Location of the Hammersmith and Fulham area in London

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).

Get in

By Tube

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

• Shepherd's Bush (Central, Overground lines)
• 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)
• Fulham Broadway (District line)
• Parson's Green (District line)
• Putney Bridge (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.

By bus

Bus 94 runs between Piccadilly Circus, via Oxford Street, Notting Hill, Holland Park, Shepherd's Bush and Chiswick to Acton Green (also a Night Bus service).

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

1 Shepherds Bush Railway Station is served by three trains per hour between Clapham Junction and Willesden Junction, and one train per hour between Milton Keynes and East Croydon.

By road

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

Get around

The Gatehouse at Fulham Palace

See

BBC Television Centre, Shepherd's Bush

• 1 Chelsea Harbour Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour, SW10 0XG (train: Imperial Wharf; tube: Fulham Broadway  DIS ; boat: Chelsea Harbour), ☏ +44 20 7225-9101, enquiries@chelsea-harbour.co.uk. Daily 9:30AM-5PM. The cutting edge of British design from Furniture to Fabrics and Lighting. Some showrooms actually sell their designs (at impossible prices). There is also a nice café here. 
• 2 Fulham Palace, Bishop's Ave, SW6 6EA (tube: Putney Bridge  DIS ), ☏ +44 20 7736-3233, education@fulhampalace.org. Sa 11AM-2PM, Su 11:30AM-3:30PM, M Tu noon-4PM. The former retreat of the Bishops of London until 1973 now incorporates Bishop's Park and is a lovely green area in a heavily built part of London as well as home to some important historic buildings. Also a museum which charts the history of the palace back to the 11th century (and the area itself back to prehistoric times). Of note in the museum includes an entire room dedicated to Bishop Henry Compton's botanical exploits where he would gather all kinds of plants from the North American colony and grow them in the palace garden. Sadly the garden itself was destroyed when "Capability" Brown's landscaping became fashionable and Compton's codex of plants is missing with exception of a few preserved copies of its pages. There is a small cafe. Free.  
• 3 Gandhi's Student Accommodation, 20 Baron's Court Road, W14 9DT (tube: West Kensington  DIS ). A blue plaque marks to house where Mahatma Gandhi lived as a law student. 
• 4 Kensal Green Cemetery, Harrow Road, W10 4RA (tube: Kensal Green  BAK  OGD ), ☏ +44 20 8969-0152, fax: +44 20 8960-9744. One of the "Magnificent Seven" Georgian-Victorian cemeteries in London.  
• 5 Queens Club, Palliser Rd, W14 9EQ (tube: Barons Court  DIS  or West Kensington  DIS ), ☏ +44 20 7386-3400. Daily 7AM–8PM. hosts the traditional mens warm-up tennis competition, before the Wimbledon Chamipionship. This grand Victorian structure is home to other racquet sports such as badminton and squash. A new National Tennis Centre has been built further west at Roehampton, to hopefully end the Wimbledon English-winner drought.  
• 6 Hammersmith Terrace (tube: Ravenscourt Park  DIS ). Several blue plaques can be found at the historic Grade II-listed Hammersmith Terrace, including Edward Johnston (the creator of the London Underground typeface) who lived at No. 3 from 1905 to 1912. (updated May 2019)
  • 7 Emery Walker Trust, 7 Hammersmith Terrace, Chiswick, W6 9TS. A small museum dedicated to the former typographer Emery Walker who moved to No 7. Hammersmith Terrace from No. 3. One of the items on display are some of the metal blocks for the Doves Type that were recovered from the River Thames in 2014. (updated May 2019)

• 8 Hammersmith Bridge, W6 9DF. Closed to all traffic since August 2020. A charming green iron and steel suspension bridge designed by Joseph Bazalgette and built in the 1880s. It marks the halfway point on the famous Oxford-Cambridge university boat race. Ordinarily connecting Hammersmith to Barnes on the south bank of the River Thames, the bridge has been declared unsafe due to structural issues which stem partly from the volume of road traffic it carried, far exceeding what Bazalgette could ever have imagined or designed for, and partly due to three separate attempts by the IRA (in 1939, 1996, and 2000) to blow it up which caused damage to the structure without destroying it. (updated Aug 2020)

Parks

• 9 Bishop's Park. The area surrounding Fulham Palace was given by the Church of England as a public recreational ground. (updated May 2019)
• 10 Hurlingham Park (tube: Putney Bridge  DIS ). A large open park which is mainly sports pitches. It does though have some lovely frontage right onto the Thames and makes for a lovely walk for that reason.  
• 11 Ravenscourt Park, Padderswick Rd (tube: Ravencourt Park  DIS ). An eight-hectare park in Hammersmith with a long history. It is home to a lake, tea house, tennis courts, an all-weather football pitch, a bowling green, areas in which to just sit or play, a garden centre and some truly ancient trees, particularly cedars.  

• 12 Wormwood Scrubs (The Scrubs) (tube: East Acton  CEN ). One of the largest areas of common land in London. Its sporting facilities include several football pitches (Queens Park Rangers F.C. used to play here in the Victorian age).  

Do

Cinema, theatre and concerts

Bush Hall

• 1 Bush Hall, 310 Uxbridge Rd, W12 7LJ (Tube: Shepherd's Bush Market  CIR  H&C ), ☏ +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.  
• 2 Bush Theatre, Uxbridge Rd, W12 8LJ (Tube: Shepherd's Bush Market  CIR  H&C  or Shepherd's Bush  CEN  OGD ; near Shepherd's Bush Green), ☏ +44 20 8743 3584. Home of the Alternative Theatre Company, it is dedicated to breaking new plays and new writers.  
• Hammersmith Apollo (Eventim Apollo), 45 Queen Caroline Street, W6 9QH (Tube: Hammersmith  CIR  DIS  H&C  PIC ), ☏ +44 844 249 1000 (premium). 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. (updated Aug 2020)

• 3 Irish Culture Centre, 5 Blacks Road, W6 9DT (Tube: Hammersmith  CIR  DIS  H&C  PIC ), ☏ +44 20 8563 8232, fax: +44 20 8563-8233, info@irishculturalcentre.co.uk. Regular performances of Irish music, film and literature, plus Irish art exhibitions. 

• Lyric Theatre, Lyric Square, King Street, W6 0QL (Tube: Hammersmith  CIR  DIS  H&C  PIC ), ☏ +44 20 8741 6850, tickets@lyric.co.uk. 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. (updated Aug 2020)

• 4 O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire, Shepherd's Bush Green, W12 8TT (Rail & Tube: Shepherd's Bush  CEN  OGD ), ☏ +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.  
• 5 Riverside Studios, 1 Crisp Rd, W6 9RL (Tube: Hammersmith  CIR  DIS  H&C  PIC ), ☏ +44 20 8743 3584, online@riversidestudios.co.uk. Riverside Studios is a production studio, theatre and independent cinema on the banks of the River Thames in Hammersmith.  
• 6 Vue Cinema Fulham Broadway, Fulham Broadway Shopping Centre, Fulham Rd, SW6 1BW (Tube: Fulham Broadway  DIS ; 1st floor, opposite the escalators), ☏ +44 8712 240 240. Modern multiplex showing the latest mainstream films. 
• 7 Vue Cinema Westfield, Westfield Shopping Town, White City, W12 7GF (Rail & Tube: Shepherd's Bush  CEN  OGD ), ☏ +44 8712 240 240. Modern multiplex showing the latest mainstream films. 

Football

Hammersmith and Fulham have three professional football league teams.

• 8 Chelsea FC, Stamford Bridge, Fulham Rd SW6 1HS (tube: Fulham Broadway  DIS ), ☏ +44 871 984 1955. Despite the name, this club is actually in Fulham. Chelsea play in the Premier League, the top tier of English football, and usually qualify 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. Their women's team play in the Women's Super League, with home games at AFC Wimbledon. (updated Sep 2019)
• 9 Fulham FC, Craven Cottage, Stevenage Rd, SW6 6HH (tube: Putney Bridge  DIS  - Half a mile northwest), ☏ +44 870 442 1222, enquiries@fulhamfc.com. Fulham were promoted in 2020, so they too play in the Premier League. Tours of their quirky old stadium (capacity 25,000) on non-matchdays are fun. (updated Aug 2020)
• 10 Queen's Park Rangers FC, Loftus Rd Stadium, South Africa Rd, W12 7PJ (just north of Uxbridge Rd), ☏ +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. (updated May 2019)

Buy

Westfield Shopping Centre

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.

• 1 X Electrical, 125 King St, W6 9JG (tube: Hammersmith  DIS  PIC  H&C  CIR ), ☏ +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. (updated Aug 2019)

Shopping centres

• 2 Fulham Broadway (above Fulham Broadway  DIS  tube station). 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.  
• 3 Hammersmith Broadway, 1A Beadon Rd, W6 8AB (tube: Hammersmith  DIS  PIC  H&C  CIR ), ☏ +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. (updated Jul 2019)
• 4 Kings Mall, King St, W6 9HW (tube: Hammersmith  DIS  PIC  H&C  CIR ), ☏ +44 20 8741 2121. A small 1-floor shopping centre with H&M's flagship store, as well as a Primark, Sainsbury's, Wilko, WHSmith, Three, Carphone Warehouse. Also has parking. Parking for 0-2 hours: £3, 2-4 hours: £5.50, 4-6 hours: £20, 6-9 hours: £30. (updated Aug 2019)

Markets

• 5 New Shepherd's Bush Market, Uxbridge Rd (tube: Shepherd's Bush Market  CIR  H&C ), ☏ +44 20 8749-3042, george@srgworld.com. M–Sa 9AM–6PM; Su closed. Privately owned street market. 
• 6 North End Road Market, Running the length of North End Rd, between Lille Rd and Fulham Rd (tube: Fulham Broadway  DIS ). M–Sa 8AM–6PM. 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. 
• 7 Shepherds Bush Market, Between Uxbridge Rd and Goldhawk Rd (tube: Shepherd's Bush Market  CIR  H&C  or Goldhawk Rd  CIR  H&C ). An astonishing array of goods with Afro-Caribbean, Middle Eastern and Indian cultural influences vying for the shopper's attention.  

Malls

• 8 Westfield Shopping Centre, Ariel Way, W12 7GF (tube: Shepherd's Bush  CEN  OGD ), ☏ +44 20 3371-2300. M–Sa 10AM–10PM; Su noon–6PM. The largest urban shopping mall in Europe. 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 and a 14 Vue screen cinema at the top.  

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.

• 1 Abu Zaad, 29 Uxbridge Rd, W12 8LH (tube: Shepherd's Bush  CEN  OGD ), ☏ +44 20 8749-5107. Daily 11AM-11PM. Authentic Syrian fare. Great value. Averge £10. 
• 2 Raj of India, 46 Shepherd's Bush Road W6 7PJ (tube: Shepherd's Bush  CEN  OGD ), ☏ +44 20 7602-9112. Very reasonable prices and good service at this popular Indian restaurant. 
• 3 Red Sea Restaurant, 382 Uxbridge Rd, W12 7LL (tube: Shepherd's Bush  CEN  OGD ), ☏ +44 20 8749-6888. All manner of Middle Eastern food with Eritrean and Ethiopian also town in! All at very reasonable prices. 

Mid-range

• 4 Fiesta Havana, 490-492 Fulham Rd, SW6 5NH (tube: Fulham Broadway  DIS ), ☏ +44 20 7381-5005. Latin themed restaurant with live DJs and staff who will give you Salsa classes in between courses! The set tapas menu for £10 is very popular. 

Splurge

• 5 The River Cafe, Thames Wharf, Rainville Rd, W6 9HA (tube: Hammersmith  DIS  PIC  CIR  H&C ), ☏ +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.  

Drink

Shepherds 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.

• 1 The Dove, 19 Upper Mall, W6 9TA (tube: Ravenscourt Park  DIS ), ☏ +44 20 8748-9474, dove@fullers.co.uk. M–Sa 11AM–11PM; Su noon–11:30PM. 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.  
• 2 Duke on the Green, 235 New King's Rd, SW6 4XG (tube: Parson's Green  DIS ), ☏ +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.  
• 3 The White Horse (The Sloaney Pony), 1-3 Parson's Green, SW6 4UL (tube: Parson's Green  DIS ), ☏ +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.  

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.

Budget

• 1 Abbey Hotel, 23 Wood Ln, W12 7DP (tube: Shepherd's Bush), ☏ +44 20 8749-8780, info@abbeyhotel.org. Budget hotel close to the BBC Television Centre. Discounts for long stays. £69. 
• 2 Adria Hotel, 44 Glenthorne Rd, W6 0LS (tube: Hammersmith), ☏ +44 20 8742-6674. A four generation family run hotel with excellent transport connections and good value for money. Regularly refurbished. £69. 
• 3 Grantly Hotel, 50 Shepherds Bush Green, W12 8PS (tube: Goldhawk Rd), ☏ +44 20 8743-4345, grantlyhotel@gmail.com. No-frills budget hotel in an converted Edwardian house. Single, Double and Family rooms available. £67. 
• 4 Hotel Sergul, 87 Shepherds Bush Rd, W6 7LR (tube: Hammersmith), ☏ +44 20 7603-5400, info@hotelsergul.co.uk. Affordable smart hotel with excellent links to West End and close to Olympia and Earls Court exhibition centre. £40. 
• 5 Jim's Guest House, 26 Aldine St, W12 8AN (tube: Shepherd's Bush), ☏ +44 20 8743-0456, info@jimsguesthouse.co.uk. Good value bed and breakfast. Family suite available. From £79. 
• 6 Plaza Hotel, 53 Shepherds Bush Rd, W6 7LU (tube: Goldhawk Rd), ☏ +44 20 7603-2667. Actually three hotels all run by the same company - The Plaza, The Rex and The Acropolis. All similar standard and nearby to each other. From about £40. 
• 7 Royal Guest House, 47 Shepherds Bush Rd, W6 7LU (tube: Goldhawk Rd), ☏ +44 20 7603-4528, info@royalguesthouse.co.uk. Very cheap guesthouse within walking distance of Shepherd's Bush and Hammersmith. Triple rooms available. From £45. 

Mid-range

• 8 Jurys Inn Chelsea Hotel, Imperial Rd, Imperial Wharf, SW6 2GA (train: Imperial Wharf; tube: Fulham Broadway), ☏ +44 20 7411-2200. Affordable hotel of one of the better hotel chains. All rooms are ensuite and large by London standards. From £79. 
• 9 La Reserve Hotel Chelsea, 422-428 Fulham Rd, SW6 1DU (tube: Fulham Broadway), ☏ +44 20 7385-8561, fax: +44 20 7385-7662, info@la-reservehotel.co.uk. Small hotel offering 43 en-suite bedrooms in the extreme south-east of the district bordering Chelsea. The hotel overlooks Chelsea Football Club. £95. 
• 10 Novotel London West, 1 Shortlands, W6 8DR (tube: Hammersmith), ☏ +44 20 8741-1555. Very large business-class hotel. The rooms are reasonably priced with basic amenities in each room. Wireless internet available, or basic internet through the room's television. English breakfast available at extra charge. Restaurant/bar/lounge, massage center, concierge, cash machine, shoe shine machine, tourist information desk, porter, dry cleaning/ironing available, currency exchange, pets allowed with deposit. From about £130. 
• 11 Premier Inn, 3 Putney Bridge Approach, SW6 3JD (tube: Putney Bridge), ☏ +44 870 238 3302. In the extreme south of the district close to the Thames From £90. 
• 12 The Ville's B&B, 39 Brookville Road, SW6 7BH (tube: Parsons Green), ☏ +44 20 7381-2093. In the friendly area with fashionable restaurants, cafes, pubs and antique shops From £80. 

Splurge

• 13 K-West, Richmond Way, W14 0AX (tube: Shepherd's Bush), ☏ +44 20 8743-3206. Modern, fashionable hotel with a day spa. From £150. 
• 14 Lamington Serviced Apartments, 109 Hammersmith Gr, W6 0NQ (tube: Hammersmith or Goldhawk Road), ☏ +44 20 8748-2645, lettings@lamingtonuk.com. Luxury short term serviced apartments for business and leisure guests. Spacious and modern apartments in a quiet residential area, with local restaurants, delicatessens, and amenities, and in walking distance of major transport links. From around £68.50. 

Go next

Routes through Hammersmith and Fulham

END ← North London ←	W  E	→ Paddington-Maida Vale → Bloomsbury
END ← West London ←	W  E	→ Notting Hill-North Kensington → Bloomsbury-Soho
END ←	W  E	→ Notting Hill-North Kensington → Mayfair-Marylebone
Richmond-Kew (Richmond branch) / END (Ealing branch) ← West London ←	W  E	→ South Kensington-Chelsea → Westminster
Wimbledon ← Wandsworth ←	W  E	→ South Kensington-Chelsea → Westminster / Mayfair-Marylebone
END ←	W  E	→ Notting Hill-North Kensington → Bloomsbury-Camden
Heathrow Airport / North London ← West London ←	W  E	→ South Kensington-Chelsea → Westminster-Mayfair-Marylebone
North London ← =Hammersmith ← South Kensington-Chelsea ←	N  S	→ South Kensington-Chelsea → Fulham → Wandsworth

Routes through Hammersmith and Fulham

Heathrow Airport ← West London ←	W  E	→ Kensington → The City
Buckinghamshire ← West London ←	W  E	→ North Kensington → West End