Balham Area Guide | RM Surveyors
Buzzy Balham is quite simply a fabulous place to live. Families flock here for its great schools, green spaces and lively community feel, while couples and young professionals adore its location, attractive period properties and amazing array of amenities.
Though central London’s only 20 minutes away, you can catch a comedy night, enjoy live music or watch a film without even needing to leave the neighbourhood. And with all the gorgeous pavement cafés along Hildreth Street which are perfect for a lazy weekend brunch, it’s easy to see why Balham is such a desirable place to be. Join me for a wander down Balham High Road and beyond as we discover what the Balham buzz is all about.
Housing and architecture
Balham is famous for its beautiful streets of Victorian and Edwardian properties, which make for spacious family homes. The houses close to Clapham South tube are popular with families looking to school their children in the area, while period garden flats are highly sought after by young professionals, sharers and couples seeking the space and creature comforts of suburbia whilst remaining close to the bright lights of central London.
Over the years, I’ve carried out surveys on some interesting properties in Balham, including Victorian terraces that were originally built as flats. Although you might think these homes were converted into apartments to suit today’s homeowners, many of them were specifically built as flats for ex-military personnel who served in the Boer War and the First World War.
Transport links
Balham is one of the only locations in south London to have its own tube and train station, making it highly desirable with those working in central London. Tottenham Court Road and Bank stations are both just 20 minutes away on the northern line, while trains to Victoria only take 15 minutes. There are plenty of bus routes serving Balham, including the 155 to Elephant & Castle and the 355 to Brixton. Although Balham’s roads are busy and have controlled street parking, meaning most locals tend to favour public transport, the South Circular is nearby for easy access to other parts of London. And if you’re heading off for a break, Heathrow and Gatwick airports are both just under an hour away by car.
Drinking and dining
Whether you’re after breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, drinks or just coffee, you’ll never be disappointed in bustling Balham. The bar and restaurant scene is relaxed and mostly found along Balham High Road, Bedford Hill and Balham Station Road, and I love pedestrianised Hildreth Street for its lovely café culture.
The Bedford gastropub is a Balham institution, serving up Sunday roasts and excellent live music and comedy in equal measure. There are a number of Italian restaurants in the area, including the popular Ciullosteria which is ideal for a mid-week meal of thin and crispy pizza or fresh homemade pasta. If you’re craving Asian food, the small but perfectly formed Umi restaurant serves up sushi and Japanese flavours with style.
For drinks, Balham Bowls Club has a lovely friendly feel. Memorabilia from the venue’s sporting past adorns the walls for you to discover over an ale or a locally brewed beer, while the spacious beer garden is the perfect place to kick back and enjoy long summer days. The cocktails at Lost & Found are also worth a try, as are their sourdough pizzas. The private members’ club Soho House has also recently opened a branch called Little House Balham on Bedford Hill, in testament to the fact that the area is buzzing with chic creative types.
Shopping
Balham’s shopping district centres around Balham High Road, a typical yet well-equipped suburban high street where you’ll find everything you might need. As well as the usual chain stores there are a good range of independents, including the high-quality Chadwick’s butchers, the well-stocked Wine Tasting Shop where you can try before you buy, and the pretty Flower Sanctuary for plants, gifts and special occasions.
Cyclists like me are spoilt for choice in Balham with no less than three bike shops to choose from – Crazy Horse, Cyclopolis and Psubliminal – showing just how many people commute into central London from here by bike.
Balham’s health-conscious residents love Planet Organic, the large health and wellbeing store, as well as the Saturday farmer’s market in the grounds of Henry Cavendish School, which offers a good range of organic veg and artisan products.
Hildreth Street Market also sells fruit, veg and household goods every day except Sunday, alongside some ridiculously good street food stalls. You’ll also find some interesting independent shops and cafés nestled in amongst the many food vendors
Balham Streats is another popular monthly street-food market in Bedford Hill Place, with a fantastic range of independent retailers selling a variety of authentic street foods.
Parks and green spaces
Balham is enviably positioned between three large commons: Clapham, Wandsworth and Tooting Bec. Not only do these green spaces provide scenic settings for dog walks and picnics, Tooting Bec is also home to the largest lido in the UK – perfect for when the summer days roll round or, if like me, you enjoy a cold mid-winter dip!
Arts and culture
It’s easy to spend a lovely weekend in Balham without needing to leave the neighbourhood. The Banana Cabaret at The Bedford is one of London’s longest running comedy clubs, while The Exhibit has its own boutique cinema complete with a bar and plush sofas. Every summer, there’s also the much-loved Balham Comedy Festival to look forward to, and art fans will enjoy visiting Gallery Midnight where artist Johny Midnight can be found working at his easel on prints depicting local London life. Johny also offers art classes to local people.
Image © Wandsworth borough Council
Balham Comedy Festival
Sports and leisure
If you don’t fancy swimming outdoors at Tooting Bec Lido, Balham Leisure Centre has a swimming pool, sauna and steam room as well as a gym and squash courts. My wife Kath and I also regularly attend classes at Hot Yoga South on Hildreth Street Mews, which I find is a great place to relax and unwind after a busy day doing home surveys in and around south London.
Schools
Balham’s abundance of good schools makes the area especially appealing to families. The best primaries include Henry Cavendish, Telferscot, Saint Anselm’s and Holy Ghost, while for secondary pupils there is the Chestnut Grove Academy, La Retraite RC school for girls, and Oak Lodge, a specialist school for children with hearing and communication difficulties.
Local council
Balham mostly falls within the London Borough of Wandsworth, with small parts falling within the neighbouring borough of Lambeth.
Estate agencies
Although there are a cornucopia of estate agencies to be found along Balham High Road, I personally recommend Samuel Estates: the owner Nick Samuels is a friend, thoroughly nice guy and has agencies at a number of different locations in south London – so if you’re looking for a home in Balham, don’t hesitate to pop in and visit Nick’s team.
Surveys and valuations
If you’ve already got your eye on a property in Balham and are ready to take the next step, I offer a wide range of independent and cost-effective residential surveys and valuations.
As a residential chartered surveyor and RICS registered property valuer with more 20 years’ real estate experience across London and the south-east, I know that buying property is one of the most important decisions most people ever make.
That’s why I’m passionate about taking the stress out of the survey and valuation process and helping people realise their dreams, whether that’s a treasured new home or the next investment property.
Contact me today at roo@rmsurveyors.co.uk or by phone on 07957 606886 to have an informal, confidential and no-obligation conversation about your requirements.
“RM Surveyors offer a professional, courteous and individual service, and come highly recommended.”