In this report, we describe the use of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) immobilized on pH. responsive, cross-linked poly(4-vinylpyridine) (P4VP) thin films, as a potential application for pH nanosensors. The methodology is based on the variation in surface plasmon resonance of immobilized AuNPs with changing the interparticle distances, caused by the swelling/deswelling of the pH responsive P4VP polymer films. The change in optical properties of the immobilized AuNPs in response to the pH of surrounding media was investigated by a simple yet powerful tool; UV-vis absorption spectroscopy. The swelling of the P4VP chains at pH 2 causes an increase in the interparticle distances of immobilized AUNPS ($sim20nm$) and hence leads to a blue shift of 48 nm in their surface plasmon resonance band peak. On the other hand, when the surrounding media was altered from pH 2 to 10, a red shift of absorption maxima was observed. The changes were rapid, and the effect was reversible. This system could prove to be useful in fabricating nanosensors for detecting the pH or pH changes of surrounding aqueous medium.