London/Shepherd's Bush
From World travel guide
Shepherd's Bush is a district in West London, variously well known for its green, its market, its diverse population and for being the home of the BBC.
Contents |
Understand
Shepherd's Bush has long been a first home in London to second and first generation immigrants. While this is less true today then 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 home of BBC Television, 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 (rock) and the Sex Pistols (punk) grew up in Shepherd's Bush.
Shepherd's Bush is thought by some to have been named after a common area on which shepherds were said to graze their sheep. However, it is also thought that it could have been named after a local identity, the area being recorded in 1635 as "Sheppard's Bush Green".
Get in
By Tube
The nearest Underground stations are
- Shepherd's Bush (Central Line)
- Shepherd's Bush (Hammersmith & City Line)
- Goldhawk Road (Hammersmith & City Line)
By 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).
See
Do
Cinema
- MyVue Cinema [1], West 12 Shopping and Leisure Centre, opposite the Central Line Tube station, near the large Holland Park roundabout - large chain multiplex showing all the big films in comfort and some style
Concerts
- the Empire, Shepherd's Bush [2], Shepherd's Bush Green, near the intersection of Shepherd's Bush Road and Goldhawk Road - 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
Tours
- Take the tour of the BBC TV Centre with a BBC Backstage Tour [3]
Buy
- Shepherds Bush Market, situated in a back street between the two Hammersmith & City line stations of Goldhawk Road and Shepherd's Bush (on the Uxbridge Road). The market contains an astonishing array of goods with Afro-Caribbean, Middle Eastern and Indian cultural influences combining and vying for the shopper's attention.
Eat
Uxbridge Road is noted for good-value and diverse restaurants.
- Abu Zaad, 29 Uxbridge Road, tel 020 8749 5107, hours Mo-Su 11am-11pm, average price £10 - authentic Syrian fare. Great value.
Drink
Shepherds Bush Green contains many large chain pubs. Uxbridge Road and Goldhawk Road have smaller, more laid-back bars and gastro-pubs.
- The Goldhawk, 122 Goldhawk Road, London W12 8HH, 020 8576 6921. Popular local pub, good food and wine.
Sleep
Shepherd's Bush is well known for its 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...
Splurge
- K-West [4], Richmond Way, tel 020 8743 3206 - modern, fasionable hotel behind Shepherds Bush Green. From around £120 per night.
External links
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