The area is located just above Clapham Common as well as Clapham Common underground station. The area consists of suburban Victorian terraces closer to the High Street, but also newer terrace builds, with green space allocations between them, to the north, and some larger Victorian buildings, which have today been subdivided into flats. There are also some well-built Regency era terraces. Clapham Manor Primary School and Clapham Canoe Club are located in the middle of the area, alongside some pubs. Overall, this part of SW4 0 is green with a varied architectural style, slightly different to other parts of suburban London. The area towards Clapham High Street, however, is less serene, consisting of many businesses, which go beyond the usual restaurant and pub fare. These include Clapham Picture house, a cinema and café-bar, the famous Infernos Nightclub as well as Two Brewers, a gay club and cabaret bar.

Clapham had a slightly earlier start compared to the other areas of suburban London, with numerous houses already existing here in the 1700s, along with several residents who are famous today. It would gradually become a suburb by the 1800s, and in 1801 had a population of 3,864, already exceeding many provincial market towns. Horse-drawn buses would reach the area by 1830, and horse-drawn trams by 1871, to be converted to electric trams by 1903.

William Wilberforce, the leader of the movement to abolish the slave trade, worshipped at the Holy Trinity Church on Clapham Common, along with The Clapham Sect. Social reformers, they were bound by shared moral and spiritual values, primarily concerning the liberation of the slaves and the reform of the penal system.

The area is green, in particular compared to other parts of suburban London. However, the area can get slightly rowdy at times, owing to its proximity to the nightclubs and pubs on the High Street.

The area is going through some development. On the site of 44 Clapham Common, where demolition works have already taken place, a large residential development by the name of ‘Thornton Park’ is expected to be completed in 2022. The project comprises 294 apartments (over 200 private rented and 90 affordable apartments), commercial space, underground basement car parking, gymnasium, and landscaped gardens.