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For almost two hundred years Vauxhall Gardens was London’s most famous Pleasure Garden. Opened at Vauxhall in about 1660 under the name ‘New Spring Gardens’, its enclosed grounds and tree-lined walks provided a fashionable place where, for a small fee, Londoners of all classes could meet and promenade. For most of its existence Vauxhall opened at 5 pm in the summer.

Vauxhall Gardens was a wonderland of delights whose attractions included romantic vistas and secluded grottoes, music, lights, tea and supper rooms, spectacular theatrical performances and firework displays. It featured in articles and novels by writers such as Charles Dickens and William Makepeace Thackeray.

From the late 1840s onwards Vauxhall became increasingly tired and shabby and, unable to withstand competition from London's other pleasure gardens, it eventually closed in 1859.

Public balloon rides became popular in the 1830s and Vauxhall was one of London's chief ascent sites. Vauxhall's most famous balloon was the Royal Vauxhall. Filled with coal gas, in November 1836 it carried the aeronaut Charles Green a record 480 miles from Vauxhall to Wilburg in Germany.