What you need to know about moving to Clapham
Clapham in South London is one of the city’s most popular areas, attracting students, young professionals and families with its lively atmosphere. With lots of green space and a trendy reputation, Clapham makes a great home for those looking to enjoy an active social scene, good amenities, and plenty of events all on their doorstep.
Clapham covers a large area between Battersea and Brixton in south west London, made up of smaller sub-areas. There are three key areas: Clapham Common, Clapham North and Clapham South. Each area of the distinct areas has its own unique neighbourhood feel, although all areas of Clapham are coveted with many keen to boast the SW4 postcode. It’s a young and vibrant part of London: the average age of the 40,000 is just 30.
A brief history Clapham
The area’s history is well recorded, dating back 1000 years the area was mentioned in the Domesday book as Clopeham. Clapham was originally part of Surrey and grew from a small town to become a home to the upper-class in the later part of the eighteenth century. As the area grew in size, and London city spread out into the suburbs, Clapham became part of the capital. It’s become a gentrified home to many wanting a prestigious postcode in the capital city since the 1980s.
Clapham has been home to some historically significant events: in fact, it was where William Wilberforce led his campaign for slavery abolition from. It was also badly bombed during the Second World War, however many of the Victorian and Georgian homes survived and make the area what it is today.
Clapham highlights
Here are our Clapham highlights:
• It’s home to many famous faces – if you’re moving to Clapham, get ready to celebrity spot. It was the home of world-famous author J.K. Rowling for many years.
• Spending lazy days in Clapham Common – from one day festivals, BBQs with friends and picnics in the sun, the Common is the perfect place to spend time.
• Tooting Bec Lido – the outdoor swimming pool in nearby Tooting is our favourite place for escaping the heat in the summer and catching up with friends.
If you’re new to London or the Clapham area, why not benefit from Santa Fe Relocation’s local expertise with our Area Orientation Service. Our local experts share their local knowledge to make your move easy. Our bespoke removals services make moving home stress free and exciting.
Things to do in Clapham
The best part of moving to Clapham is having amazing access to so much to see, do and explore. The lively neighbourhoods have so much to uncover and no matter which part of Clapham you are moving to, you are sure to be surrounded by incredible and varied restaurants and cafes. Clapham really is a food lover’s dream.
If you are looking for haute cuisine prepared by world class chefs, look no further. Clapham is home to three Michelin starred restaurants: Trinity, The Dairy and Bistro Union. These restaurants draw visitors from across the city, but will be right on your doorstep for delicious evening meals and celebrations.
For everyday meals out, you are spoilt for choice. There is a large number of reasonably priced local eateries and restaurants, from a very wide range of culinary styles. A popular cheap-eats cafe is Fantasia in the Old Town, where you can get a very large meal and a drink for under £10.
And when it comes to the weekend, Clapham’s home to a host of different farmers markets and local markets supplying local residents with fresh produce and delectable treats. Out top tip: make sure to visit the Saturday market on Venn Street.
Where to live in Clapham
The impressive Victorian and Georgian houses that line most of Clapham’s streets attract renters and home owners from around the world. The area has expanded to cover areas in two boroughs: Wandsworth and Lambeth, with council tax prices differing between the two boroughs. House prices in this market are among some of London’s most expensive but they are more competitive in the North and in areas sitting within the Wandsworth borough.
As a rough guide, a one-bedroom apartment in Clapham rents for about £1500 per month. If you are looking to buy a family home, costs for a three-bedroom house start at from £900,000, with four-bedroom houses costing well over £1.2 million (prices accurate as of June 2019). The most prestigious areas are found around the Common and the Old Town, with prices being even higher here.
The Old Town is a great spot for those looking for large Victorian and Georgian terraced homes. The area is very attractive to families thanks to the open spaces, impressive houses and excellent schools available.
For young professionals or those looking for a lively social life and a selection of things to do, Abbeville Village could be the spot for you. Abbeville Road in Clapham South offers antiques shops, farmers markets and gastropubs.
Clapham Junction, while actually part of Battersea and not Clapham proper, is a great choice if you want to be in close proximity to great shopping and restaurants as well as exceptional public transport links.
If you need help choosing the right area of Clapham for you or finding your new home, let us help with our expert Home Search Service.
Finding a school in Clapham, London
Clapham’s a popular destination for families, due to the access to ample outdoor space and array of good educational institutions to choose from. The borough is home to a large number of state primary and secondary schools, as well as many sought after independent schools. While the fee schools are highly respected, the top 10 schools for the area is 60% state schools.
Bedford Modern School, an independent mixed school for children aged 7 to 18, is ranked the best school in the Clapham Park area and attracts families looking for an excellent school. This school alone draws families from across London to the area.
If you need help finding the right London school for every child in your family, let us take away the stress. Our School Search Service makes finding new schools simple: our experts match schools in your area to the needs of your family. We make moving-house easy for you.
Clapham travel information
No matter where you live in Clapham, you benefit from multiple frequent forms of public transport. There are multiple tube station and Overground stops in the area, all of which fall inside of Zone 2.
On the Northern Line from Clapham Common, Clapham North, or the Clapham South station, you can get to and from the City or West End in well under 15 mins.
Clapham North is also reachable via the Overground line.
Whilst technically in Battersea, the Clapham Junction station is a highly utilised station by Clapham residents. This station is not serviced by any underground lines, however it is one of the UK’s busiest train stations. From Clapham Junction you can reach Waterloo in under 8 minutes, with 35 trains per hour. In fact, trains to all over south of England also run from this station. The whole area is also serviced by excellent bus services, including regular night buses.
How can Santa Fe Relocation help with your move to Clapham?
With experience spanning over 120 years, we have the expertise and skill to support your move no matter what you need. We work alongside our global network to ensure your move is successful and carefree: from secure removals and storage solutions to excellent shipment protection plans.
Whatever it is you need for the perfect Clapham removal we’ll work to make it a reality. We are Santa Fe Relocation, your one stop London removals company. We make moving home easy for you.
