a clue…or locally produced).

How to get to Bonnington Square

The nearest public transport station to Bonnington Square is Vauxhall, which is a hub for trains (South Western Railway), tube (Victoria line) and busses (Vauxhall bus station). The second-nearest station is Oval (Northern line). It’s about a 10 minutes walk from either station.

Bonnington Square Pleasure Garden: practical information

Address: 2-12 Bonnington Square, London SW8 1TE

Website: https://www.bonningtonsquaregarden.org.uk/ and https://www.facebook.com/Bonnington-Square-Garden-Association-171748846183019/

Opening hours: morning to evening, 7 days a week, although as it’s run by volunteers, the timetable is not set in stone (as pointed out on their website)

Harleyford Road Community Garden: practical information

Address: Harleyford Road, SE11 5AX

No website, alas.

Opening hours: morning to evening, 7 days a week. I’m assuming it’s open by the same volunteers behind the Bonnington Square Garden.

Harleyford Road Community Garden actually has two entrances, one on Harleyford Road, behind an iron gate; and one in Bonnington Square, through a passageway via one of the houses. It’s well hidden in one of the corners, though. This is what it looks like:

Italo Deli: practical information

Address: 13 Bonnington Square, London SW8 1TE

Website: https://italodeli.co.uk/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/italo_vauxhall_/

Bonnington Café: practical information

Address: 11 Vauxhall Grove, London SW8 1TD

Website: https://bonningtoncentre.org/

And one last thing….

And there you go, I hope you enjoyed this glimpse into these two hidden London gems. It truly is a delightful little pocket of London! I loved it so much that I just had to find out what the property prices might be (because surely one can dream…)

And… average price: half a million pounds (for a flat). Mmmm, not bad for central(ish) London? (Source: Rightmove.)