What to do in Clapham?
 

My husband has family at home with Clapham surname and he would like to spend a few hours there for a look around. We are in London for 7 nights-I'm afraid this might take up more time than it's worth. How long does it take to get to Clapham junction and does anyone have any comments re things to do there?

ummm... leave?

not a very exciting place then?

Clapham is a great community with lots of trendy bars and restuarants. It has a nice shopping street with Clapham Common and Battersea Park withing walking distance. My daughter lives there and I really enjoy my time there when visiting. It is literally 5 minutes on the Victoria line at Victoria Station.

You're winding me up! Whilst most of my friends have left 9and there would be a reason for that), it can't have changed THAT much in 20 years

Yes it has, maybe you should take a look. Even Gordan Ramsey, Sarah Beeny and Sir Ian Mckellen have been seen frequenting the local shops and restuarants.

although not together!

If you go by National Rail and not the Tube, just take a train from Victoria or Waterloo to Clapham Junction. It is the busiest train station in the UK -- more trains serve the station than any other, including Waterloo itself. And it's a really short ride -- one or two stops from Waterloo.

Maybe we will check it out then-has anyone been to the Jamie Oliver restaurant there?{ I love his cooking shows!}

"more trains serve the station than any other"

Which only shows how desperate the inhabitants are to get out.

Seriously chaps: has anyone ever seen a live human being actually use the station, except to change trains?

Bits of Clapham - like everywhere in central London - are jolly nice and very near huge bits of greenery. They're also very near bits of tat, as well as bits that are really more than a trifle dodgy. You can't really generalise about anywhere within 4 miles of Traf Sq, except to say there's more tat in Clapham than in Canonbury or Barnsbury, and more tat in those two bits of Islington than in Chelsea.

But live near a station, and the one thing you can definitely say is that prices have gone through the roof in the past 20 years.

Handy for Parliament, you see.

Clapham Junction is not really in Clapham: but Clapham covers a range of areas. Around the Common, especially to the north and west, is posher, to the south and east rather less so.

Are you sure (and I'm being a bit mischievous here) the name doesn't relate to the Clapham in Devon, or Sussex, or Yorkshire..?

There is a great curry place called Hawelli at Clapham South tube stop. Clapham Junction is right by a shopping street where there are tonnes of restaurants and bars. We live in Clapham and love it!

Flanneruk-what is tat? and PatrickLondon the name doesn't relate to any of those areas-not searching for long-lost relations by the way. Was a bit confused re junction/common etc.[still am]but thank you for info.

Tat is tacky, dreck, scruffy.

Clapham Junction is in Battersea (and we wonder why tourists are baffled).

If that's where you want, then you want to have a look at Northcote Rd (nearby) which has a market and a selection of bars and restaurants - most of the rest of it is a khazi (and I used to live there)

Clapham proper is best accessed by going to Clapham Common on the Northern Line. There's a nice old part and the common (avoid gobblers gulch unless you're that way inclined (it's a gay cruising area). Some good restaurants if you want recommendations

There is an occasional poster here who does live in Clapham - well Lavender Hill - and I'll give him a nudge for you...

Hiya!

There is tonnes to do in Clapham, especially on a nice sunny day when it is best spent relaxing around Clapham Common with a picnic. For a full list of stuff to do I've written a guide that goes into some of the details, take a look at the 10 things you didn't know about Clapham, it contains a few key sights for you to see: http://www.loveclapham.com/clapham-guide

Jack

But although there are lots of bars, restaurants, etc it is basically a residential area.

"Are you sure (and I'm being a bit mischievous here) the name doesn't relate to the Clapham in Devon, or Sussex, or Yorkshire..?""

"the name doesn't relate to any of those areas"

How do you know ??

I guess I don't really know, my husband doesn't know much of his family tree past grand-parents who are Canadian born.