Chariots Roman Spa
The after-hours anchor of the arches
Chariots Vauxhall – the Roman Spa – was for two decades the after-hours anchor of the Vauxhall scene: London’s largest gay sauna, open through the night, tucked into a railway arch on Albert Embankment. As the clubs emptied at dawn, Chariots was where the night continued. It was part of the ecosystem that made Vauxhall a genuine 24-hour village rather than just a strip of clubs.
It closed in 2016, sold to developers – one of the most visible losses as the arches were cleared for the towers now rising along the river. Its site is part of the redevelopment that has transformed this stretch of the Embankment beyond recognition.