Balham Lodge is situated in a conservation area called The Heaver Estate. The name is that of the patron of the project Alfred Heaver who thought to build "the finest estate in London". No.204 was one of the twenty -two houses built along Bedford Hill in 1889. Balham's town centre has a variety of bars, restaurants and shops including major chains. There are also local services, including independent stores, coffee houses and brasseries The Bedford is a pub venue for live music and comedy on Bedford Hill. Balham has a railway/tube interchange station, Balham tube station and Balham railway station, in London fare zone 3. The stations connect Balham to both the City of London and the West End. Clapham South tube station is also technically in Balham, lying exactly at the meeting point of Clapham, Battersea and Balham. Current bus routes serving the area are the 155, 249, 255, 315, 355 and N155...Balham’s growing reputation as a great place to live has been highlighted in a new survey by The Sunday Times.