South-West London – All our local tips

Convenient is the best word to describe the Alexandra Pub or the Alex as referred to by the locals. This is primarily due to its location in Clapham, the converging point for young professionals coming from within the vicinity or beyond.

It is easily reached by the Underground on the Northern Line and cannot be missed as soon as you come out from Clapham Common tube station.

It is also convenient in the sense that you need not worry about what you wear. The Alex offers a laid back atmosphere where you can meet up with friends either after work or during the lazy weekends. It is also a great place to go to watch a major sporting event like football or rugby.

The Alex has two floors of seating (and at times standing) area and each floor has a bar making it convenient to order more beer, ales and cider. The interior is a typical pub scene with plenty of memorabilia items on the walls and unused corners. Of course, there are also fruit machines.

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Alexandra Pub | Bars | Pint £ 3.00
14 Clapham Common South Side | South-West | +442076275102
11:00 – 23:00 daily

Bar Calvados is a perfect venue for a night out because of its location in the Clapham Junction and Battersea area. They have an extensive drinks menu including ‘happy hour’ offers like £20 for a bottle of champagne before 9pm. It is possible to reserve an area for private parties where you and your friends have exclusive access to your own private bar. Their staff are very friendly and helpful. And if you fancy something to eat, you can order from the Chinese restaurant next door and they bring the food to your table.

From 23:00, the music is fired up for dancing on the lower ground. The dance floor is the size of a double bedroom so it could get really tight down there. Funk and disco are the beats played on a Saturday evening, ideal for let-your-hair-down dancing.

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Bar Calvados | Bars | Cocktails £ 7.50
52 Battersea Rise | South-West | +442072280336
16:00 – 00:00 daily

Britain is best known as a nation of tea drinkers although there are a handful of people, like me, who prefers coffee. I prefer the strong ones like espresso. But sadly, this caffeine fix can only be quenched at the more commercialised ‘designer coffee’ brands. This is why finding good, quaint and independent cafes has become one mission for me.

At the corner of Balham High Road and Ramsden Road is a nice coffee shop called Bertie and Boo. The place is full of character as the quirky interiors bring you back to your school days with the multi-coloured wooden desks and chairs. Outside, you are invited to unwind on the red and blue fabric deck/beach chairs.

This local independent coffee shop lures you to indulge in cakes that are perhaps baked by mums who live in and around the area. They are also one of the good places where you can order yummy smoothies and unusual milkshakes – ever heard of a Maltesers milkshake?

Bertie and Boo is very child friendly. Children can be amuse themselves with toys, colouring books and the blue car while the mum and dad enjoys a cuppa.

Bertie and Boo (the coffee shop) is a place where people of all ages can enjoy and relax. You need not worry about your bank balances because the prices are very reasonable – as one would expected from a local, independent business. With or without children, this coffee shop is certainly a cool place to hang around.

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Bertie and Boo | Coffee & tea | Kids menu from £ 3.49
162 Balham High Road | South-West | +442087729987
Mon 07:30 – 18:00, Tue – Fri 07:30 – 20:00, Sat 09:00 – 20:00, Sun 09:00 – 18:00

Curiosity made me discover this little gem of a restaurant in my local vicinity. Flyers with the words “fine Nepalese cuisine” intrigued me. What is Nepalese cuisine?

The menu is full of rich and succulent dishes, cooked with herbs and spices that is smooth to the palate. A recent favourite is the Khasar Chicken, which is “tender pieces of breast chicken delicately flavoured with saffron and pan-fried in coconut milk.”

Gurkhas Diner offer both dine-in and take-away eating experience. The interior of the restaurant is simple – nothing ostentatious – with photos of Nepal on the walls. The chef is Nepalese but has been in London for at least 15 years now, as are most of the friendly staff.

When you go to order for take-away, they give you a portion of the spicy prawn crackers while you wait. Plus, there are several books about Nepal, which they kindly let you read while waiting.

There are already many places in London that serves Indian food but not so with Nepalese. If you want something different, then I urge you to try and highly recommend beginning your culinary journey of this mountainous kingdom at Gurkhas Diner.

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Gurkhas Diner | Restaurants (Nepalese) | Main dishes from £ 7.25
1 The Boulevard | South-West | +442086751188
Tue – Sat 18:00 – 23:30, Sun 12:00 – 22:30

If The Bedford was a person, it would be a woman. Why? Because it can multi-task!

It was originally a hotel in the 1830s so it’s no wonder why there more than 1 room. Today, The Bedford is a place where you drink, eat, dance, laugh, listen and see.

This iconic venue in south west London is conveniently located near the Balham rail and tube stations. There is something happening each day of the week whether it be a comedy show, a dance class, a concert or a club night. You can also chill with a pint or two by the fireplace or soak in the lively atmosphere as you sit by the bar. Who knows you might be sitting beside the resident mascot – a huge German Shepherd with quite the fancy for an ale.

I go to The Bedford mainly for 2 reasons, one is to dance Argentine tango (with Tango Fandango) every other Sunday; the other is to learn the lindy hop (with Swingland) every Tuesday. But I’ve since discovered that they also serve great food, which is unusual for pub grubs, especially the chips. Big, fat slices that are oh so tasty! Possibly the best bowl of chips in SW London.

The Bedford is not just your typical local pub. It’s a centre for everything.

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The Bedford | Art & culture, Bars, Music, Restaurants (Pub) | Wine £ 3.00
77 Bedford Hill | South-West | +442086828940
Mon-Thu 11:00 – 23:00 Fri-Sat 11:00 – 02:00 Sun 12:00 – 22:30

Somewhat hidden from the busy Balham High Road is The Fat Delicatessen. Perfect place to sit quietly with a good book and a nice macchiato. If you’re quite hungry, there is also a selection of snacks and small plates that would surely fill you up. It is also one of the few places that have Manchego cheese on its menu.

The place has a steady flow of people during the weekdays and it is quite easy to get a table. During the weekends, however, the place can be really buzzing.

You can also satisfy your shopping urges at The Fat Delicatessen as they offer various goods from Spain, Italy and France. Select from a variety olive oils, vinegars and other spices. They also have a nice selection of wines that are decently priced.

But perhaps the most popular among locals are the packed meals, which are carefully prepared from the deli menu and the charcuterie. Its proximity to Balham tube station makes it easy for picking up a ready meal on the way home. No fuss gourmet dining indeed!

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The Fat Delicatessen | Coffee & tea, Snacks | Bar snacks from £ 1.50
7 Chestnut Grove | South-West | +442086756174
Mon – Wed 08:00 – 20:00, Thu – Fri 08:00 – 22:00, Sat 09:00 – 22:00, Sun 11:00 – 18:00

Stretching across Tooting, Balham and Streatham is 92 acres of greenery that is Tooting Common. It provides a quieter experience than its neighbour, Clapham Common, as it is nestled within the residential area. But that is not to say that it is bereft of action.

The common is enjoyed by every age, gender and species, whether it is playing football, throwing a frisbee, jogging, walking or simply basking under the sun. I have seen, at times, people having a barbeque picnic but according to regulations, that is supposedly not allowed.

Tooting Common not only offers manicured lawns but also an area of woods. Perfect for those who want a bit of rough nature walk. You can also go horse riding and seasonal fishing in some of the ponds.

Londoners love to spend their time outdoors even if it is within the comforts of home. But with such a diverse space like Tooting Common in your backyard, who would want their own garden?

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Tooting Common | Relaxing | Free
Wandsworth | South-West
Daily

The shelves at Trinity Stores offers the best of Britain’s food products. They are filled with seasonal items grown and package by different (and perhaps small) regional farms from up and down the country including freshly baked breads. This lovely delicatessen also stock some goods from Continental Europe like Italian pasta, Spanish olive oil and French pates. Food hampers are also available for those who want a bit of everything.

Trinity Stores is conveniently located by both the Balham Underground and National Rail Stations, which is perfect for a quick shop for something to cook for dinner on the way home.

They also offer good coffee to take away for your journey to work in the morning. If you are in no rush, then you can quietly enjoy your brew in the shop while sitting on brightly coloured plastic chairs and white tables. And as you relax, you can take your time reading through the numerous flyers posted on the noticeboard.

I also like the fact that they provide clean glasses on each table with a jug of tap water so you don’t need to ask them for it. Light snacks and sandwiches are also available at reasonable prices.

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Trinity Stores | Coffee & tea, Shopping, Snacks | Sandwiches from £ 5.45
5 & 6 Balham Station Road | South-West | +442086733773
Mon – Fri 09:00 – 20:00, Sat 09:30 – 17:30, Sun 10:00 – 17:00

On the last Friday of each month, the Victoria & Albert (or V&A) Museum is open till 10 in the evening. Not quite a “Night At the Museum” experience although there had been some odd characters that had come to life in the past Friday Late events. Each month celebrates a theme where related new and archived works in various formats are placed under the spotlight. Past themes included “In the Dead of Night”, “Mad Hatters” and “Animate”.

Friday Late events not only displays relevant works and/or inventions but also provides an opportunity for the public to participate in workshops and masterclasses. However, should you wish not to participate in the themed evenings, you may also browse through the vast collection of the V&A Museum, which is also open during Friday Late evenings.

You also need not worry about being skint if there is more month at the end of money because the Friday Late evenings are free.

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V&A | Art & culture, Festivals & events | Free
Cromwell Street | South-West | +442079422000
Mon – Thu 10:00 – 17:45, Fri 10:00 – 22:00