Hammersmith & Fulham is a borough in west London, and boasts 3 Premiership football teams within its boundaries.
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).
Both Hammersmith and Fulham are served by the following Tube stations, all in Zone 2:
These stations are on the Edgware Road–Wimbledon branch of the District line. You may need to change at Earl's Court:
Hammersmith bus station, 51.4921°, -0.224°. There are many connections. Berrys London Superfast coaches depart from bay D to towns in the West Country including Glastonbury, Taunton, Tiverton and Warminster. 2022-07-14
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/ (dead link: January 2023)
The A219 links Fulham with the A205 (South Circular) and with the A4.
Much of Hammersmith is walkable. It's a 30-minute walk (1.5 km from Hammersmith station to Chiswick High Rd.
Doves Press
Emery Walker and T. J. Cobden-Sanderson who were part of the arts and crafts movement started a book publisher called the Doves Press at No. 1 Hammersmith Terrace, which was named after the nearby pub The Dove.
In 1905, the five-volume Doves Bible was finished it was printed on linen rag paper and remains a highly sought-after collector's item.
In 1916, T. J. Cobden-Sanderson famously started throwing the metal blocks for Doves Roman (their custom serif typeface) into the River Thames from the Hammersmith Bridge. Several of these metal blocks are on display at the Emery Walker Trust museum from their recovery in 2014 when divers brought them up from the riverbed.
Olympia London, Hammersmith Road, W14 8UX (Rail, Overground & Tube: [rail], plus limited [district] service (Olympia London recommends changing at on weekdays), 51.496389°, -0.209722°, +44 20 7385 1200. An exhibition centre hosting a diverse range of conventions, fairs and events. Olympia has four halls and a conference centre, with a mix of trade shows and public events, so there is almost always something to see. Times and prices vary. The grand hall, with its cavernous Victorian arched iron-and-glass roof, has hosted many historical events: the first world scout jamboree in 1920; the first - and last - mass rally of British fascists in 1934 which ended in rioting; and "Christmas on Earth 1967", a psychedelic rock concert which, despite boasting an insane lineup (Pink Floyd, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, The Who...), almost failed to attract a single audience member due to ineffective publicity. 2020-08-22
Bush Hall, 310 Uxbridge Rd, W12 7LJ (Tube: ), 51.5065°, -0.231609°, +44 20 8222 6955, notes@bushhallmusic.co.uk. Built as a dance hall, this venue now hosts regular events such as live music and burlesque performances.
{{do | name=Hammersmith Apollo | alt=Eventim Apollo | url=https://www.eventimapollo.com/ | email= | address=45 Queen Caroline Street, W6 9QH | lat=51.4907 | long=-0.224458 | directions=Tube: | phone=+44 844 249 1000 (premium) | tollfree= | hours= | price= | wikidata=Q1337772 | lastedit=2020-08-22 | content=Art Deco music venue dating from 1932. It has hosted everyone from Buddy Holly to Kanye West, via the Beatles, Johnny Cash, Black Sabbath, Blondie, Queen, Kylie Minogue, and Prince. In the 21st century, it has gained a reputation for comedy, being among other things the host venue for the BBC's flagship stand-up show Live at the Apollo. }}
O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire, Shepherd's Bush Green, W12 8TT (Tube, Overground & rail: [rail]), 51.50349°, -0.22433°, +44 20 8354 3300, mail@o2shepherdsbushempire.co.uk. Built in 1903 and at the centre of the entertainment scene ever since, the Empire is one of London's premier live music venues, with an emphasis on contemporary rock and pop.
{{do | name=Irish Cultural Centre | alt= | url=http://www.irishculturalcentre.co.uk/ | email=info@irishculturalcentre.co.uk | address=5 Blacks Road, W6 9DT | lat=51.4923 | long=-0.2263 | directions=Tube: | phone=+44 20 8563 8232 | tollfree= | fax=+44 20 8563-8233 | hours= | price= | wikidata=Q25616068 | content=Regular performances of Irish music, film and literature, plus Irish art exhibitions. }}
{{do | name=Lyric Theatre | alt= | url=https://lyric.co.uk/ | email=tickets@lyric.co.uk | address=Lyric Square, King Street, W6 0QL | lat=51.4931 | long=-0.22639 | directions=Tube: | phone=+44 20 8741 6850 | tollfree= | hours= | price= | wikidata=Q12061418 | lastedit=2020-08-22 | content=Beautiful grand auditorium dating to 1895 hidden inside a 1970s concrete box. Hammersmith home for "serious" theatre, mixing old favourites such as Kafka and Shakespeare with premieres of original productions. Usually hosts a popular pantomime over the extended festive season. }}
Bush Theatre, Uxbridge Rd, W12 8LJ (Tube, Overground & rail: or [rail]; near Shepherd's Bush Green), 51.5053°, -0.225939°, +44 20 8743 3584. Home of the Alternative Theatre Company, it's dedicated to breaking new plays and new writers.
{{do | name=Riverside Studios | alt= | url=http://www.riversidestudios.co.uk/ | email=online@riversidestudios.co.uk | address=1 Crisp Rd, W6 9RL | lat=51.488306 | long=-0.228083 | directions=Tube: | phone=+44 20 8743 3584 | tollfree= | hours= | price= | wikipedia=Riverside Studios | image=Riverside Studios front windows.jpg | wikidata=Q7338619 | content=Riverside Studios is a production studio, theatre and independent cinema on the banks of the River Thames in Hammersmith. }}
Vue Cinema Fulham Broadway, Fulham Broadway Shopping Centre, Fulham Rd, SW6 1BW (Tube: ; 1st floor, opposite the escalators), 51.4807°, -0.1941°, +44 8712 240 240. Modern multiplex showing the latest mainstream films.
Vue Cinema Westfield, Westfield Shopping Town, White City, W12 7GF (Tube, Overground & rail: [rail]), 51.5086°, -0.2202°, +44 8712 240 240. Modern multiplex at the top of the Westfield London mall that shows the latest mainstream films.
Hammersmith and Fulham have three professional football league teams.
Chelsea FC, Stamford Bridge, Fulham Rd SW6 1HS (tube: ), 51.4817°, -0.1911°, +44 871 984 1955. Despite the name, this club is actually in Fulham. Chelsea plays soccer in the Premier League, England's top tier, and usually qualifies for European tournaments. Stamford Bridge stadium (capacity 41,000, and not to be confused with the 1066 battlefield near York) has tours on non-matchdays. It's among the best-supported teams in the country, so buy tickets early. The club plan to rebuild the stadium in 2023/24. The women's team play in the Women's Super League, their top tier, with home games at Kingsmeadow in Kingston upon Thames. 2022-05-08
{{do | name=Fulham FC | alt= | url=https://www.fulhamfc.com/ | email=enquiries@fulhamfc.com | address=Craven Cottage, Stevenage Rd SW6 6HH | lat=51.4749 | long=-0.2216 | directions=tube: - Half a mile northwest | phone=+44 870 442 1222 | tollfree= | hours= | price= | wikipedia=Fulham F.C. | image=Craven Cottage Football Ground - geograph.org.uk - 778731.jpg | wikidata=Q18708 | lastedit=2022-05-08 | content=Fulham were promoted in 2022, so they play soccer in the Premier League, the top tier. Tours of their quirky old stadium (capacity 25,000) on non-matchdays are fun. }}
Queen's Park Rangers FC, Loftus Rd Stadium, South Africa Rd, W12 7PJ (Tube: or ), 51.5093°, -0.2320°, +44 20 8743-0262. QPR play in the Championship, the second tier of English football. Loftus Road stadium (capacity 18,000) is a quarter mile west of White City or Wood Lane Underground stations. 2019-05-26
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.
X Electrical, 125 King St, W6 9JG (tube: ), 51.492448°, -0.23052°, +44 20 8563 7383, hammersmith@xelectrical.com. M-Sa: 10AM-6PM, Su: 11AM-5PM. A pawn shop specialising in musical instruments, amps and hi-fis. Also has a retro video game collection with prices as low as £2. 2019-08-03
Amnesty Bookshop Hammersmith, 175 King Street, W6 9JT, 51.492499°, -0.232948°. M-Sa: 11am-5:30pm; Su: noon-4pm. Has a good selection of discounted fiction and non-fiction books over many genres. 2021-06-08
Fulham Broadway, 51.4804°, -0.1945°. Small shopping centre built around the tube station of the same name. Includes a supermarket, some restaurants and cafés along with its other shops, as well as a cinema and pub.
Hammersmith Broadway, 1A Beadon Rd, W6 8AB (tube: ), 51.4919°, -0.223889°, +44 20 8563 0131. M-F: 9AM-8PM, Sa: 9AM-6PM, Su: 11AM-5PM. Small shopping centre inside Hammersmith station (District/Piccadilly) with a Tesco Metro supermarket, a Costa, a Starbuck's, a McDonald's, as well as several other shops and restaurants. 2019-07-29
Livat Hammersmith (formerly Kings Mall), King St, W6 9HW (tube: ), 51.493°, -0.228°, +44 20 8741 2121. A small 1-floor shopping centre with a large IKEA and H&M's London flagship store. There is also a Primark, Sainsbury's, Wilko and Three. Also has parking. Parking for 0-2 hours: £3, 2-4 hours: £5.50, 4-6 hours: £20, 6-9 hours: £30 2019-08-03
West 12 Shopping Centre (W12), W12 8PP (across the road from Westfield London. tube: [rail]), 51.503739°, -0.218772°, +44 20 8746 0038, west12online@landsecurities.com. M-Sa: 9am-7pm, Su: 11am-5pm. Much smaller than Westfield London opposite and more representative of the Shepherd's Bush area as a whole. However, the Vue cinema tickets are several pounds cheaper. On the ground floor, there's a CeX and several discount supermarkets including Poundland and Lidl. Upstairs, there's a Wetherspoon's. The Sherlock: The Official Live Game requires booking but is great fun for a family or group of friends. 2021-06-08
New Shepherd's Bush Market, Uxbridge Rd (tube: ), 51.5054°, -0.2269°, +44 20 8749-3042, george@srgworld.com. M–Sa 9AM–6PM; Su closed. Privately owned street market.
{{buy | name=North End Road Market | alt= | url= | email= | address=Running the length of North End Rd, between Lille Rd and Fulham Rd | lat=51.4830 | long=-0.2006 | directions=tube: | phone= | tollfree= | hours=M–Sa 8AM–6PM | price= | image=Fulham Broadway - geograph.org.uk - 313312.jpg | content=A London street market that's high on character and low on tourists, this has been running since the 1880s. A good place for fresh and affordable fruit and vegetables, household goods, and other items. }}
Shepherd's Bush Market, Between Uxbridge Rd and Goldhawk Rd (tube: or ), 51.504°, -0.2266°. An astonishing array of goods with Afro-Caribbean, Middle Eastern and Indian cultural influences vying for the shopper's attention.
Westfield Shopping Centre, Ariel Way, W12 7GF (Tube, Overground & rail: [rail] or ), 51.5075°, -0.221111°, +44 20 3371-2300. M–Sa 10AM–10PM; Su noon–6PM. The largest urban shopping mall in Europe outside of Russia. A vast array of stores including a designer section called The Village featuring Prada, Louis Vuitton, Hugo Boss, Jimmy Choo, Bucherer, Hogan, and Versus Versace. Along with an assortment of restaurants including Nando's, Pizza Express, Pho, Byron's, Zizzi, Wagamama and Wahaca. There is a 14 Vue screen cinema at the top, usually, the prices are slightly more expensive than the W12 Shopping Centre Vue across the road. The disabled toilets require a RADAR key to open.
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.
W6 Garden Centre and Cafe, 17 Ravenscourt Ave, W6 0SL (tube: ), 51.4942432°, -0.2377181°, +44 20 8563 7112. M-F: 9am-5pm; Sa-Su: 10am-5pm. Set in the District Line viaduct that cuts through Ravenscourt Park. It has a good assortment of vegan and gluten-free cakes. 2020-10-25
Uxbridge Road is noted for good-value and diverse restaurants.
Abu Zaad, 29 Uxbridge Rd, W12 8LH (Tube, Overground & rail: [rail]), 51.5055°, -0.2275°, +44 20 8749-5107. Daily 11AM-11PM. Authentic Syrian fare. Great value. Averge £10
Raj of India, 46 Shepherd's Bush Road W6 7PJ (Tube, Overground & rail: [rail]), 51.5013°, -0.2224°, +44 20 7602-9112. Very reasonable prices and good service at this popular Indian restaurant.
Red Sea Restaurant, 382 Uxbridge Rd, W12 7LL (Tube, Overground & rail: [rail]), 51.5066°, -0.2341°, +44 20 8749-6888. All manner of Middle Eastern food with Eritrean and Ethiopian also town in! All at very reasonable prices.
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.
The River Café, Thames Wharf, Rainville Rd, W6 9HA (tube: ), 51.4839°, -0.224167°, +44 20 7386-4200, info@rivercafe.co.uk. M–Th 12:30–2:15PM/7–9PM; F 12:30–2:15PM/7–9:15PM; Sa 12:30–2:30PM/7–9:15PM; Su noon–3PM. Classy Italian and modern gourmet cuisine at Rainville Rd, Fulham, (not to be confused with the cafe at Craven Cottage which is open non-matchdays and nice for a quick bite or afternoon tea). A 3-course meal will set you back from £60-100, with lovely views of the Thames, you can often glimpse a celeb or two dining here.
{{eat | name=Harwood Arms | alt= | url=https://harwoodarms.com | email=info@harwoodarms.com | address=Walham Grove, SW6 1QP | lat=51.4829 | long=-0.1964 | directions=tube: and | phone=+44 20 7386 1847 | tollfree= | hours= | price= | lastedit=2021-04-24 | content=London's first Michelin-starred pub. The 3-course menu runs £50 per person, but that is value for money. }}
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.
The Captain Cook, 203-205 Dawes Rd, SW6 7QY, 51.48112°, -0.20973°, +44 20 7381 4975. 2021-04-02
Vagabond Fulham, 18-22 Vanston Pl, SW6 1AX, 51.48107°, -0.19803°, +44 20 7381 1717. Wine bar 2021-04-02
{{drink | name=Temperance | alt= | url=https://www.craft-pubs.co.uk/thetemperancefulham/ | email= | address=90 Fulham High St, SW6 3LF | lat=51.46939 | long=-0.21047 | directions=tube: | phone=+44 20 7384 3573 | tollfree= | hours= | price= | wikidata=Q15979548 | lastedit=2021-04-02 | content= }}
{{drink | name=The Dove | alt= | url=http://dovehammersmith.co.uk/ | email=dove@fullers.co.uk | address=19 Upper Mall, W6 9TA | lat=51.4905 | long=-0.2349 | directions=tube: | phone=+44 20 8748-9474 | tollfree= | hours=M–Sa 11AM–11PM; Su noon–11:30PM | price= | wikidata=Q15979554 | content=This pretty 17th-century riverside establishment may have London's smallest bar (room just to the right of the entrance), as well as an outside seating area with river views. The famous Doves Press was named after this pub. }}
Draft House (Duke of Hammersmith), 238 Shepherd's Bush Rd, Hammersmith, London W6 7NL (tube: ), +44 20 7042 5109. 2021-04-02
The Hawk's Nest, Goldhawk Rd, Shepherd's Bush Market, Shepherd's Bush, London W12 8DF (Tube: ), 51.50326°, -0.22393°, +44 7901317873. M-T: 3pm-10:30pm, F-Su: noon-10:30pm. 2021-04-02
The Hop Poles, 17-19 King St, W6 9HR (tube: ), 51.49274°, -0.22572°, +44 20 8748 1411. M-Th, Su: 11am-midnight, F-Sa: 10am-1am. 2021-04-02
{{drink | name=The Pear Tree | alt= | url=http://www.thepeartreefulham.com/ | email= | address=14 Margravine Rd, W6 8HJ | lat=51.48685 | long=-0.21547 | directions=Tube: or | phone=+44 20 7381 1787 | tollfree= | hours= | price= | lastedit=2021-04-02 | content= }}
The Swan, 46 Hammersmith Broadway, W6 0DZ (tube: ), 51.49302°, -0.22499°, +44 20 8748 1043. 2021-04-02
Duke on the Green, 235 New King's Rd, SW6 4XG (tube: ), 51.4727°, -0.1996°, +44 20 7736-2777, dukeonthegreen@youngs.co.uk. M–F 11AM–midnight; Sa 10:30–midnight; Su 10:30AM–11:30PM. Very popular Young's pub at the Fulham end of the King's Rd.
The White Horse (The Sloaney Pony), 1-3 Parson's Green, SW6 4UL (tube: ), 51.4744°, -0.2003°, +44 20 7736-2115, info@whitehorsesw6.com. It offers an extensive choice of local and imported beers, both draught and bottled. It also serves restaurant grade meals. Particularly interesting, each one of them is matched with a beer. Somewhat expensive, but it is a must.
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.
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