Aerial photo of Balham, London
“Balham from the air” by Thomas Nugent, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Balham, nestled in south-west London, has a history stretching back over 1,000 years. Its name derives from the Anglo-Saxon Bealhām, meaning “homestead in a rounded enclosure.” First recorded in a land charter from the year 957, the area was mostly rural farmland for centuries.

1862 map of Balham Station area
Edward Stanford (1827–1904), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

In the 19th century, Balham was transformed by the arrival of the railways. Balham Station opened in 1856, and from that point, the area rapidly urbanised as commuters moved in. Victorian and Edwardian terraces sprang up, many of which still line the streets today.

The Priory, Balham, illustration from 1876
From The Illustrated London News (5 August 1876), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

In 1876, Balham became the centre of one of Victorian England’s most notorious unsolved crimes. Charles Bravo, a barrister living at The Priory on Bedford Hill, died after ingesting a fatal dose of antimony. Despite widespread media coverage and two inquests, no one was ever charged with the murder. The case remains one of Britain’s most enduring true crime mysteries, casting a long shadow over The Priory and its legacy.

Exterior of Du Cane Court, a large 1930s Art Deco apartment building in Balham
“Du Cane Court, Balham” by Jim Linwood, licensed under CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

One of Balham’s most famous buildings is Du Cane Court, a striking Art Deco block of flats built in the 1930s. It was the largest privately owned block of flats in Europe at the time and reportedly spared bombing in WWII because the Luftwaffe planned to use it as officers’ quarters.

London bus on route 155 passing through Balham High Road
“London Buses route 155, Balham” by David Howard, licensed under CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Balham has also gained a cult following from its comedic references — most notably in the 1949 spoof travelogue “Balham: Gateway to the South,” made famous by Peter Sellers.

Today, Balham blends village charm with cosmopolitan style — a thriving neighbourhood full of independent shops, cafés, and a strong sense of community.