The journey from Balham to Holborn is in fare zones 1-3 and you’ll have to use the Northern and Piccadilly tube lines, changing trains at Leicester Square
- From Balham take the Northern Line
- Change at Leicester Square to the Piccadilly Line
- Leave the train at Holborn
Number of tube stops: 12 · Journey time: Approx 34 mins
Stations on the route: Balham ➜ Clapham South ➜ Clapham Common ➜ Clapham North ➜ Stockwell ➜ Oval ➜ Kennington ➜ Waterloo ➜ Embankment ➜ Charing Cross ➜ Leicester Square [change train] Leicester Square ➜ Covent Garden ➜ Holborn
London Underground tube delays
Strikes and closures on the Northern and Piccadilly
First and last train times on the Northern line
Tube times for the Northern line
Alternative routes include Balham to Chancery Lane, Balham to Tottenham Court Road and Balham to Russell Square
Stairs, lifts and escalators to the station platforms
Balham underground station is not wheelchair accessible
Holborn station is not wheelchair accessible
Balham station 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)
Changing tube line at Leicester Square – You must use stairs when changing between the Northern/Piccadilly line platforms
Holborn station exit – You must use an escalator plus one flight of stairs from the platforms to the exit (19 steps up from the Central eastbound platform, or 20 steps up from the Central westbound/Piccadilly southbound platforms, or 22 steps up from the Piccadilly northbound platform)
The journey from Holborn to Balham is in fare zones 1-3 and you’ll have to use the Piccadilly and Northern tube lines, changing trains at Leicester Square
- From Holborn take the Piccadilly Line
- Change at Leicester Square to the Northern Line
- Leave the train at Balham
Number of tube stops: 12 · Journey time: Approx 35 mins
Stations on the route: Holborn ➜ Covent Garden ➜ Leicester Square [change train] Leicester Square ➜ Charing Cross ➜ Embankment ➜ Waterloo ➜ Kennington ➜ Oval ➜ Stockwell ➜ Clapham North ➜ Clapham Common ➜ Clapham South ➜ Balham
London Underground tube delays
Strikes and closures on the Piccadilly and Northern
First and last train times on the Piccadilly line
Tube times for the Piccadilly line
Alternative routes include Holborn to Chancery Lane, Holborn to Tottenham Court Road and Holborn to Russell Square
Stairs, lifts and escalators to the station platforms
Holborn train station is not wheelchair accessible
Balham station is not wheelchair accessible
Holborn station entrance – You must use an escalator plus one flight of stairs from the entrance to the platforms (19 steps down to the Central eastbound platform, or 20 steps down to the Central westbound/Piccadilly southbound platforms, or 22 steps down to the Piccadilly northbound platform)
Changing tube line at Leicester Square – You must use stairs when changing between the Northern/Piccadilly line platforms
Balham station 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
Tube fare between Balham and Holborn
This tube journey is in Oyster zones 1-3. The cheapest fare is £3 off-peak (£3.70 peak) when you pay by Oyster or contactless. There’s no return fare, you just pay the same as two single tickets
| 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 |
| 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 |
| See our complete list of Adult train tickets, Senior train tickets, Child train tickets, Oyster train fares, Contactless train fares and Travelcard fares Note: Tube journey prices are correct as of | ||||
Peak and off-peak journey 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. Note: Between the 8th March and 31st May 2024 TFL are running a trial called ‘Off-Peak Friday Fares’, where Fridays will be classed as off-peak all day.
The fare is based on what time your journey begins. It doesn’t matter what time your journey ends.
Other ways to make this journey
Travel on foot – It’s about 5⅓ miles from Holborn to Balham which is too far to walk
Travel by bus – Single fare: £1.75 (you may need more than one bus); Daily cap: £5.25; Weekly cap: £24.70; 1-day travelcard: £6; Weekly travelcard: £24.70 – Adult bus tickets · OAP bus tickets · Kids bus tickets
Travel by taxi – Catching a black cab 5⅓ miles between Holborn station and Balham station will take 24-38 mins and cost about £28 and £40
Travel by car – Car parks near Holborn station