Hammersmith Bridge over the River Thames.

Things to do in Hammersmith London

By Stuart Bak

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

Out and about in Hammersmith

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

Prints and pints

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

Take in a show

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

Good neighbors

For such a compact urban neighborhood, Hammersmith really punches above its weight when it comes to things to do. 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!

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Pastel colored townhouses in a Chelsea mews
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Things to do in Chelsea London

One of London’s most upmarket neighborhoods, Chelsea lines the River Thames to the west of Belgravia. A home to movie stars and ambassadors, it contains several important streets, such as the King’s Road, from which charming cobblestone mews stem, reminiscent of the time when the clip-clop of a horse and carriage was more common than the roar of a motor engine. When it comes to things to do in Chelsea London visitors are spoilt for choice. Besides hitting the shops, visitors can explore Chelsea Embankment, soak up the art of the Saatchi Gallery and discover first hand the British obsession with soccer at Stamford Bridge. So let’s take a look at the many things to do in London’s Chelsea! Walk Chelsea Embankment Bookended by Chelsea Bridge and Albert Bridge, a pleasant stroll along the 500 meter Chelsea Embankment edging the north bank of the River Thames is a good way to start any time in Chelsea. Its views of the river take in the new housing development at Battersea Power Station as well as Battersea Park, whilst its trees give shade and color from spring right through to fall. Along the way, be sure to stop off at Chelsea Physic Garden, a small pocket of green space established in 1673 as a garden for the growing of medicinal plants. Amongst its quirky features including the world’s most northerly grapefruit tree, Britain’s largest olive tree and the oldest alpine rock garden in Europe. However, when it comes to Chelsea and gardens, most thoughts are going to turn straight to the Royal Horticultural Society’s Chelsea Flower Show, which takes over the grounds of Chelsea’s Royal Hospital each May. At other times of year it’s possible to tour the historic hospital guided by one of its residents – red coated pensioners who had served the country in the military. Cycle along quiet mews to top cultural hubs A mews is a side street that once housed the stables of grander houses, and Chelsea has plenty of these attractive thoroughfares. Take in the area’s best architecture by pedaling your way along these generally traffic free streets by hiring a bike. Look out for London’s Blue Plaques along the way. Attached to the façades of buildings and used to denote a place where someone famous has once resided, Chelsea’s Blue Plaques include those to Bob Marley, Oscar Wilde and Ingrid Bergman. One of Chelsea’s more modern architectural forms in the exterior of the National Army Museum. Free to visit, it consists of five galleries, which together attempt to tell the story of the British Army from its origins in the Civil Wars of the 17th Century to the present day. With 2500 artefacts on display there’s plenty of interest, including the skeleton of Napoleon’s horse at the Battle of Waterloo alongside the cloak of his arch nemesis the Duke of Wellington. The Royal Air Force Museum in Hendon has other treasures, including a Lancaster bomber, which helped the UK take the fight to the Nazis during World War Two. Discover a love of soccer An army of a different kind floods the streets around Stamford Bridge – Chelsea Football Club’s home ground – on match days. But a behind the scenes look at what has made Chelsea one of England’s top soccer clubs can be had at any time with a self-guided tour taking in London’s largest soccer museum, changing rooms and the pitch side. The stadium has a rather unusual location beside Brompton Cemetery, one of London’s ‘Magnificent Seven’. Property of the crown, it has become an important habitat for Chelsea’s urban wildlife, as well as being the final resting place of approximately 200,000 souls. Its famous residents include Emmeline Pankhurst – a leading figure in the suffragette fight for women to have the vote. Take in some art Located in Duke of York Square, the Saatchi Gallery developed out of the private art collection of advertising impresario Charles Saatchi. It is particularly well-associated with the Young British Artists movement of the 1990s, which brought Damien Hurst and Tracey Emin to national and international attention. Although a private members club for artists working in all genres, art fans shouldn’t miss Chelsea Art Club either. Founded at the request of James Abbott McNeill Whistler, its Baron Lodge headquarters is usually whitewashed. However, expansive murals are regularly painted to mark special anniversaries, with the lengthy façade previously decorated with circus performers, camouflage and tricks of the eye to suggest it had been bombed during the blitz. Hit the King’s Road Unlovingly called the A3217 alongside the more evocative King’s Road, this is a street that has dominated the Chelsea scene since the 1960s. Over three kilometers in length, it’s named after the fact it was a private thoroughfare for the monarch until 1830, providing direct access to Kew Gardens and its palace. Today the road has around 300 stores as well as galleries and cafés – Vivienne Westwood once had a boutique here with Malcolm McLaren, whilst Starbucks’ first UK premises was on the street too. Another Blue Plaque denotes the place Sir Carol Reed lived – director to such movies as The Third Man, The Agony and the Ecstasy and Trapeze. If your visit leaves you in need of some tranquility, head north to St Luke’s Church. Not only is it one of the earliest examples of the Gothic Revival style in London, but it was also the church where Charles Dickens married Catherine Hogarth flush with the success of The Pickwick Papers, published two days before. Discover Chelsea with Go City Popular with everyone from Oscar Wilde to the Rolling Stones, Chelsea is one of London’s most fashionable neighborhoods. If you’re visiting the British capital, look out for the many things to do in Chelsea London. Whether you decide to visit Stamford Bridge or ride a bike about the area, travel with Go City and you’ll save heaps of cash on attraction admission, not just in Chelsea but across the whole of London!
Ian Packham
Revelers at a Pride parade
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Things to do in London for Pride Day

The Pride in London festival is one of the biggest, brightest and best on the planet, with around 30,000 participants and 1.5 million spectators. A month-long celebration of love, diversity and all things LGBTQ+, it comes complete with theatrical cabaret and drag performances, world-class nightlife, LGBTQ+ film screenings and, of course, the all-important Pride Parade that brings the festival to a flamboyant close in late June or early July. Raise your rainbow flag and dive in for our guide to all the best things to do in London for Pride Day. The Pride Parade There are stacks of fun LGBTQ+ events taking place around London in the weeks leading up to the annual Pride Parade. We’re talking community socials, live theater, movie screenings, tours and more. But, by the end of the month it’s all about the Pride Parade, when the West End fills with festival atmosphere, and vibrant, eye-popping floats lead a procession of thousands of revelers through the streets. Here, all roads lead to Trafalgar Square for the biggest party of the year. Find a spot along the (relatively short) route from Hyde Park to watch the floats cruise colorfully by. Expect plenty of dancing, singing and wild, wild costumes at the Trafalgar Square party, accompanied by live shows from some of the planet’s biggest stars – previous performers include Idina Menzel, Rita Ora, and Queen’s Adam Lambert. If Trafalgar Square feels a little too hectic for you (and, believe us, it does get pretty hectic), there are several other satellite events dotted around the West End, including a family area at Victoria Embankment, and revelers tend to spill out into the surrounding neighborhoods (particularly Soho) to keep the party going through the day and indeed well into the wee small hours. Pride in London is a free and unticketed event, but those with deep pockets can choose to book a seat in the grandstand on Haymarket for around £50. You’ll need to book early though – seats are very limited and tend to sell out in the blink of an eye. Find about more about this year’s Pride in London events and timings here. LGBTQ+ Art & Culture There are many ways to spend Pride Day in London without spending endless frustrated hours jockeying for position at overcrowded bars. For example, you could soak up some of that vibrant LGBTQ+ culture in a rather more low-key fashion at the Queer Britain Museum. This excellent Kings Cross museum was established to celebrate Pride’s 50th anniversary in 2022, and its exhibition contains photography from previous parades. There are also talks, workshops and a small shop. Some of London’s more established museums – the mighty British Museum and the Tate among them – also run tours highlighting key pieces of LGBTQ+ art in their collections in and around Pride month. And, if you do happen to find yourself at the British Museum, you’re also just a 10-minute stroll from London’s oldest LGBTQ+ bookstore. Gay’s The Word has been trading here since 1979, and acts as a thriving community hub as well as an outlet for some of the best in new (and old) LGBTQ+ writing. A fine place, in other words, to while away an hour or two, as well as supporting a small LGBTQ+ business during Pride. See London’s Top Sights Hey, just because the streets are thronging with crowds doesn’t mean you can’t also squeeze in a little light London sightseeing while you’re in town. There are some themed walking tours included with attraction passes from Go City, or you can go full Pride and take a Dragged Around London tour, in which a fabulous drag queen, drag king (or other gender-bending performer) will take you on a frankly unforgettable tour of some of the city's sights. Tour titles like ‘West Mincer’ and ‘Wild Wild West End’ should give you some idea of what to expect! Spoiler: high heels, lip-synching and karaoke are all par for the course. There are plenty more attractions worth checking out when in London for Pride Day. Many, including the London Eye, even light up in the rainbow colors of the Pride flag in honor of the festival. You can also save up to 50% on entry to bucket-listers including the London Eye with a London pass from Go City. Other attractions on the pass include: Madame Tussauds London The View from the Shard Kensington Palace, former home of Diana Princess of Wales The fabulous Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew Tower Bridge … and many many more! Find out more and get your London attractions pass here. Pride Day Nightlife in London London’s LGBTQ+ nightlife scene is a riot at the best of times, so you can only imagine what it’s like with the fun turned all the way up to 11 for Pride Day. Iconic nightlife venues abound in and around the streets of Soho where, handily, many of the day’s scheduled events will also take place. The bars that line Old Compton Street are practically the stuff of legend, and they get even more lively during Pride. Try the Admiral Duncan for one of the most convivial hangouts in town – it’s been around since the 19th Century and a popular LGBTQ+ hangout since at least the 1980s. Mix it up with a hop just across the street to lively Comptons, another fine stalwart of the LGBTQ+ scene that's been trading here since 1986. Later, Soho clubs including G-A-Y, Heaven and the Freedom Bar are just some of the neighborhood’s most popular choices, though there are plenty more within stumbling distance of Old Compton Street should these be too busy. Just south of the river, the Royal Vauxhall Tavern is a grade II-listed former Victorian music hall where high camp and high-kicking drag acts are the order of the day. Expect top live performers and high-energy floor fillers late into the night. The nearby Cock Tavern is another firm favorite with Pride revelers on the big day. Or don your most extraordinary Pride outfit and strike out for East End hipster joints like Dalston Superstore – think vegan food, colorful craft cocktails and contemporary club classics that cater to a slightly younger crowd. And finally (if you have any energy left), there’s FOLD in Canning Town, for dance, electronic and techno beats that will keep your feet moving long after sun-up. Save on London Attractions, Tours and Activities Save up to 50% on admission to London attractions with a pass from Go City. Check out @gocity on Instagram for the latest top tips and attraction info.
Stuart Bak
A view of central London from the London Eye
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London in September – top things to do

Ask a Londoner and they’ll probably tell you it’s September that’s their favorite month in the capital. The kids are back at school, clearing away the crowds in the major museums, yet there’s still a crop of different things to do and the weather is generally as good as it gets in the British capital too. Wondering if London in September is right for you? Check out our selection of the very best attractions and events right here. Make a date with royalty One of several late summer highlights is the chance to visit the state rooms of Buckingham Palace, official residence of the British monarch since 1837. Closed to all but invited guests for most of the year, its doors are thrown open during the summer so visitors can take in sights including the Ballroom, Throne Room and White Drawing Room, a reception room for official occasions. On top of that, each year’s opening is accompanied by a new temporary exhibition, ensuring there’s always a second reason to visit. But for your chance to catch sight of a member of the royal family, you’re better off heading to Windsor Castle – the oldest and largest inhabited castle in the world. It’s one of several stops on Hop-on Hop-Off sightseeing tours alongside Eton College, which schooled Princes William and Harry as well as 20 British Prime Ministers. If one location in London can outdo Windsor Castle on age, it’s the Tower of London. Also intricately linked with the British monarchy, some of its walls date back to 1066. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, beefeaters in their summer uniforms of red and gold protect the Crown Jewels, whilst the Chapel Royal of St Peter ad Vincula (St Peter in Chains) contains the graves of several noteworthy people executed within the tower grounds including Henry VIII’s second wife Anne Boleyn. Soak up the sun Thanks to Open House London, it’s not only possible to snoop around royal residences in London in September. This free event sees parts of the capital usually marked ‘private’ opening up to the public, including the Mayor of London’s offices and Drapers’ Hall, belonging to one of London’s ancient guilds. But with the September weather on side – average highs hit 20°C and there’s usually plenty of sun to go around – it would be a shame not to explore some of London’s outdoor spaces too. Chiswick House and Kitchen Garden is a little-known gem containing plenty of secluded spots for a romantic lakeside picnic. Meanwhile, Hyde Park contains everything from Speakers Corner and a boating lake to the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain. Her home of Kensington Palace is located on the park’s western edge. Another way of making the most of the summer weather is by saying goodbye to dry land altogether for a Thames River cruise. Slip beneath Tower Bridge as you make your way towards the Prime Meridian at Greenwich, having already passed landmarks including the Houses of Parliament and St Paul’s Cathedral. Appreciate the capital’s magical ways For similar views to those enjoyed by London’s pigeons there’s The View from The Shard. Soaring to heights nearly twice as high as any other building in the city, you can be sure of the uninterrupted nature of the panoramic views at these observation decks on the 68th and 69th floors. A short distance from the Thames, London will unravel beneath you, showing off the British capital in all its glory. The way to get any higher is with a little computer trickery as you hop onto a broomstick at The Making of Harry Potter exhibition at Warner Bros Studios – TripAdvisor’s highest rated attraction in the world. If you’ve ever wanted to stand in the Great Hall at Hogwarts or wander down Diagon Alley, now’s your chance. Other Potter related attractions include the gateway to the Hogwarts’ Express at King’s Cross station’s platform 9 3⁄4 although the muggles amongst us can still have fun on the train network at the Mail Ride at the Postal Museum. A miniature underground network once used to transport London’s mail, it now welcomes visitors on 20 minute rides included with museum entrance. Enjoy a show With over 2000 performances a year – and that’s not including the buskers on the street – spanning music, dance and literature, the Brutalist South Bank Center is one of the largest cultural spaces in Europe. Even when there’s no performances scheduled, there’s still plenty to see and do, whether you intend to explore the rolling series of art exhibitions at the Hayward Gallery, watch the skateboarders ollie and railslide their way around the Undercroft or peruse the secondhand book market which uses the spans of Waterloo Bridge as protection against sun and rain. Performances are never hard to find, but London in September is a particularly good time to visit for lovers of the stage. Not only do the West End theaters continue their run of often sold-out shows, but the promenade concert series run by the BBC is also nearing its zenith. Better known as the ‘proms’, concerts are broadcast from the Royal Albert Hall and culminate in the Last Night of the Proms. It’s a blend of tradition dating back 150 years, bonkers Britishness and some of the best voices you’ll ever have the opportunity to listen to. Celebrate London in September with Go City! Let’s be honest, shall we? London is a great city to explore whatever the month (and the weather). But for many there’s something a little bit special about visiting London in September. Maybe it’s the – usually lovely – weather, or the reduction in crowd numbers or maybe just the huge array of things to do in London in September. We don’t know. But whatever it is, we think it's something you’re going to want to experience for yourself. To make it even better, travel with Go City and you’ll get incredible savings on the cost of entering many of London’s top attractions, from the one thousand years of history on display at the Tower of London to the plush seats of the Royal Albert Hall!
Ian Packham

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