Vauxhall

Vauxhall is a district of south London, in the London Borough of Lambeth, on the south bank of the River Thames opposite Chelsea. It is linked to central London by Vauxhall Station, a major rail and Underground interchange, and by the Vauxhall Cross traffic roundabout near the river.

The name derives from historical features in the area, most notably Vauxhall Gardens, a celebrated pleasure garden opened in 1661 and operating until 1859. The gardens helped give the district its identity and left a lasting imprint on local place names.

In recent decades the area has undergone regeneration tied to nearby Nine Elms, with new housing, offices, and the relocation of the US Embassy to Nine Elms. The district remains a busy Thames-side hub with ongoing development.

Vauxhall Motors was established in 1857 as a maker of marine engines and pumps at Vauxhall Works. It began producing cars in 1903, and after joining General Motors in 1929 operated as GM Europe. In 2017 Opel and Vauxhall were acquired by PSA Group, now part of Stellantis. In Britain, Vauxhall models include the Corsa, Astra, and Grandland, with production historically at Ellesmere Port and Luton.

The brand has a long history in British manufacturing and remains associated with the Vauxhall name, even as the district continues to evolve.