About Hammersmith A slightly scruffy area suffering from an unsightly flyover cutting right through its centre, Hammersmith is home to the Apollo which hosts many top class acts and popular shows. Just to the south of this the area becomes more attractive: the delightful Hammersmith Bridge built in the 1880s links the north and south banks of the Thames and has recently been fully restored. On the Hammersmith bank are a number of handsome Regency houses interspersed with riverside pubs and boathouses. A little further along is The Dove, a pub close to the hearts of locals and Londonders; it was here that the traditional song Rule Britannia was composed by Thomas Arne in the 18th century!