Where to live in Balham

Possibly the best residential area in Balham is the so-called Nightingale Triangle — the streets between Nightingale Lane, Balham High Road, and the railway lines. The centre is Nightingale Square which contains large Victorian houses. Ramsden Road runs down through the centre of the triangle and divides it in half. It contains Victorian terraces. On the west side of Ramsden Road there are attractive Victorian terraces in streets such as Ravenslea Road, Mayford Road, Chestnut Grove, and the roads off them. To the east of Ramsden Road, there are smaller cottages in roads like Bellamy Street, Pickets Street and Temperley Road.

The roads from Balham High Road east to Cavendish Road contain many attractive period terraces. Yukon and Dinsmore Roads are in a conservation area, as are Old Devonshire Road and Old Balham Road. Beyond Cavendish Road is the Hyde Farm estate between Hydethorpe Road and Tooting Common as far as Redbourne Road. The houses here are almost identical terraces of medium-sized red-brick Victorian houses.

Between Bedford Hill and Tooting Common there are attractive houses in Culverden Road, which borders the Common. There is more mixed housing between Balham High Road and Bedford Hill. Between Balham High Road and Trinity Road is another desirable residential area. St James’s Drive has large houses overlooking Wandsworth Common. Balham Park Road contains the largest and possibly the most expensive Victorian houses in Balham. This is also an area for mansion blocks. Du Cane Court on Balham High Road is a huge 1930s block. Other roads such as Cecil and Marius Roads also contain mansion blocks.