Shepherds Bush is a multicultural melting pot on the brink of exciting change that you need to experience! Offering some of the best entertainment venues in London, and the arrival of Europe’s largest shopping centre in 2008, millions more people are set to flock to this West London district in the borough of Hammersmith & Fulham that’s just outside the congestion charging zone in tube zone 2. Surrounded by Notting Hill, Harlesden, West Kensington, Hammersmith and Acton, Shepherds Bush currently has three active tube stations to whisk you all over London - Shepherds Bush and Goldhawk Road on the Hammersmith and City Line, and White City on the Central Line.

It’s thought that the name Shepherds Bush originates from the fact that shepherds used to rest their flock on a triangular patch of grass here when they were on their way to Smithfield Market. Until the end of the 18th century the area was little more than countryside surrounding London, but the arrival of the railway, tube stations and the capital’s expansion Westwards during the 19th century resulted in a dramatic increase in population, industrialisation of the area and a house building frenzy.

Industry has long since ceased, but Shepherds Bush made a name for itself throughout the 20th century by being the home to events and places like the 1908 summer Olympics, the 1908 Franco British exhibition, the BBC headquarters and TV studios, and renowned music venues like the Shepherds Bush Empire and Bush Hall. However, the most exciting century for Shepherds Bush is this one! The arrival of the massive shopping centre, Westfield London, and significant investment in regeneration and transportation will transform this slightly dowdy district into a really happening place that you should really see for yourself!

Shepherds Bush is full of cheap hotels for you to stay in and crammed entertainment venues for you to experience. It’s a truly cosmopolitan district too, overflowing with immigrant communities such as Antipodeans, Muslims, Africans and Poles who have all opened specialist shops, delis, cafes and restaurants for you to sample. There’s even a good spattering of upmarket dining and pubs here to cope with demand from BBC headquarters staff. As Shepherds Bush is a complete transport hub with masses of bus routes, 3 tube stations (increasing to 5 when the new shopping centre opens) and brand new train station which should open soon, you’ll find it easy to discover the rest of London from here too.

Shepherds Bush isn’t typically touristy, but it does have masses of well renowned venues and excellent transportation links to the rest of London for you to use. This is already a lively and often noisy district which has only become worse with the arrival of Westfield London, but it’s this vibe that people like you come to Shepherds Bush for, and a lot of the hotels are based in the quieter side streets anyway! At the moment Shepherds Bush looks a little dreary, like an area of West London that gentrification forgot. However, with the building of Westfield London and significant investment in regeneration, the transformation of Shepherds Bush is happening now as you read this – you can’t afford to miss it!