With the opening of the train line to Crystal Palace in 1856, Balham began its transformation from a small village to the south of London to the busy neighbourhood visitors emerge into from the station today. Trains from Balham include regular services to London Victoria, Sutton, Epsom, Milton Keynes Central and South Croydon, and the station is also connected to the London Underground's Northern Line.
The centre of Balham, with its wide range of shops, bars and restaurants, can be found immediately outside the station along Balham High Road and Bedford Hill. Balham is also the closest National Rail station to Tooting Bec Common and the Tooting Bec Lido. This open-air swimming pool is open to the general public from May to September and is the second largest in the UK. It's about twenty minutes on foot from the station or fifteen minutes by bus.