Bonnington Square isn’t like the hundreds of other residential squares across the city – it’s controlled by a resident’s association; boasts a volunteer-based vegan restaurant and an excellent Italian deli; and retains the secluded atmosphere of a suburb – without the parochialism. 

Originally built in the 1870s to house the working-class Londoners employed by the railways – Vauxhall station and Waterloo are nearby – it was purchased and ‘decanted’ (to use the contemporary euphemism) by the now-defunct Greater London Council. In response, it was squatted by a bunch of people who eventually negotiated their legal right to stay. The resulting housing co-operative also runs Bonnington Square Garden, a trove of rare flowers. 

We recommend having a Brunch at Italo (an excellent Italian deli). It's probably the best way to appreciate this idiosyncratic community, followed with a wander through the nearby Harleyford Community Garden, another verdant idyll in Vauxhall.