Hammersmith
Entertainment
Hammersmith is a lively hub of Restaurants, Bars, Pubs and Entertainment, many of the venues are well known and give Hammersmith a young vibrant feel with music and theatre enjoyed by locals and visitors.
The Lyric Hammersmith is a well known theatre with many west end productions and local theatre groups show casing performances throughout the year
The Irish Centre - Cultural Events, Music and Theatre - Blacks Road
The Polish Jazz Cafe - Kings Street
The Hammersmith Farmers’ Market takes place every Thursday in Lyric Square selling a feast of food and beverages. There is a large selection of organic fare as well as vegetarian and vegan - there is something for everyone.
Outdoor Fitness
Being near the river there is a choice of rowing clubs, most of which welcome people of all abilities, or try dinghy sailing at the:
London Corinthian Sailing Club
Auriol Kensington Rowing Club
Furnivall Sculling Club
Parks and Open Space
Ravenscourt Park , is a family favourite and is situated on Ravenscourt Avenue off King Street. The park has a paddling pool and children’s beach in summer, playgrounds, tennis courts, a walled garden, bowling green and café.
The riverside is easily accessible as you can walk from Chiswick to Hammersmith then onto Barnes and Putney taking in the sights. Hammersmith Bridge has been closed due to safety reasons however you can still walk across it . The pubs on either side have great vantage points for the annual. Hammersmith Riverside
Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race
Riverside Studios arts and live events venue, right on the river recently renovated, has outside seating where you can have drinks before or after a show. There are regular performances of dance, music, a cinema, screening room, events space, rehearsal room and archives, plus bars and restaurants and those riverside views.
Shepherds Bush
Shepherds Bush has been able to retain its character and its vibrant multicultural history.and community from post war Britain to present day.by continually adapting to the many changes in the area. The redevelopment of the BBC studios and White City Stadium started the renaissance of the area . Westfield London opened in 2008 as the largest covered shopping development in London at the time. Imperial’s White City campus is at the heart of a vibrant area to live, work and play. The College is driving this evolution with a £2 billion investment in a new 23-acre integrated collaborative campus.The Molecular Sciences Research Hub is the first facility to host Imperial research and teaching staff.
There are a number of high end residential developments following the multi-million-pound investment into the area, including it not only has retained its character, it has adapted to the modern day-built environment. Much of Shepherds Bush Green and surrounding roads are within the council’s conservation areas and therefore original Victorian buildings and shop fronts have been protected.
Entertainment
The Bush Theatre is a well known theatre with many west end productions and local theatre groups show casing performances throughout the year
Shepherds Bush Empire Known for its live music and rock and pop events throughout the year .
Bush Hall - Independent Theatre and Community Hall featuring Cultural Events, Music and Theatre, plus a bespoke childrens music hall and school
Vue Cinema London - Westfield (Shepherd's Bush) state-of-the-art multiplex venue. With almost 3,000 seats across 20 screens, watch the latest 2D and 3D films in Sony 4K picture quality and Digital Dolby Surround Sound
Vue Cinema London - Shepherd's bush Convenient cinema located in the W12 Centre watch film trailers and upgrade your seats for 2D and 3D films as well as big screen events. All in premium Dolby Digital surround sound
Electric Cinema White City Cosy Cinema located in Soho Works White City Television Centre, 101 Wood Ln.
Visit | Imperial College London The Great Exhibition Road Festival celebrates science and the arts to help people, communities and nature flourish with a weekend of free events for all ages. Tens of thousands of visitors joined us for an incredible weekend of creative workshops, fascinating talks, interactive exhibits and lively performances.
Parks
Although located in Shepherds Bush - Hammersmith Park in Frithville Gardens is a charming park with a Japanese Garden and pond . Located at the back of Shepherds Bush Station and White City you can enter it via Frithville Gardens. Shepherds Bush Green is a hub of activity during the summer as it attracts sunbathers and a place to watch the busy world go by . It also used a location for the Fair or Circus which is set up 2 or 3 times a year.
Wendell Park is a peaceful open space with mature trees, large borders and a central lawn area, perfect for children to play, exercising your dog, a picnic or just enjoying the peace and quiet. There are many benches along the path that surrounds the central green area, so a great place to stop and enjoy the well cared for plants. Wendell Park Gardening Friends attend to the park and its upkeep .
Acton
Acton now has become a popular area for young professionals, students and families thanks to its fantastic transport links. A huge £800m redevelopment has taken place in the area in recent years, which has seen more than 3,000 new homes built. With a wide variety of architecture available in Acton, including apartments, grand Victorian town houses, cottages and modern new-build developments, it remains accessible for many who may find neighbouring neighbourhoods out of budget.
Entertainment
Guide to Acton Skatepark Acton Skatepark is a concrete skatepark in Acton Park. It features an open bowl and back-and-forth plaza section.
JKWC - Jack Kontou Wing Chun JKWC is a fully equipped martial arts school that offers mixed gender classes to all age groups and physical ability.
Mini Golf Acton: Golf & Pizza - Family Fun | Putt in the Park
Team Sport Go-Karting – Go Karting Acton (West London)
ActOne Cinema officially opened on 8th October 2021. The building is an Asset of Community Value, its history and its central location, Formally Acton Library There is now two 60-seat screening rooms fully equipped with the latest digital technology, a beautiful lounge where the children’s library once was, and a café ready to serve you with drinks and snacks to take into the cinema.
Everyone Active Leisure Centre - Local gym swimming pool and leisure centre
London Transport Museum Depot houses over 320,000 items of all types, including many original works of art used for the Museum’s celebrated poster collection, vehicles, signs, models, photographs, engineering drawings and uniforms. Together these form one of the most comprehensive and important records of urban transport anywhere in the world.
W3 gallery is an arts and cultural hub in Acton, benefitting the area with dynamic arts activities and the growth of a vibrant cultural sector.
Parks
Acton park The park opened to the public in 1888 to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria. A dying Dutch Elm tree, one of the last in the borough, close to the main entrance has been transformed into a dramatic 28-foot carved statue called the Twilight Tree.It has a number of facilities including bowling green and pavilion tennis courts,multi use games area, play centre, playground café pond,basketball/football court and climbing block. Other parks include
North Playing Fields. A community, arts and cultural hub in a beautiful setting The park has number of facilities including a large hall, cafe area outdoor area: pavilion and veranda Ornamental garden with picnic area Accessibility: Suitable for wheelchairs
Gunnersbury Park boasts 72 hectares of Grade II* listed parkland in the heart of west London. From open lawns perfect for a picnic, formal gardens to delight any budding horticulturist and tranquil lakes to go boating on in the summer months, and offers something for everyone. As a Grade II* listed park in west London, Gunnersbury has a rich history. Located within the park is the Gunnersbury Park House and Visitor Centre. Here you can visit the Museum and Exhibition Centre, where there is a number of Workshops held and available for Venue Hire
Gunnersbury Park Sports Hub a new family-friendly gym and sports complex is located within Gunnersbury Park, just a short walk from Acton, Chiswick and Brentford. The complex boasts a large, airy gym on the first floor, overlooking the park, and provides state-of-the-art Life Fitness equipment across the dedicated cardio, strength, resistance and functional areas, with both adult and junior memberships available.
CHISWICK
The area benefits from being central to transport links both road bus and train and only minutes away from Chiswick Hammersmith and Shepherds Bush. There is an abundance of things to do and being near the River Thames and Chiswick Park House Grounds it’s a highly desirable area for all ages.
Parks Outdoor Spaces
Chiswick House and Gardens is one of the earliest and most important neo-Palladian villas in England. The revolutionary, natural-looking Gardens influenced gardens from Blenheim Palace to New York’s Central Park. In 300 years, the House and Gardens have been owned by the aristocracy, rented by royalty. It was restored in 2010 with support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Sipsmith Distillery is the first copper-pot-based distillery to start up in London in 200 years, and is one of only four gin distilleries located in London. Established in 2009, it's the home to some of the finest gin in the country. They offer distillery tours which set out the history of gin, watch how gin is made, and take the opportunity to try some samples made right on the premises. There is also a bar located at the distillery which not only serves a brilliant range of Sipsmith’s finest gin, but food and other beverages as well. You’ll also be given the chance to join the Sipping Society!
The Lyric Hammersmith is a well known theatre with many west end productions and local theatre groups show casing performances throughout the year
The Tabard Theatre is a small 96-seat theatre in Chiswick round the corner to Turnham Green Underground station, it is situated above the Tabard public house on Bath Road. The Tabard Theatre was licensed and opened for theatre use in 1985. It was renamed as the Chiswick Playhouse in 2019 and renamed the Tabard in September 2022.
Chiswick’s long-established Comedy Club. For the past 20 years, the top names in Stand-up to West London have graced the stage in this park of West London.. Acts such as Micky Flanagan, Bill Bailey, Sarah Millican, Michael McIntyre, Sean Lock, and Lee Mack have all appeared in the past and many top names still do.
The Fuller’s Griffin Brewery is a special place. It's the home of London Pride - It’s where the magic happens, where the malt meets the hops. They offer Tours to corporates, parties and private individuals to experience Fuller’s Brewery in all its glory or visit the Brewery Shop for gifts, drinks, tastings and much more.
Parks
Chiswick House and Park Chiswick House and Gardens is one of the earliest and most important neo-Palladian villas in England. The revolutionary, natural-looking Gardens influenced gardens from Blenheim Palace to New York’s Central Park. In 300 years, the House and Gardens have been owned by the aristocracy, rented by royalty. It was restored in 2010 with support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
WEST KENSINGTON
Entertainment
The Troubadour was founded in 1954 and is now one of London's oldest independent music venues, its has a huge following with live music and retro appeal as well as a great live poetry heritage,
The Finborough Theatre is a tiny producing house whose reputation has soared in the last decade for outstanding and cutting-edge productions .
Earls Court Exhibition Centre and Earls Court Two ( under construction ) - World famous exhibition centre is under development however there is still plenty of shopping, places to have coffee and lovely walks.
The Apollo Hammersmith Known for its Comedy productions and broadcasted on TV the Apollo has live music and theatre musicals and rock and pop events throughout the year .
Queens Club Stands The famous and exclusive Queens Club stands here. It was the first multisport complex ever to be established in the world in 1886, but nowadays it’s famous for its lawn tennis. Huge events like the Stella Artois Championships, the World Rackets Championships and the British Open take place here each year.
Blythe House Blythe House contains 170,000 other exhibits that other museums don't have enough space for! It’s used as an overspill for the British Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum too. You can take a guided tour here on Wednesdays to see wonderful and often weird things that most members of the public will never get to see.
Parks and Open Spaces
The area, although busy, still has tranquil, leafy streets and diverse architectural beauty. This part of West London has some beautiful open spaces and parks such as Kensington Park Gardens are a short walk as well as Brook Green and Holland Park.
Brook Green The green comprises two distinct areas: Brook Green which is 1.7 hectares Little Brook Green which is 0.2 hectares and boast of a number of facilities and a haven for dog walkers and families
Kensington Park Gardens began life as one of King Henry VIII’s many hunting parks. The land was actually part of Hyde Park until, in 1689 King William III and his wife Queen Mary decided to build a new home – Kensington Palace – next to the park. Today, they are open to everyone and one of the most visited and popular parks for families and visitors.
Holland Park is spread across 54 acres of what used to be the grounds of Cope Castle, a large Jacobean mansion hidden in the woods. Sir Walter Cope built it in the early 17th century. He became Chancellor of the Exchequer under King James 1st. It was renamed Holland House after the Earl of Holland’s wife Lady Rich inherited the property. The House was then badly damaged during World War II. One wing was saved and is used as a youth hostel. A section of the front terrace was saved. This is used for the park's summertime open-air theatre productions and classical concerts.
Kyoto Garden was designed and built by an eminent Japanese Garden designer and his team. It was created to celebrate the Japan Festival in London in 1992. This was a co-operative project between the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and the Kyoto Chamber of Commerce in Japan.