Living in Shepherd's Bush

Shepherd's Bush is organised around a large triangular green, and around it a surprising amount happens. Westfield London, one of the largest shopping centres in Europe, sits on its north-western corner; the Shepherd's Bush Empire, a historic music hall that is now a major concert venue, faces the green; and the Bush Theatre, known for new writing, occupies a converted Victorian library on the Uxbridge Road.

North of Westfield, White City has been transformed. The BBC's former Television Centre has been converted into flats, restaurants, a hotel and studios, and Imperial College has built a large research and innovation campus nearby. Loftus Road, the home of Queens Park Rangers, is also in the area. Shepherd's Bush Market, under the railway viaduct to the west of the green, is a long-running street market with food, fabrics and household goods.

Transport options are numerous. Shepherd's Bush station on the Central line reaches Oxford Circus in around fifteen minutes; Shepherd's Bush Market and Goldhawk Road sit on the elevated Hammersmith & City and Circle route; Wood Lane and White City add more Circle and Central line access; and the rail station at Shepherd's Bush has Overground and Southern services north towards Willesden and south towards Clapham Junction.

The housing mix includes Victorian terraces and conversions, especially around Askew Road and towards Brook Green, mansion blocks, large estates in White City and new-build flats near Westfield and Television Centre. Main roads, especially around the green and Wood Lane, are noisy and congested. Rents are generally lower than in Notting Hill, Holland Park or Kensington nearby. Shepherd's Bush suits people who want quick access to the West End, abundant shopping and entertainment, and a diverse, busy neighbourhood rather than a quiet village.