If you are looking for just one London area that is ‘has it all’, Hammersmith is hard to beat. This section of West London is resplendent in exciting culture, soothing greenery and fine dining — but, if you are set to visit, which parts of it should you particularly prioritise seeing?
Eventim Apollo
Perhaps Hammersmith’s best-known concert venue, the Art Deco building of the Apollo opened in 1932 and has since played host to many crucial movements of British music history — including, in 1973, David Bowie making the surprise announcement that he was abandoning his Ziggy Stardust persona.
Emery Walker’s House
This Georgian townhouse sited at 7 Hammersmith Terrace was the residence of printer and engraver Emery Walker, and still feels very much as he left it when he passed away in 1933. The artefacts on display here include letters by Rudyard Kipling and a copy of a poem by the textile artist William Morris.
Hammersmith Bridge
This bridge is one of London’s prettiest, and also happens to be Grade II* listed. The current Hammersmith Bridge opened on 11 June 1887, and was built as a replacement for an earlier bridge that had weakened to the extent that it could no longer accommodate as much traffic as before.
WWT London Wetland Centre
Crossing Hammersmith Bridge to Barnes can lead you to this 100-acre nature reserve which, according to The Crazy Tourist, has “attracted birds that aren’t sighted anywhere else in London.”
Lyric Hammersmith
If your cultural tastes are somewhat avant-garde, they could be easily sated at the Lyric, which has established itself as one of the UK’s leading producing theatres. The auditorium houses just 55 seats and has kept its opulent late-Victorian interior.
The Dove Public House
This local sits on a tiny alley left over from the long-cleared Hammersmith Village, and has stood since the early eighteenth century. However, a century before, another pub was here — one where Charles II is said to have brought his mistress Nell Gwyn.
Shepherd’s Bush Market
As EnglandExplore notes, Hammersmith is bordered by Shepherd’s Bush to the north. Consequently, visiting Hammersmith would bring you close to Shepherd’s Bush Market, which offers fresh produce, fabrics and other goods providing compelling reasons for you to consider booking one of the hotels near Hammersmith.
Ravenscourt Park
ThingsToDoInLondon.com advocates a visit to this park — pointing out that, here, “you’ll find two cafés, a walled garden and a pretty tree-lined pond.” It’s a calm oasis amid the bustling city.
Olympia London
Many long-time Hammersmith fans could fondly recall Earls Court Exhibition Centre. However, in the mid-2010s, this venue was closed to make way for a housing development. As a result, Olympia London, which opened in 1886, is now the largest venue in central London.
Queens Tennis Club
Every June, the Men’s warm-up for Wimbledon takes place here. If you are a tennis fan, you could rejoice in the fact that getting tickets to watch some pre-Wimbledon action here is relatively easy — and you will be able to see many star tennis players up close.