This neighbourhood is to the west of Balham town centre, bordering Wandsworth Common. The locality is split in two by the Southern railway line, with the southern portion more congruous with the Tooting area, and the north with Clapham, although both are architecturally similar, with Victorian terrace houses occupying straight rows. There are a few local pubs in between the houses, and a Sainsbury’s Local towards Clapham South, but as a whole the neighbourhood is overwhelmingly residential. Wandsworth Common, of course, is the main feature of the area, located just outside the residential neighbourhood, and is a public green space, with a number of ponds and a lake stretching over 70 hectares.

Balham started off as Baelgenham, which meant ‘smooth or rounded enclosure’, around the 8th century. The area has quite a common history with the rest of suburban London, with the area remaining a hamlet up to the 1770s, when some large houses began to appear in the area, followed in later decades by villas and shops. The bulk of development, like its surroundings, emerged with the arrival of the railways, culminating fairly early on in the early-20th century. During the interwar period the area would finally be served by the tube by way of the Northern line extension to Morden.

Chestnut Grove Academy is an Outstanding-rated school, formed in September 1986 with the amalgamation of Henry Thornton Grammar School and Hydeburn School. Amongst the school’s alumni is singer and songwriter Adele, who studied Biology at the school when she wanted to be a heart surgeon.

Another good school is the Deaf First school, which is within Oak Lodge, and which caters to deaf children. The school also has residential facilities for up to 17 students, staffed by a professional team who specialise in working with deaf people.

Balham was famously described as the ‘Gateway to the South’ by comedian and actor Peter Sellers, who pronounced it Bal Ham, delivered in typical American travel log style.

Though there are many eateries on Balham High Road, and the entertainment scene is good, the area in general lacks retail stores, including groceries (though there is a large Waitrose and a smaller Sainsbury’s). Other town centres are far to walk to, though relatively close drives away; which is typical of such suburban locations.

Balham recently benefited from the Mayor’s Outer London Fund, and there is a concentrated effort to regenerate the area’s high streets. The regeneration aims to fund better lighting, landscaping and seating, as well as improved public spaces at Bedford Hill Place, an area which was less than savoury in the 80s (though vastly improved today, especially following a £1 million facelift completed in 2021). This was done in cooperation with many local parties, including the Balham Partnership, a local business group. In 2020, work also began to convert a former government office, Irene House, whih was built in the 1940s, into a modern apartment building, providing over 84 new homes. The building will be converted into 77 apartments with an additional seven apartments created in a roof extension.