Clapham Junction Area Guide | RM Surveyors
With exceptional transport links, desirable properties and an abundance of places to shop, drink and dine, Clapham Junction has become hugely popular with young professionals and families looking for a vibrant community and short commute into town. The area has even been dubbed ‘Nappy Valley’ by the author Will Self for its numerous baby clothes shops and family-friendly café culture…
Read on for my guide to this buzzy pocket of London just south of the river – which is actually in the heart of Battersea rather than Clapham, as its train station sign proudly proclaims – and discover the many gifts “The Junction” has to offer.
Typical housing stock
Due to its proximity to the UK’s busiest train station, property in Clapham Junction tends to go for lower than in neighbouring Clapham South. Although period properties are available – including some beautiful Victorian terraces – the most affordable areas are north of the station, where ex-local authority buildings attract many first-time buyers and young families looking to get a foot on the property ladder. The area ‘between the commons’ along Northcote Road is highly sought after causing prices to rise, but the area as a whole is soon due to benefit from the government’s new ‘Housing Zone’ development scheme which will see the creation of over 5,000 new homes, including 1,500 affordable homes, over the next 10 years.*
Transport Links
As the busiest train station in both Britain and Europe, up to 180 trains pass through Clapham Junction’s 17 platforms every hour!
Trains to Waterloo and Victoria run every few minutes with a journey time of 6-10 minutes, and there’s also an Overground line running regular trains to Highbury and Islington and Stratford.
The nearest tube stations are Clapham North, Clapham South and Clapham Common which are all on the Northern line. The area is also served by a huge number of buses, making pretty much the whole of London easily accessible!
Drinking and Dining
Clapham Junction is home to plenty of options; the lovely neighbourhood gastropub The Bolingbroke serves hearty food made from British produce, while if you want to dance the night away, you can’t beat Northcote Records. The Northcote attracts a rugby watching crowd, packed for sporting events with the flowing ale complemented by a range of beer-friendly food. And if you’re more in the mood for a pint with the locals, The Eagle Ale House on Chatham Road and the Nightingale on Nightingale Lane are hidden gems.
Buonasera is a favourite family-run Italian, along with popular trattoria Osteria Antica Bologna. Or if you want to indulge your sweet tooth, try The Dessert Deli on the Saturday Market for freshly-baked cakes and Oddono's for home-made ice cream in natural flavours.
Gary Hennessey recounting tales of the 1960s from Northcote Road
I always love discovering the incredible deli selection on offer at Hamish Johnston, or check out the family-run Hennessy's butchers on Northcote Road which has been selling a range of high quality fresh meat for over 75 years.
I love south London’s markets, and the one on Northcote Road sells a mixture of cured meats, olives, cakes, jewellery, clothing and arts and crafts as well as more everyday items. On Fridays and Saturdays when all the stalls are open, you’ll also come across vendors offering street food like pizzas and hog roasts.*
Shopping
Although you’ll find the usual high street names in Clapham Junction, the area’s main focal point for shopping is along Northcote Road and St John’s Road, which are packed full of independent grocers, butchers, florists, craft and vintage clothes stores – as well as lots of bars and cafés.
I love family-run toyshop QT Toys, health food stores Windfall Natural & Uncommon, the new boulangerie Oree and and Hutton’s for quirky homeware and unusual gifts.
Parks and green spaces
With Clapham Common, Wandsworth Common and Battersea Park all a stone’s throw away, you really are spoilt for choice when it comes to green spaces near Clapham Junction.
Personally, I love the friendly community vibe of Clapham Common – one of London’s largest open spaces – which has basketball courts, athletic tracks, football and cricket pitches and even an outdoor gym – most of which are free to use. You can also feed the ducks in the lake, enjoy a picnic on the grass or go for a walk along the many pathways through the trees.
Arts, entertainment and community
As one of the best fringe arts venues in London, Battersea Arts Centre puts on an amazing range of theatre, comedy, music, workshops and classes. I love how they are keeping the arts accessible to everyone by operating a Pay What You Can model for all performances.
Every year, the Northcote Road summer fete closes off the street for games, face-painting, music, drink and street food. Coinciding with Wimbledon’s Mens’s Final Day in July, it draws a great crowd for the large screen showing the tennis! The Pottery Café is also a lovely family-friendly spot for decorating pottery, drinking coffee and nibbling cake.
Founded in 2016, Clapham Cycle is a unique cycling community which is opening its first cycle store on Lavender Hill. Retailing bikes and accessories, this new hub is home to the cycling club and incorporates a cycle repair workshop for the local community.
Schools
Clapham Junction has a range of decent primary schools including Belleville, Ark John Archer, Christ Church CE, Honeywell, John Burns* and Chesterton, which was given an “outstanding” rating by Ofsted*. Both Belleville & Honeywell are so sought after that postcodes in their catchment area attract a premium!
The Harris Academy (secondary), which is only a mile from Clapham Junction station, has also been given “outstanding” ratings by Ofsted.*
Local council
Clapham Junction falls within the Conservative-controlled London Borough of Wandsworth.
Estate agencies
With a friendly, professional and people-focused approach, Rampton Baseley is known locally as one of the leading agents between the commons.
Palace Gate Lettings is another popular independent agency with a great range of properties to buy and to let, while John Thorogood specialise in the Northcote Road area.
There’s also Douglas & Gordon, one of the largest independent estate agents in London.
For a more comprehensive list of Clapham Junction/Battersea agents check out:
Surveys and valuations
If you’ve already got your eye on a property in Clapham Junction 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 consultation about your requirements.
“Reuben was very responsive and provided a detailed report that has helped throughout the purchase process. He is very knowledgeable and has been great at providing guidance especially as I am a first-time buyer. He added a personal touch to the service by making himself available and talking me through each issue identified in a Zoom call, rather than just sending a report that might be hard to digest for someone new to the property market. Thanks Reuben!”