Oval is an area in south London, in the London Borough of Lambeth. It is the part of Kennington around The Oval cricket ground, situated 2.1 miles (3.38 km) to the southeast of Charing Cross.

History

The land here was, from the seventeenth century, used for a market garden. The name "Oval" emerged from a street layout which was originated in 1790 but never completely built. The Montpelier Cricket Club leased ten acres of land from the Duchy of Cornwall in 1844, and Surrey County Cricket Club was formed soon thereafter at a meeting at the Horns Tavern (since demolished) on Kennington Park Road.

Governance

The Oval ward is in the Vauxhall parliamentary constituency and is one of four wards in the borough's north Lambeth division. It includes part of Kennington and some of the River Thames. The Member of Parliament for the area is Florence Eshalomi of the Labour Party.

Geography

Oval is part of Kennington. It is 2.1 miles (3.38 km) to the southeast of Charing Cross in central London. It straddles the border of south-west London and south-east London, and is where the postcode SE11 converges with the postcodes SW8 and SW9.

Demography

In 2001, the National Census recorded a population of 11,983 for Oval.

Transport

The nearest tube stations are Oval, Kennington, Stockwell and Vauxhall station.