London Drum

Balham ⇄ Embankment 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 Embankment

Number of stops: 8 · Journey time: Approx 18 mins

Stations on the route: Balham ➜ Clapham South ➜ Clapham Common ➜ Clapham North ➜ Stockwell ➜ Oval ➜ Kennington ➜ Waterloo ➜ Embankment

Live status and delays

Strikes and station closures

First and last train times

Northern line timetable

Alternative routes include Balham to Charing Cross, Balham to Westminster and Balham to Waterloo

Stairs, lifts and escalators

Balham is not wheelchair accessible

Embankment 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)

Embankment exit – There are two flights of stairs from the Circle/​District line platforms to the booking hall (2x15 steps up from the eastbound platform, or 16 steps up +14 steps up from the westbound platform), or two escalators plus three flights of stairs from the Bakerloo line platforms (6 steps up +19 steps up from the southbound platform, or 6 steps up +20 steps up from the northbound platform), or two escalators plus one flight of stairs from the Northern line platforms (6 steps up). After that there’s another flight of 4 stairs to the Victoria Embankment exit, but the Villiers Street exit is on the level

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

  1. From Embankment take the Northern Line
  2. Leave the train at Balham

Number of stops: 8 · Journey time: Approx 19 mins

Stations on the route: Embankment ➜ Waterloo ➜ 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 Embankment to Charing Cross, Embankment to Westminster and Embankment to Waterloo

Stairs, lifts and escalators

Embankment is not wheelchair accessible

Balham is not wheelchair accessible

Embankment entrance – The Villiers Street entrance and the booking hall are on the level, but you must use one flight of 4 stairs from the Victoria Embankment entrance. After that there are two flights of stairs to the Circle/​District line platforms (2x15 steps down to the eastbound platform, or 16 steps down +14 steps down to the westbound platform), or two escalators plus three flights of stairs to the Bakerloo line platforms (6 steps down +19 steps down to the southbound platform, or 6 steps down +20 steps down to the northbound platform), or two escalators plus one flight of stairs to the Northern line platforms (6 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 ⇄ Embankment 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 ⇄ Embankment 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 – We don’t recommend walking as the stations are 4¾ miles apart

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 4¾ mile trip should cost you about £23 to £35.50 and take anything from 20 to 34 minutes

By carParking near Embankment station