Artists’ Footsteps: A Guided Art Tour of Vauxhall & Kennington

Discover stories of artists in this part of London, from the first gallery to today’s most exciting new spaces.

Step into the surprising history of art in Vauxhall and Kennington.
Few people know that the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens once hosted a lively and daring art scene. Visitors dined among grand paintings and strolled past intriguing sculptures — works that sometimes shocked and even provoked attack!

Two centuries later, the area became home to the Lambeth School of Art, flourishing under the inspiring leadership of John Sparkes. And today, Vauxhall and Kennington are still alive with artists and creativity.

Join us on this guided walk to uncover stories of artists across the centuries, and explore the very places where they exhibited, learned, and practised their craft.

📍 Meeting point: Kennington Lane entrance to the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens, near the big columns.
🚶‍♀️ End point: Near Kennington Station.

Your guide, Lucia van der Drift, is a lively and knowledgeable speaker, a member of the Lambeth Tour Guide Association, and a writer and facilitator who promotes wellbeing through engagement with art. She regularly leads workshops for The National Gallery, The Royal Collection, and The Wallace Collection.

CMPV Wellness Reception at the National Gallery © Ian Tuttle Photography