Local Hotspots - Wandsworth
Wandsworth: What you need to know
Wandsworth is close-by to Clapham Junction which is a buzzing urban hub of cocktail bars, night clubs and high street shops. Rent prices go down a little as you go towards Tooting which has more fruit and veg stalls than you can shake a courgette at. Tooting is split into Tooting Bec and Tooting Broadway, Broadway is the more lively end with pubs and their own little night club, The Tram and Social. Tooting Bec is the favourite for most of our students to reside in because there is one straight bus up to ALRA South, the 219 bus, although be warned: this is by no means reliable and we suggest students get hold of a bicycle and helmet which can be bought in the Halfords in Tooting Bec.
There are several gyms and leisure centres in and around Balham/ Tooting with cost of around £30 a month it might just be cheaper to take a run around the local Wandsworth or Tooting Commons!
Other areas our students live in are: Balham, Streatham, Colliers Wood or Earlsfield. Earlsfield is just a 10 minute walk from ALRA is full of upmarket boutiques and rather pricey cafes although it is certainly a lovely place to live. Earlsfield doesn’t connect to the underground but you can be in Waterloo in 15 minutes from Earlsfield Rail Station. Tooting connects to the Northern line at both Tooting Broadway and Tooting Bec.
You’ll find Streatham is one of the cheaper areas to live too, although it has no access to the underground a bicycle will be essential to you!
Nights out
Although you’ll find very little time to go out and about our students often plan monthly nights out in central London, but be prepared to spend upwards of £50. There are an infinite number of restaurants and night clubs in London, a good place to find something a little unique is Secret London: http://www.secret-london.co.uk/Welcome.html
A popular, (if not unashamedly tacky) club and favourite of the students is Infernos in Clapham and a good place to catch live bands locally is The Grand in Clapham.
All in all, you’ll never be short of things to do in London, whether you’re after cheap student deals on hot new theatre, comedy or just a good night out there’s always somewhere to go; you’ll just need to keep a close watch on how much you’re spending!
Best theatre:
Housed in Battersea’s original town hall, a Grade II listed building,Battersea Arts Centre (BAC)is a place of exceptional artistic output. Punchdrunk’s unsettling interactive playThe Masque of the Red Deathopened here before the company moved onto international fame withSleep No Moretearing the New York theatre scene apart throughout 2011. Richard Thomas’Jerry Springer- The Operaalso premiered here before moving to the Royal National Theatre to rave reviews.
Best restaurant:
Wandsworth’s one and only Michelin stared restaurant,Chez Bruce, made this category fairly easy to decide. Placed overlooking Wandsworth Common Brian Poole’s stylish outpost is among the best restaurants in London.
Best space:
Split almost exactly in half between Wandsworth and Lambeth, Clapham Common could be seen as a contentious winner. Cedars Road marks the dividing line and if we’re being honest Lambeth nabbed a lot of the spoils — the skatepark, the pond, the basketball courts and the plot for the phenomenalSW4festival. With this in mind we’re going to ignore the borough line — it’s not like there’s a toll booth. In reality this is just a wide open expanse of green which is an example to the rest of London in the way it is utilised by the entire community.
Best landmark:
Young’s brewery in Wandsworth Town is, as of 2006, no longer functional. That does not stop this being an incredible landmark. This is the oldest brewery site in Britain and has given birth to the largest and most successful pub franchise in the country. You can’t swing a cat without hitting a Young’s pub and this is where it all began.
Best secret:
As with most secrets in London this is no kind of secret at all. Getting a table at Meze in Tooting is a thing of great skill. From the outside it looks like any other small restaurant/take away shop of Mediterranean origin, and the inside is only notable for the lack of free tables. The food, however, is exceptional value for money and of the very highest order. Make sure you book and don’t tell anyone we sent you, it’s supposed to be a secret after all.
Best bar:
This is not the best borough for bars but Wandsworth has one or two saving graces.Lost Angelis the pick of the bunch with fantastic cocktails, a late night licence and a sizeable garden. Do remember, however, it is lost. Don’t be disheartened by the desolate road, you’ll find it eventually.
Best atmosphere:
Sitting in Battersea Square is our pick of things to do in Wandsworth. It is a little slice of the continent. Tucked behind two domineering council estates this is a place for people in the know. Pick a sunny day and you may not want to leave.
Best music:
The Bedford in Balham has, over the years, garnered a reputation as one London’s best music venues. Turn up any night and expect to see something special. Paolo Nutini, KT Tunstall and James Morrison are among a vast list of successful artists who cite the Bedford as a launching point for their careers.
Best food shop:
Bit of an odd one this. Snoggy’s is a South African food store on Upper Richmond Road in the far Western corner of the borough. Quite a pilgrimage for many but they boast the best biltong in London. Other South African treats adorn the shelves but the ceiling is filled with dried strips of the best meat you could ask for.
Best pub:
The Antelope on Mitcham Road is a fantastic pub. A mish-mash of furniture and a vast expanse of space greets you as you walk in. The food is the real selling point with a fantastic ever-changing menu.