Clapham

SW4

In the 19th century, the railways reached Clapham and the district was quickly transformed into the residential suburb of today. Many of the elegant town houses were replaced with rows of terraced housing, but nevertheless Clapham still retains a pleasant genteel atmosphere and a "villagey" feel to it.

The district is most well known for the famous Clapham Junction railway station. This is one of the busiest railway intersections in the world, with at one time over 2,500 trains passing through every day. The site has always been frequented by travellers for this was once the location of a busy rural crossroads.

The railway station opened in 1863 and the area around it was soon transformed with shops and other facilities being built to cater for the huge number of travellers passing through the district. The main transport interchange is at Clapham Cross. Clapham is on the Northern Line tube and linked to main line rail services at the High Street. Bus services are frequent. A main road artery, the A3, runs through Clapham and will become part of London’s Red Route.

Clapham Common is a vast green space which attracts visitors from across the world. Concerts, theatre and competitive sport are among its all-year-round events. Clapham Old Town is renowned for its village-like atmosphere. There are many specialist shops, from the 60s and 70s and old fashioned pubs and restaurants in the Old Town which attract large numbers. Abbeyville Road is another popular shopping and restaurant area

The town centre is a conservation area, enabling buildings of architectural importance to be preserved and protected and the character of the area to be retained. Key buildings and open spaces in Clapham are about to benefit from a successful Heritage Lottery funding bid. The buoyant residential property market reflects the unique qualities of the area, its proximity to central London and its excellent local facilities.

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