In fairness I've not lived in Balham but I would also big up Earlsfield. I live towards the Tooting end and I feel like I have the best of both worlds - the trainline and more grown up atmosphere of Earlsfield and the tube and more edgy vibe in Tooting Broadway (which is now seriously cool and has a fabulous selection of pubs, bars and restaurants). Toots also has useful shops like Boots. You can also walk to Wimbledon Park tube if you don't mind a bit of a stomp.

If ofsted reports are your thing we don't have any outstanding schools any more since BP was downgraded this year. Still both BP and Smallwood are good with outstanding features and people also speak highly of Earlsfield Primary.

I really like it here and as has already been said it feels a bit calmer than Balham.

I have lived in both. Earlsfield feels much more community based, safer, less built up and generally more open and spacious. I always thought Balham was quite rough and more town like, whereas earlsfield is more "village" like. Both places have great facilities and the benefits of great transport links. The train in Earlsfield is as good as tube line - every 3 minutes to waterloo. In terms of prices, very very similar depending on where you choose to live. Having lived in both, I would choose Earlsfield any day, especially if you have primary school aged children as the schools are so good!

Depends on the area, but remember Earlsfield goes all the way up to Wandsworth Common, and has houses like these (which are hardly flats, or cheap) :-

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-48176669.html?backListLink=%2Fproperty-for-sale%2Fmap.html%3FlocationIdentifier%3DSTATION%255E3041%26insId%3D1%26minBedrooms%3D4%26displayPropertyType%3Dhouses%26oldDisplayPropertyType%3Dhouses%26radius%3D1.0%23locationIdentifier%3DSTATION%255E3041%26insId%3D1%26minBedrooms%3D4%26displayPropertyType%3Dhouses%26oldDisplayPropertyType%3Dhouses%26radius%3D1.0%26box%3D-0.24522%2C-0.13021%2C51.40932%2C51.47533%26popupPropertyId%3D48176669&fromMap=true

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-46237408.html

The area around Southside isn't the nicest part of Earlsfield, but it's undergoing a lot of construction at the moment. Look around Earlsfield station, and up to Wandsworth common though and it's very different.

I always feel that Earlsfield is more "grown up"!

Maybe suburban but certainly calmer than Balham.

The walk to the Common from Earlsfield is a bit far and St Georges park etc isn't Wandsworth Common! :-) so in that respect I prefer Balham :-)

I also feel that Earlsfield feels a bit cut-off where as if you're in Balham it's easy to get to Northcote Road, Tooting Bec and Bellevue Road.

However the main thing about Earlsfield for me is all the houses are smaller. I can't afford a big house anyway but if I could the housing stock seems to be more smaller houses and flats - you don't have the massive villas like you do in SW12/SW11

I'll never be able to afford one but hey ho!

I like both areas and have lived around here for many years. However, I never realised that St Anne's Hill, or Wandsworth Common is classed as Earlsfield? And also thought that Earslfield was a lot cheaper (although that's probably because I wasn't factoring in St Anne's Hill or WC :D )

I don't want to cause offence, and each to their own etc, and it's not like I live Balham anyway...but in I'm always amazed people like Earlsfield - it feels like the suburbs to me, not like London. I never understand how you live in London without the tube? How do you get anywhere?! ;)

Southside shopping centre, feels like an Essex retail park. Totally charmless (but I guess, probably practical and useful).

They have a different 'feel' I think? Earlsfield doesn't feel quite so 'street' as Balham - possibly because it's not on a tube line, and because the main road isn't quite as big and busy. However, it does still have everything you might need (including cafes, restaurants and pubs - I don't think Belle Amie, the Desserts Cafe or Nasmins - all amazing - were mentioned above) and the trains that go into Waterloo go every 2-3 mins on a weekday, so just as good as a tube, and connect with the Victoria line at Vauxhall in 2 stops. I had to present my husband with a train timetable when he objected to living away from the underground and it obviously worked!

We looked at the whole area when we moved here and decided we liked Earlsfield over Balham, Clapham and Wimbledon because it felt friendlier and not so rushed. We live on one of the streets between Burntwood Lane and Magdalene Road and it's lovely. We know people in at least 10 houses on our street and the atmosphere is a very friendly and supportive one. Both Earlsfield Primary and Beatrix Potter schools are also very good schools, although personally I prefer EP, having had experience of both.

Technically, Earlsfield goes all the way to East Hill, but a lot of people mistake it for wandsworth town, which is really just the tonsleys. When I bought my house, similar properties in Balham were actually a bit cheaper, but there wasn't much in it.

[quote="actuallyadad"]There isn't really anything in Earlsfied. Just a carluccios and lots of estate agents[/quote]

Actuallyadad i have to respectfully disagree with your comments. Earlsfield has a lot more than just a Carluccios and lots of estate agents. When was the last time you actually spent any time in Earlsfield?

There are lots of lovely pubs (The Earlsfield, Leatherbottle, Halfway House), restaurants (Carluccios, Bens Canteen, Amaranth, Cah-Chi, Roxie Steak, Sylvan Oak to name but a few plus some nice Deli's, Mel's place etc) and some lovely little shops such as Tickled Pink (i believe there is another of these in Bellevue Road), Joy, a great flower shop etc and a cracking new baby shop (bump to baby).

There are some great primary schools - Beatrix Potter, Earlsfield Primary, Allfarthing, Swaffield, Wandsworth Prep and the soon to open Floreat Wandsworth. Lots of lovely nurseries too.

Wandsworth Common and King Georges park are on either side of Earlsfield centre - King Georges has an amazing couple of play parks and closeby is Southside Shopping Centre with lots of restaurants (Wagamama, Rossopomodoro, Chimichenga, Prezzo, Nandos, Eds Diner to name a few, a cineworld cinema, an enormous sainsburys, a waitrose, a cinema, a large Debenhams will be open soon, toy shops, TK Maxx etc and a planet organic.

Yes there are only a mainline station (Earlsfield) but you can quickly get to Tooting by bus and we quite often jump on the 77 to Clapham Junction or up to Wandsworth Town.

Don't get me wrong - i love Balham - we very nearly bought there, but to say there is nothing in Earlsfield is a bit harsh and indeed incorrect. We live partway between Earlsfield Station and Southside and enjoy the area and all it has to offer.

I suggest to the OP that you spend time in both areas getting to know them, look at the local schools, look at the houses currently on the market to see what is available before you make your final decision. But i genuinely think you will be happy in either location. Good luck with whatever you decide :)

Balham has two tube stations, Earlsfield has none.
Wandsworth Town will be getting a Debenhams. If you think its in Earlsfield, I'll see you walking from Earlfield micro-brewey (last seen in Tooting(Plough Lane).
Earlsfield has a property price limit less than half that of Balham, so there is an advantage there, but that's it.

[quote="actuallyadad"] There isn't really anything in Earlsfied. Just a carluccios and lots of estate agents[/quote]
Earlsfield has cafes, gastro pubs, a craft beer and gourmet coffee shop, shops and restaurants (Ben's Canteen named earlier in this thread).The St Ann's Hill area has access to Wandsworth town and St John's Hill which has much of the same.

Balham by miles. No contest. But I bet Balham is more expensive.

Balham has:
- loads of bars and restaurants
- loads of shops
- Wandsworth and Tooting commons

- the TUBE as well as overground

There isn't really anything in Earlsfied. Just a carluccios and lots of estate agents

Both Earlsfield and Balham are great but Earlsfield just edges out Balham making Earslfield the winner. It has amazing amenities and Wandsworth Common is so wonderful. We love Beatrix Potter School. Garratt Lane has improved immensely and the redevelopment of Ram's Brewery will ensure the whole area will be even better when the works are completed.

Although I normally prefer high street shopping, the Southside Shopping Centre is fantastic with lots of great shops, restaurants and cinema conveniently located in the one place. And Debenhams is due to open in the autumn.

All this and it still feels a bit like a lovely village in the middle of London.

When we were looking to buy we were told that parts of Balham fall under Lambeth Council and the Council Tax Lambeth charges is higher than Wandsworth's so, if that is correct, that is something to consider as well.

Best thing to do if considering schools is to visit them to get a feel for what will work you and your child/children.

Whichever area you choose I'm sure you'll be happy. If it's Earlsfield you decide on then I'm positive of it. :-) Good luck. :-) xx

We moved from Clapham South (Abbeville Village) 19 years now (whoa) to Earlsfield. We were not sure ....but it is a great place to live and it just keeps improving. We don't have helicopters circling overhead every night looking for burglers and are car has not been broken in to (8 x in Clapham). When we moved here you could not get a lemon in a shop but now there are tons of great restaurants, grocery stores, cafes and as I tell my friends Earlsfield has it all: St George's Hospital, cemetary, dog track, tattoo parlor, churches, cafes/restaurants and Earlsfield station. Earlsifeld is safe (except look out for traffic wardens) and friendly and the council is great (esp compared to Lambeth Council). Plus we have lovely neighbours from young couples to 93 year olds. I am sure Balham is really great too. Aren't we all lucky we can afford to live in these areas (our tiny cottage now work @ £800K which is ridiculous). We would not be able to buy here now!

Nah, that was the rumour, but sadly it's just the biggest Debenhams you have EVER seen. So nicely in proportion with Sainsbury's, then ;-)

We also moved into the Earlsfield Rd/Garratt Lane/Trinity Rd triangle just over a year ago. Pretty much by accident. We were looking South of the station, but ended up getting more bang for our buck here and wouldn't change it. Short walk to station, loads of buses, parks/playgrounds, Southside shopping centre, Post Office and libraries less than 10mins walk, Ram Brewery redevelopment upcoming, the Common, plenty of restaurants and cafes, great schools. All very convenient!