Surrounded by Shepherds Bush, Kensington and Fulham, Hammersmith hotels provide a fantastic base for all sorts of London entertainment.
The Hammersmith Apollo
Hammersmith's greatest attraction is without doubt the
Hammersmith Apollo, one of London's most well-known music and comedy venues. It opened in 1932 as the Gaumont Cinema, but moved into live performances when it was converted to the Hammersmith Odeon in 1962. Since then, some of the biggest names in music have performed there, including Louis Armstrong, The Beatles, Johnny Cash, Elton John and Kylie Minogue.
In recent years, it has also become known for large scale comedy performances, with stars such as Billy Connolly, Chris Rock and Michael McIntyre all selling out the arena. The venue has also come to the attention of the wider British public as the setting for the BBC stand-up comedy show Live At The Apollo.
Other Famous Hammersmith Venues
The other big venue in the area is the Lyric Theatre, which attracts hundreds of thousands of people each year to see their packed programme of acclaimed plays, some of which transfer successfully to the West End. It is also highly regarded for its work with young people, hosting regular work shops throughout the year.
The iconic Hammersmith Palais also played a key role in London's music landscape until it was closed down in 2007. Notable acts to perform there included The Cure, The Rolling Stones, The Police, The Who and David Bowie, while it was also noted for its contribution to the London jazz music scene.
Sport and Shopping in Hammersmith
On the border of Hammersmith and West Kensington, you will find
The Queen's Club, well-known in the sport as the former headquarters of British tennis. Whilst it no longer performs this function, it still hosts the much anticipated pre-Wimbledon grass court tournament, widely used by many top players as a warm-up for the impending Grand Slam contest.
British Number One Andy Murray won it in 2009 and 2011, while before that fans saw Rafael Nadal, Andy Roddick and Lleyton Hewitt triumph.
Broadway Shopping Centre connects two of Hammersmith's tube stations, and houses over 40 retailers, so if you need to pick up some essentials during your Hammersmith hotel stay, you won't need to go far. And if you thought that The Gherkin in the City was the first building to be shaped liked something unexpected, keep an eye out for The Ark, a striking office building that bears a strong resemblance to, you've guessed it, an ark. It was finished a full twelve years before The Gherkin in 1992.
Getting to Hammersmith
Hammersmith tube station is ideal, as it serves four different lines and is therefore great for accessing a number of the city's most entertaining areas. You can use the Circle, District, Piccadilly and of course the Hammersmith & City Line to get around, which allows you direct access to places such as Kings Cross, South Kensington, Westminster, The Tower of London, Leicester Square and Covent Garden.
Hammersmith is found just inside Zone 2, which does mean you will pay a slightly higher fare to get back into the centre of town, but this is inconsequential when balanced against the wide variety of entertainment on offer in the area.
Hotels in Hammersmith
Visitors will find all sorts of hotel in Hammersmith, from stylish boutiques such as
Seraphine Hammersmith and
K West Hotel to large, well-run and comfortable accommodation such as
Novotel London West. Guest houses such as
Dalmacia Hotel are also available.
Pubs and Bars in Hammersmith
If you need to be near the tube station, The Swan is a traditional coaching inn found just over the road, serving local ales and ideal for a quick drink before you head off into town. On the other hand, if you're looking to make a night of it, you may want to try cocktail bar B@1, which in addition to its varied menu runs regular happy hours and other offers.
Gastro pub
Anglesea Arms not only boasts a great selection of food and drink, it is also reportedly a slice of London history. Rumour has it that this was where the main conspirators in the infamous
Great Train Robbery began planning their scheme.
Restaurants in Hammersmith
Continuing Hammersmith's theme of offering a huge variety of options on everything,
Azou offers a mouthwatering menu of traditional North African cuisine, from spicy tagines to inviting couscous dishes. You don't have to go far to find value in Hammersmith either, with both Indian Zing and 101 Thai Kitchen garnering a strong reputation for tasty meals that aren't too taxing on the wallet.
Parking in Hammersmith
The closest
NCP car park to Hammersmith is found on Broadwood Terrace (W8 6PL) and costs £24 a night. Alternatively, you can use the car parks at Young Street (W8 5EH) or Royal Garden Hotel (W8 4PT), which are both close to High Street Kensington tube station, just four stops away from Hammersmith on the District Line.