All roads lead to Vauxhall this August Bank Holiday.

For hundreds of years, Londoners have headed to Vauxhall to celebrate, socialise and make the most of their time off. From the legendary Pleasure Gardens to today’s world-famous nightlife, that tradition is still going strong.

Whether you’re after riverside pints, legendary LGBTQ+ club nights, family adventures, bottomless brunches, Caribbean flavours or one last dance before September arrives, there’s no better place to spend the long weekend. Meet alpacas at Vauxhall City Farm, challenge your mates at SENSAS or Activate, settle into one of London’s best beer gardens, then dance until 4am at Horse Meat Disco.

Here’s our guide to the best bits happening this Bank Holiday weekend in Vauxhall.

Horse Meat Disco Gymkhana
Sunday 30 August
Bank Holiday Sunday means one thing in Vauxhall — Gymkhana is back.
One of London’s most legendary club nights returns to Eagle London, with special guest Tery T-Rex joining Horse Meat Disco residents Jim Stanton, James Hillard and Severino for an extended Bank Holiday session. This is one of those nights people travel across London for—and with good reason. Whether you’re a Horse Meat Disco regular or experiencing it for the first time, this is one of London’s essential Bank Holiday parties.


August Bank Holiday Cabaret
Sunday 30 August & Monday 31 August
Another Vauxhall institution returns for the long weekend.
The D.E. Experience headlines an extended Bank Holiday Cabaret at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern, running from 4pm until 3am on Sunday, bringing together outrageous comedy, powerhouse performances and the wonderfully welcoming atmosphere that has made the RVT one of London’s most iconic LGBTQ+ venues. The celebrations don’t stop when Sports Day finishes. Head back to the Royal Vauxhall Tavern on Monday for another afternoon and evening of music, laughter and unforgettable entertainment.


Swiftie Bottomless Brunch
Monday 31 August | 11am–1pm
Calling all Swifties. Dress for your favourite era and head to The Black Dog for a Bank Holiday edition of its hugely popular Taylor Swift Bottomless Brunch. Expect brunch, cocktails, singalongs and plenty of friendship bracelets as Vauxhall shakes it off before the afternoon celebrations begin. Advance booking recommended.


RVT Sports Day
Monday 31 August | 1pm–5pm
No Bank Holiday in Vauxhall is complete without Sports Day.
Taking over Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens, this annual community fundraiser in partnership with LGBT HERO features the famous Drag Relay, handbag toss, tug of war, egg and spoon races and plenty of gloriously ridiculous competition. Bring a picnic, grab a spot on the grass and cheer on the teams as one of London’s funniest sporting traditions unfolds in the heart of Vauxhall.


Caribbean Carnival at Cottons
Sunday 30 August & Monday 31 August
Cottons wraps up the Bank Holiday with a Caribbean Carnival-inspired celebration, serving its famous tropical brunch alongside reggae classics, carnival vibes and plenty of rum punch. Their Bottomless Tropical Brunch includes two or three Caribbean-inspired courses alongside 90 minutes of unlimited rum punch, prosecco, lager or Caribbean Pimm’s.


Family Fun at Vauxhall City Farm
If you’re spending the weekend with little ones, Vauxhall City Farm is always a winner. Meet alpacas, goats, sheep, pigs and rabbits, wander through the gardens and enjoy one of London’s best-loved city farms. It’s a peaceful escape just minutes from the station and the perfect family outing before lunch or an afternoon stroll.


Put Your Team to the Test at Activate
Fancy something a little different before lunch or the pub? Activate combines physical challenges with immersive gaming across a series of high-tech interactive rooms where teamwork, quick thinking and fast reactions are everything. Perfect for families, groups of friends or anyone looking for something completely different this Bank Holiday.


Take On SENSAS London
Part escape room, part game show, SENSAS London throws your team through a series of immersive sensory challenges where sight, sound, touch and taste are all put to the test. Guaranteed to get everyone laughing, it’s an unforgettable experience for families with older children, groups of friends and Bank Holiday team outings.


Eat, Drink & Make a Day of It
One event quickly turns into an all-day affair in Vauxhall.

Start with brunch, wander through the Pleasure Gardens, spend an afternoon by the river, settle into one of the area’s beer gardens and finish the night on a dancefloor. Whether you’re craving Caribbean flavours, classic pub food, cocktails overlooking the Thames or one last late-night party before summer ends, everything is within a few minutes’ walk of Vauxhall Station.


Bank Holiday Pubs
Bank Holiday weekends were made for long lunches and even longer afternoons in the pub. Whether you fancy a pint by the Thames at Tamesis Dock, Battersea Barge or The Riverside, a traditional local at The Windmill, The Pilgrim Pub, The Duchy Arms, Mc & Sons, The King’s Arms or somewhere livelier like Mother Kelly’s, The Garden Vauxhall, The Black Dog or the Royal Vauxhall Tavern, Vauxhall’s pubs and bars will be buzzing all weekend long.

Summer might be drawing to a close, but Vauxhall certainly isn’t. Gather your favourite people, make the most of one final long weekend and discover why London has been coming to Vauxhall for a good time for centuries.