Your guide to living in Shepherd's Bush
Home of great music and theatre venues, Shepherd’s Bush is a hectic pocket of west London that’s enjoying a new lease of life thanks to Westfield improvements and new food/bar openings in the area.
But aside from the shopping, what is it that makes people go west? We’ll let you in on a few SheBu secrets...
How do I get around?
The area actually has five stations dotted around, so it's pretty easy to get to. Shepherd’s Bush itself has a central line station, but you can get to Shepherds Bush Market on the Hammersmith and City line as well as nearby Goldhawk Road, Wood Lane and White City.
It's also got an overground station that connects to Clapham Junction and Willesden Junction, which will take you all the way to Canada Water or Shoreditch.
If train travel isn’t your vibe, you’re not short of buses in the area - there’s about 18 of them around. Meaning you probs only have to wait a few mins to jump on one...
What is there to do?
First of all, forget ALL about shopping. Forgo the mega mall in favour of something more cultural, like the Bush Theatre. This local favourite hosts internationally renowned playwrights and brand new plays, showcasing some seriously exciting London theatre at great prices (starting from £10).
Or catch a gig at the similarly named (but totally different) Bush Hall - a grand Edwardian Hall that accommodates theatre, comedy, spoken word and music gigs. Fact: if you went in 2003, you would have got to see a relatively undiscovered Amy Winehouse in performance. Essentially, you can expect talent.
There’s also an O2 Empire in SheBu too, with room for 2,000 standing and plenty of big artists in the calendar.
It's worth checking out Shepherd's Bush Market too – it's been running since the 1910s and offers an eclectic mix of stalls, shops and places to eat.
Where do I eat?
You can find the tastiest Syrian and Middle Eastern food on Uxbridge Road, namely at Ayam Zaman. The portions are generous, the prices are great and the mezze is mouthwatering. What more could you want?
Shikumen is the place to go for amazing Chinese food. Or get your fish and chip fix in style at Kerbisher & Malt. You’ll be pushed to get a seat in this super popular haunt, but it’s totally worth the wait for succulent fish, crispy batter, and a true taste of the British seaside.
There is a big Ethiopian and Eritrean community in SheBu - so if you're interested in some excellent, largely vegan cuisine, head to Flamingo Restaurant on GoldHawk Road for an authentic taste of east Africa complete with mandatory Injera.
The former BBC Television Centre has recently been redeveloped and now hosts some foodie faves, including: Homeslice (20” pizzas!), Patty & Bun (unreal burgers), a second Bluebird Café (think: Made in Chelsea) AND acclaimed Indian restaurant Kricket with its spicy small plates. Oh, and a new Soho House.
And the drinks?
Shepherd’s Bush has a roster of popular local pubs for a proper knee’s up - check out The Defector’s Weld, Brewdog, or The Sindercombe Social.
Want to know the average room rent for Shepherd's Bush, and other London postcodes? Check out our latest guide here!