Things to do in Hammersmith London

By <a href="#author-bio">Stuart Bak</a>
By Stuart Bak
Hammersmith Bridge over the River Thames.

With picturesque riverside pubs, several top-class theatres and concert venues and some of west London’s finest parks, there are plenty of things to do in Hammersmith year-round.

Out and about in Hammersmith

Things to do in Hammersmith London

In spite of weighing in at around 33 acres and having its own Tube station, Hammersmith's Ravenscourt Park remains one of west London’s best-kept secrets. Here, bright green parakeets dart between ancient lime and chestnut trees, their playful squawks a familiar sound to residents, while kids splash and play in the huge paddling pool and sandpit by the railway arches, open during the summer months. There’s a tranquil walled garden tucked away by the Paddenswick Road entrance, as well as a duck pond, playgrounds and a small garden center with a coffee shop.

The park is just a hop and a skip from the Thames Path, with wonderful riverside walks that stretch all the way from Greenwich in south-east London to the bucolic rolling hills of the Cotswolds. A gentle meander along this leafy West London stretch is particularly rewarding, with Kew Gardens, Richmond Park and Hampton Court Palace among the highlights easily reached by bicycle. Boat services also connect Kew to Hampton Court.

Hammersmith’s Furnivall Gardens is a fine riverside spot for people (and boat) watching. Get there early on balmy summer evenings to claim your spot on the grass and watch the local rowing clubs being put through their paces in the shadow of the mighty Hammersmith Bridge. This regal vision in moss-green and gold is one of the world’s oldest mechanical suspension bridges, and connects Hammersmith to the sprawling London Wetland Centre reserve, just across the Thames in neighboring Barnes.

Prints and pints

Things to do in Hammersmith London

No visit to Hammersmith’s riverfront would be complete without popping into one of its quaint old pubs to sample an ale or two from nearby Fuller’s Brewery. Just off Furnivall Gardens, The Dove offers a splendid sun terrace during summer and roaring log fires in the colder months. This 18th-century stalwart also lays claim to what was once the tiniest bar room in the world (as immortalised in the Guinness Book of Records, no less!), as well as links to hard-drinking literary heavyweights including Ernest Hemingway, Graham Greene and Dylan Thomas.

Other notable former neighbors include William Morris, textile designer and leading light of the Arts and Crafts Movement. You’ll find a pub named in his honor on King Street, Hammersmith’s main shopping thoroughfare, though teetotaller Morris may have raised an eyebrow at the association. Instead, make for Kelmscott House, the handsome riverside Georgian townhouse where Morris lived for nearly 20 years. Although now a private home, the basement and coach house serve as headquarters of the William Morris Society, which opens to the public on Thursday and Saturday afternoons.

A visit to the restored home of Morris’s friend and fellow Arts and Crafts pioneer Emery Walker, just a few doors along the riverfront, is also worthwhile for its bold prints, colorful pottery and exhibition room.

A little further west, Hogarth’s House is a little countryside oasis in Chiswick, just yards from the major road that connects west London to Heathrow Airport. Take a wander around the beautiful Mulberry Garden before stepping inside to see some of William Hogarth’s works, as well as exhibitions from other artists. Entry is free.

Take in a show

Things to do in Hammersmith London

Hammersmith’s Eventim Apollo has played host to rock, pop and jazz royalty in its near-100-year history, from Prince to Queen, The Beatles to Bowie, Kanye to Kylie. It’s also the place to get a few belly laughs with shows from international comedy stars. But don’t be fooled by the household names: this landmark Art Deco venue is no soulless stadium, with a relatively intimate theater atmosphere and a maximum capacity of only around 5,000.

Just round the corner, the Lyric Theatre hosts touring musicals, Christmas pantomimes and fabulous kids’ shows, as well as productions from up-and-coming theatrical groups. For ultra-local theater, check out Theatre at the Tabard, an intimate 90-seat venue above The Tabard pub by Turnham Green Tube station. As well as dramas and musicals, the Playhouse frequently hosts low-key shows by big-name comedians as they polish their latest jokes for TV and stadium audiences.

Riverside Studios is a smart, contemporary space that showcases the best of independent film-making alongside the latest blockbusters. The venue boasts two cinemas as well as an exhibition space and studios for theatrical productions. Grab a drink before the movie in the Cinema Bar or enjoy a pre-theatre dinner in Sam’s Riverside, with views of the river and Hammersmith Bridge.

Good neighbors

Things to do in Hammersmith London

For such a compact urban neighborhood, Hammersmith really punches above its weight when it comes to things to do in London. Direct links to Heathrow Airport and central London mean it’s also ideal for reaching many of London’s other top attractions, while its closest neighbors are also no slouches.

Head up to Shepherd’s Bush for world-class shopping, dining and entertainment at the UK’s largest shopping centre. Westfield London boasts nearly 300 stores, around 100 restaurants and an impressive 20-screen cinema. Shepherd’s Bush also has a bustling street market and yet another renowned music venue in the 02 Empire.

Regal Kensington is home to the ultra-modern Design Museum, as well as Kensington Palace and Gardens, former home of Diana, Princess of Wales and now the official royal residence of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their family. From here, you can enter Hyde Park for strolls to the Serpentine lake and gallery, the Diana Memorial Fountain, Royal Albert Hall and smart shops and restaurants in Notting Hill.

Save on things to do in Hammersmith

Save on admission to London attractions and explore Hammersmith and beyond with Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram and Facebook for the latest top tips and attraction info. So grab a London pass and save while you sightsee!

Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak
Freelance travel writer

Stu caught the travel bug at an early age, thanks to childhood road trips to the south of France squeezed into the back of a Ford Cortina with two brothers and a Sony Walkman. Now a freelance writer living on the Norfolk coast, Stu has produced content for travel giants including Frommer’s, British Airways, Expedia, Mr & Mrs Smith, and now Go City. His most memorable travel experiences include drinking kava with the locals in Fiji and pranging a taxi driver’s car in the Honduran capital.

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A couple laughing together in front of the London Eye
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Things to do in London for couples

Whether you’ve been together six months or 60 years, there’s a wide array of things to do in London for couples. Strolling hand in hand through the grounds of palaces and stately homes, taking in views of the River Thames’ meandering path or soaking up some culture are just some of the experiences that await. Share in London’s historic wonders After six weddings and two beheadings, Henry VIII’s record as a husband may come into question, but it’s hard not to admire his taste in homes. Riverside Hampton Court Palace was his favorite residence, and the only Tudor royal palace in London welcoming the public. Having wondered at the Great Hall and historic kitchens, save some time for tackling the famous maze together – like couples have been doing since it was first planted in the 1680s. Continuing the theme of important London homes is Hampstead’s Keats House. The 19th-century romantic poet John Keats lived in the building for less than two years. However, as visitors will discover, in this time he not only wrote Ode to a Nightingale beneath one of the garden’s plum trees, but also fell madly in love with neighbor Fanny Brawne. And all before dying of tuberculosis at the age of 25. The magic figure at St Paul’s Cathedral is 259, the number of steps leading to the Whispering Gallery. Forming part of the 65,000 ton dome, it has the intriguing property of amplifying even the slightest sound around its walls. Couples who make here also get a close up with the focal point of Sir Christopher Wren’s original 17th-century structure. Check out London’s food scene Couples in London looking for a foodie treat are well catered for. The capital’s list of places to be wined and dined is a long one, meeting all tastes, budgets and dietary requirements. Though there may be more shared benches than tables for two, one of the newest kids on the block is Maltby Street Market in Bermondsey. A short walk from Tower Bridge, Venezuelan arepa share the space with Ethiopian wat and Chinese gyoza in a celebration of world cuisine. More traditional dining experiences still don’t have to cost the Earth. Home of the capital’s Bengali community, Brick Lane is the cherry on top of the cake of London’s love-affair with curry. Even so, prices are a fraction of those charged by celebrity chefs and London’s 60 or so Michelin-starred restaurants. If you abide by the idea that couples which drink together stay together, look no further than a cocktail-making class. Guided by the skilled hands of a professional mixologist, you’ll get to create a perfectly-balanced Old Fashioned, Dark and Stormy or Cosmopolitan. Alternatively, you could go one step better and take a tour of the Beefeater gin distillery, revealing just some of what goes into making the spirit so popular with bartenders across the city. Enjoy views of the Thames Even dirty old rivers – to steal a phrase from The Kinks’ 1960s classic Waterloo Sunset – have a certain innate romance. Take to its banks pretty much anywhere along its 215 mile course, and you’ll have to agree the Thames is no different. Actually one of the cleanest rivers in the world, it’s further reaches are home to otters, dolphins and seals in addition to landmarks known the world over. What’s more, there are several ways for couples in London to enjoy the majesty of the Thames. The classic way is to take to its waters, with river cruises slipping up and down stream between Westminster and Greenwich. When it comes to timing, sunset is difficult to beat, and is known as the golden hour for taking in the city’s panoramas. Boarding a Thames cruiser isn’t the only way to fully-appreciate the capital’s lifeblood. A completely different perspective is offered from a gondola of London’s first cable car, the Emirates Air Line, connecting the two sides of the river via a journey which takes in the entire Greenwich Peninsula. At dusk the journey is extended, so you have even more time to admire the panoply of sights below you. Climb the O2 Arena and the only thing immediately beneath your feet will be its white canopy. However, to either side of the walkway hanging 50 meters above the ground, the river unravels in all its glory in either direction. Take in a show William Shakespeare’s words have echoed through the centuries. Where better to relive the romance of Romeo and Juliet or Anthony and Cleopatra, or the bromance of Prince Hal and Falstaff in Henry IV than Shakespeare’s Globe? Outside of performances, tours detail some of the theater’s most captivating tales, such as the time an audience member’s breeches burst into flames alongside the original playhouse. Meanwhile, the velvet-clad seats of Covent Garden’s Royal Opera House is the foremost destination for opera and ballet. The West End has shows to suit any couple, with contemporary playwriting, musicals and classic plays all fighting for attention. When it comes to foot-tapping fun, there are venues large and small where it’s possible to let your hair down. They include the likes of the Sky Garden, hosting regular concerts to continue the traditions of the capital’s legendary music industry, which has given voice to everyone from David Bowie to Amy Winehouse. London’s Madame Tussauds – the first wax works to hold the name – is a great option for couples in need of a rainy-day activity. It’s array of famous faces from British history and worldwide popular culture are one way to get close to your idols. Movie lovers also have the option of taking in a multitude of sites forming backdrops to some of the silver screen’s best-known scenes including the James Bond franchise, Paddington and Bridget Jones’s Diary. Save on things to do in London for couples Reserve your hard-earned cash for spoiling your significant other by saving on London attraction admission and exploring more with Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram and Facebook for the latest top tips and attraction info.
Ian Packham
London's Soho lit up neon blue at night
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Top things to do in Soho London

Some may still remember Soho’s seedy past, but tucked in between Mayfair and Covent Garden this part of west London has once again found its stride as a fashionable and upmarket place to be. Whilst it may not have the historic attractions of other neighborhoods, no one can say there aren’t things to do in Soho London! It’s an area that’s actually something of a rare find – a part of London where locals and visitors rub shoulder to shoulder without distinction. Packed full of bars and nightspots, it also has shopping on Regent’s Street and the theaters of the West End to help maintain its stance as the capital’s entertainment hub. But amongst the rainbow flags and shopfronts of everyone-is-welcome Soho, you’ll also discover an array of galleries and restaurants. What are the best things to do? Keep reading to find out all you’ll ever need to know with this guide to London’s Soho. Must-visit shops The western bounds of Soho are delineated by Regent’s Street and its northern bounds by Oxford Street – two of London’s most famous and most important shopping thoroughfares. Running for almost two kilometers, Oxford Street is dominated by flagship stores for the country’s big names and department stores including Selfridges’ five floors of delights. Regent’s Street has a slightly more genteel air thanks to its mix of high-end fashion boutiques and Hamleys – the world’s oldest and biggest dedicated toy shop, with a range that spans 50,000 items. For contrast, drift into Carnaby Street, which was the center of fashion during the swinging sixties and continues to go its own way with its selection of independently-owned stores. Between the two, on Great Marlborough Street, is the mock Tudor edifice of Liberty London. A department store with a difference, Liberty highlights bold handcrafted designs from smaller workshops and artists. Known for its floral prints, it has previously championed everyone from arts and crafts designer William Morris to the creator of the punk look Vivienne Westwood. Soho theaters and shows Following Regent’s Street round to its natural end at the Statue of Eros on Piccadilly Circus will bring you to Shaftesbury Avenue. Otherwise known as the West End, it’s where many of London’s major theatres are located, including the London Palladium, Gielgud and Lyric. Seen as the pinnacle of performances alongside New York’s Broadway, its theaters are a favorite with movie stars. Dame Helen Mirren, Sir Ian McKellen and Benedict ‘Sherlock’ Cumberbatch have all played to packed out audiences in recent years. Shows range from productions of Chekov and reinventions of Shakespeare to the musicals of Andrew Lloyd Webber, the composer behind The Phantom of the Opera and Cats. If sitting down in one place for two hours leaves you cold, you don’t need to look further than the Crystal Maze Live Experience, recreating the television game show with its four zones and four different challenge types teams must take on. Soho’s top nightspots It’s nightspots like G-A-Y and Ronnie Scott’s that take much of the attention, but Soho London nightlife also includes traditional British pubs and semi-secret cocktail bars, ensuring there really is something for everyone – including teetotalers thanks to some choice late night coffee bars. G-A-Y is just one of a clutch of LGBTQ+ venues dotted around Old Compton Street, creating a hub for queer individuals and their allies, alongside the original branch of Patisserie Valerie – a demonstration of just how diverse Soho can be. When it comes to live music, one of the best places to head is Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, which has played host to some of the legends of jazz and blues including Ella Fitzgerald, Jimi Hendrix and Jamie Cullum. Spice of Life and Ain’t Nothing But Blues have similar vibes. Galleries in Soho Although just a stone’s throw from the National Gallery on Trafalgar Square and Royal Academy of Arts on Piccadilly, you don’t even have to leave the area for artistic things to do in Soho London. The first private art space created for nothing but life through a lens, The Photographers’ Gallery has a pedigree which dates back to 1971. During that time it has brought new international artists to British audiences whilst also supporting homegrown photography talent, bringing the very best imagery of the moment to the streets of Soho. The main space of Frith Street Gallery on Golden Square has developed such a reputation for its exhibitions of painting, sculpture and installation art that the artists it represents are entering the permanent collections of museums globally. But if it’s moving images that capture your attention, the Curzon Soho Cinema provides an escapist’s delight, with some of the largest screens in London to watch the latest Oscar contenders. Places to eat in Soho Dine at each of our favorite places to eat in Soho and you’re either going to need a longer vacation or a larger stomach. Or possibly both. Trustworthy places to spend your hard-won cash include the flavors of Bombay of Dishoom’s Carnaby outlet and modern British cuisine of Bill’s Soho. Yotam Ottolenghi’s NOPI is one of a host of restaurants where it’s easy to impress and be impressed, with a menu comprising Middle Eastern and Asian-inspired dishes. Korean, Italian and pan-European meals all vie for attention just a few steps away. However, it’s Quo Vardis that takes the crown for staying power in a part of the capital where restaurants can seem as if they come and go with the seasons. First opening its doors in 1926, before that it was the home of Karl Marx, who now resides in Highgate Cemetery. The best things to do in Soho London Filled with entertaining ways to spend a morning, afternoon or evening, there are lots of worthwhile things to do in Soho London. Helpfully located not all that far from other attractions including the Household Cavalry Museum and Westminster Pier – for Thames sightseeing cruises – there’s really very little reason not to pay the area a visit as part of your travels with Go City!
Ian Packham
Shop fronts in Camden London
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Things to do in Camden London

Linked with London’s various counter culture movements, Camden is much loved by those who believe they don’t fit in elsewhere, which, let’s face it, is all of us. It generally draws a younger crowd to its markets, live music venues, museums and green spaces. But if you’re wondering if it’s worth you visiting Camden, you’ll first want to know about the things to do in Camden London and what the area is all about. Camden, usually used to mean the Camden Town neighborhood, is an area of north London adjacent to Regent’s Park. Its quirky character – seeing young professionals rubbing shoulders with hipsters and dreadlocked wannabe revolutionaries – has attracted everyone from American poet Sylvia Plath to Grammy award winning singer-songwriter Amy Winehouse. Why? That’s exactly what we’re here to demonstrate! Go wild Camden contains over 160 blue plaques – denoting places where significant personalities have lived. However, it’s the neighborhood's non-human residents that capture the hearts of many visitors to north London. ZSL London Zoo is one of the world’s oldest and continues to be one of its most important conservation centers too. Visitors are able to get closer than ever before to Asiatic lions – of which only 400 exist in the wild, alongside gorillas and the creatures of London’s only rainforest. The zoo occupies the northernmost parts of Regent’s Park, one of London’s eight royal parks. Here visitors can take in the 12,000 individual roses that color Queen Mary’s Gardens each spring and summer, take a turn on the boating lake or wander across to Primrose Hill for views of the London skyline. Another spot to take in the quieter side of life in Camden is along the towpath of Regent’s Canal. Almost 14 km in length, the canal encircles much of north London, with some of its most picturesque areas being that within Regent’s Park and leading towards the market stalls of Camden Lock. Go shopping Forget the flagship stores of Oxford Street, Camden is all about its market stalls. Now primarily geared towards the tourist industry, you’re not going to be able to stock up on fruit and veg as easily as you once might have. However, you will have plenty of choice when it comes to books, clothing and street food. That’s because Camden actually has five markets within walking distance of one another. The most famous is Camden Lock Market, whose stalls are located around Regent’s Canal. For fashion, head to Buck Street Market, whilst antiques aficionados might prefer Stables Market. If you start to miss the big store names, you’ll find them – and a good number of independent boutiques – on Camden High Street. Go cultural Founded in 1932, Camden’s Jewish Museum recounts details of the life of London’s Jewish populations over the years. Its treasures include the Lindo Lamp – the first Hanukkah menorah known to have been made in Britain. Covering three stories of a row of buildings in Albert Street, it also has an important collection of artefacts from Auschwitz concentration camp and several significant works of art. A taste for modern and contemporary art is catered for at Cob Gallery, whose white walls are used to primarily represent emerging female artists based in the London area. The paintings and drawings hanging in the gallery offer perhaps the first chance to examine the work of artists sure to hit the mainstream sometime soon. An even greater range of artists can be discovered at the annual Frieze Art Fair, taking place each October in Regent’s Park. One of the highlights of London’s cultural calendar, the fair hosts over 150 galleries from around the world, dotting the park with large scale sculpture as paintings find a home in the temporary structure built purposely each year. Go for a bite to eat The constant stream of visitors to Camden means you only have to walk a few meters before catching the scent of food and drink from around the world. From traditional British fish and chips to Neapolitan pizza, Jamaican jerk chicken and Middle Eastern wraps, there’s something to tempt everyone’s taste buds. On the drinks front, Camden has its very own brewery, the Camden Town Brewery, whose core range includes the award-winning German style Hells Lager and Gentleman's Wit, a Belgian white beer with a hint of Earl Grey tea. What could be more Camden than that? For a trustworthy authentic pub to sample the brewery’s latest batches try the Hawley Arms, a pub Amy Winehouse liked so much she would serve behind the bar. A statue of her stands not too far away in Stables Market. Go for a night out like no other Based in a converted railroad shed where engines were turned and stored, the Roundhouse is a theater and auditorium hosting everything from performances of Shakespeare to the Britten Sinfonia and Bob Dylan. Meanwhile the Electric Ballroom is a stalwart of the indie music scene – with occasional performances by the likes of Ed Sheeran too. The Jazz Café provides a space for blues fans, and anyone with an interest in traditional English folk need only head to Cecil Sharp House to get their fill of the vibes. For nightlife in Camden combining cocktails and live DJs, check out Belushis, who has a laid-back afterwork ambience during the week, turning to a full-on dance-till-dawn ethos come the weekend. For ease of access alone – right opposite Camden Town Underground station – The Underworld is also worth mentioning. It welcomes an eclectic crowd ready to fill the dance floor when the top indie and rock tunes hit the speakers. Uncover the myriad things to do in Camden London By day and by night, there are a huge number of things to do in Camden London. But if you’re still looking for more to fill your days in the UK capital, the British Museum is just a short distance away, alongside the Curzon Bloomsbury Cinema and Freud Museum. Visit these attractions with Go City and you’ll make incredible savings on admission costs, meaning there’s even more reason to take in the sites of this small part of north London!
Ian Packham

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