London/Hammersmith and Fulham

Hammersmith & Fulham is a borough in west London, and boasts 3 Premiership football teams within its boundaries.

Understand
This is a large district of the inner west of London.

The most well known part of the district is perhaps Shepherd's Bush which has long been a first home in London to second and first generation immigrants. While this is less true today than in the past, the area undergoing gradual gentrification, beautification and development, there is still a substantial expatriate population (including a great many travelling Antipodeans).

Culturally, Shepherd's Bush is well known as the former home of the BBC's TV output, with the Television Centre located on Wood Lane in the White City sub-district. The Bush was also the fictional home of Steptoe & Son at Oil Drum Lane. The members of two influential British bands, The Who and the Sex Pistols, grew up in Shepherd's Bush. It is also the home of newly promoted football team Queens Park Rangers (QPR), who play in the top-level Premier League. These days, most people visit White City for its large shopping mall, Westfield London.

South of Shepherd's Bush is Hammersmith, which is a transport, commercial and retail hub of west London rather spoilt by the roar of traffic from its many roads, as well as the shade cast by indifferent office blocks and the ghastly Hammersmith Flyover. However it does have two important performing arts venues, the Apollo and the Lyric, as well as one of London's most elegant bridges.

At the southern end of the district, the residential riverside areas of Fulham have been hugely gentrified, and it is now sometimes difficult to determine where (previously much grander) Chelsea ends and Fulham begins. Fulham is also home to the football teams Fulham FC, Queens Park Rangers and Chelsea FC (at Fulham Broadway).

By Tube
Both Hammersmith and Fulham are served by the following Tube stations, all in Zone 2:

Hammersmith

 * Shepherd's Bush (Central)
 * Shepherd's Bush Market (Circle, Hammersmith & City lines)
 * Wood Lane (Circle, Hammersmith & City lines)
 * White City (Central line)
 * Hammersmith (Piccadilly, District, Circle, Hammersmith & City lines)
 * Goldhawk Road (Circle, Hammersmith & City lines)
 * Barons Court (District and Piccadilly lines)
 * West Kensington (District line)
 * Ravenscourt Park (District line) – Note: The Piccadilly line does pass through Ravenscourt Park though it only stops on special occasions such as during New Year.

Fulham
These stations are on the Edgware Road–Wimbledon branch of the District line. You may need to change at Earl's Court:


 * Fulham Broadway (District line)
 * Parson's Green (District line)
 * Putney Bridge (District line)

Fulham
Buses 11, 14, 22, 28, 74, 190, 211, 295, 391, 414, 430, and night buses N11, N22 and N28, all stop in Fulham. http://lbhf.gov.uk/Directory/Transport_and_Streets/Public_Transport/

By train
The Hammersmith & Fulham borough is connected via Shepherd's Bush and the nearby Willesden Junction on the London Overground Mildmay line which is the new name for the former North London Line (NLL) and West London Line (WLL).

Old Oak Common station will be just 500 metres (546 yards) below Willesden Junction and on the Elizabeth line between Acton Main Line and London Paddington but is planned to be opened in 2026.



By road
The A219 links Fulham with the A205 (South Circular) and with the A4.

Get around
Much of Hammersmith is walkable. It's a 30-minute walk from Hammersmith station to the Chiswick High Rd.

See




Football
Hammersmith and Fulham have three professional football league teams.



Buy
Shopping in this area runs the gamut from street markets to luxury shops in the largest enclosed shopping centre (or "mall" to American travellers) in Europe.

There are plenty of charity shops in Hammersmith and nearby Chiswick.



Eat
There are loads of great restaurants in Fulham along the high streets and also a distinct lack of any chain restaurants (don't worry, you can find all of these along Putney High St if you're desperate). It is often a good idea to just start walking along any of the main roads and you should have more choice of places to eat than you will ever need.

Budget
Uxbridge Road is noted for good-value and diverse restaurants.

Mid-range
Westfield London has many chain restaurants inside and around the perimeter including Zizzi, Five Guys, Franco Manco and Wagamama. There is also a food court on the first floor with Pho and Dirty Vegan, amongst others.



Drink
Shepherd's Bush Green contains many large chain pubs. Uxbridge Road and Goldhawk Road have smaller, more laid-back bars and gastro-pubs. Fulham is full of highly rated, popular pubs some of them right by the Thames.

Sleep
Shepherd's Bush and Hammersmith are well known as the home of many discount hotels (some of low quality, unfortunately) and B&Bs. With the gradual gentrification of the area, more comfortable and expensive options are appearing.

Go next

 * South across Hammersmith Bridge to Barnes.
 * South across Putney Bridge to Putney.
 * West into South Kensington and Chelsea