London Drum

Balham ⇄ Elephant & Castle Station

This journey is in zones 1-3 and it’s a direct train on the Northern line

  1. From Balham take the Northern Line
  2. Leave the train at Elephant & Castle

Number of stops: 7 · Journey time: Approx 15 mins

Stations on the route: Balham ➜ Clapham South ➜ Clapham Common ➜ Clapham North ➜ Stockwell ➜ Oval ➜ Kennington ➜ Elephant & Castle

Live status and delays

Strikes and station closures

First and last train times

Northern line timetable

Alternative routes include Balham to Kennington, Balham to Lambeth North and Balham to Borough

Stairs, lifts and escalators

Balham is not wheelchair accessible

Elephant & Castle is not wheelchair accessible

Balham entrance – You must use three flights of stairs between the Chestnut Grove entrance and the booking hall (7 steps down +14 steps down +11 steps down), or 5 steps down +14 steps down +11 steps down between the Balham High Road West entrance and the booking hall, or 21 steps down +10 steps down between the Balham High Road East entrance and the booking hall, plus another escalator or three flights of stairs from the booking hall to the platforms (2x3 steps down +16 steps down)

Elephant & Castle exit – You can use a lift to the Elephant & Castle southside exit from the Northern line southbound platform, or a lift plus three flights of stairs from the Northern line northbound platform (9 steps up +6 steps down +20 steps up), or a lift plus three flights of stairs from the Bakerloo line platforms (20 steps up +5 steps down +18 steps up). To the Elephant & Castle northside exit you must use a lift plus four flights of stairs from the Northern line southbound platform (20 steps up +18 steps down +5 steps up +20 steps down), or a lift plus three flights of stairs from the Northern line northbound platform (20 steps up +18 steps down +15 steps down), or a lift plus one flight of stairs from the Bakerloo line platforms (20 steps up)

This journey is in zones 1-3 and it’s a direct train on the Northern line

  1. From Elephant & Castle take the Northern Line
  2. Leave the train at Balham

Number of stops: 7 · Journey time: Approx 16 mins

Stations on the route: Elephant & Castle ➜ Kennington ➜ Oval ➜ Stockwell ➜ Clapham North ➜ Clapham Common ➜ Clapham South ➜ Balham

Live status and delays

Strikes and station closures

First and last train times

Northern line timetable

Alternative routes include Elephant & Castle to Kennington, Elephant & Castle to Lambeth North and Elephant & Castle to Borough

Stairs, lifts and escalators

Elephant & Castle is not wheelchair accessible

Balham is not wheelchair accessible

Elephant & Castle entrance – You can use a lift between the Elephant & Castle southside entrance and the Northern line southbound platform, or a lift plus three flights of stairs to the Northern line northbound platform (9 steps down +6 steps up +20 steps down), or a lift plus three flights of stairs to the Bakerloo line platforms (20 steps down +5 steps up +18 steps down). From the Elephant & Castle northside entrance you must use a lift plus four flights of stairs to the Northern line southbound platform (20 steps down +18 steps up +5 steps down +20 steps up), or a lift plus three flights of stairs to the Northern line northbound platform (20 steps down +18 steps up +15 steps up), or a lift plus one flight of stairs to the Bakerloo line platforms (20 steps down)

Balham exit – You must use an escalator or three flights of stairs from the platforms to the booking hall (16 steps up +2x3 steps up), plus another three flights of stairs between the booking hall and the Chestnut Grove exit (11 steps up +14 steps up +7 steps up), or 11 steps up +14 steps up +5 steps up between the booking hall and the Balham High Road West exit, or 10 steps up +21 steps up between the booking hall and the Balham High Road East exit

Cash, Oyster & Travelcard fares

The journey is in zones 1-3. The cheapest fare is £3 off-peak (£3.70 peak) when you pay by Oyster or contactless. There are no return tickets, you just pay the same as two singles

Cost of tube fare from Balham ⇄ Elephant & Castle Station
Fare zone Cash Oyster & Contactless cards
Single fare Single fare Daily cap
Peak Off-peak Peak Off-peak
Zone 1-3 fare £6.70 £3.70 £3 £10 £10
Travelcard prices from Balham ⇄ Elephant & Castle Station
Fare Zone Travelcards (Train, Bus & Tram)
One day travel­card Week travel­card Month travel­card
Anytime Off-peak
Zone 1-4 travelcard £15.90 n/a £61.40 £235.80
Zone 1-6 travelcard £22.60 £15.90 £78 £299
Zone 1-9 travelcard £28.50 £17 £111.30 £427.40
Note: Ticket prices are correct as of

Peak and off-peak times

For Oyster and contactless off-peak is outside the hours of 6.30 AM-9.30 AM and 4 PM-7 PM (Mon-Fri). For travelcards it’s any time after 9.30 AM (Mon-Fri). Weekends are always classed as off-peak.

The fare is based on what time your journey begins. It doesn’t matter when it ends.

Alternative ways to travel

Walking – The distance is about 4¼ miles, so we don’t recommend walking

By bus – A single ticket is £1.75 (you may need more than one bus). The daily cap is £5.25 and a 1-day travelcard is £6 – Bus fares

By taxi – A 4¼ mile ride should cost approximately £18 to £31 and take 18-32 minutes