Hammersmith & Fulham, London Fact Find

The History of Hammersmith & Fulham

Hammersmith and Fulham is a London borough found partially in Southwest London and partially in West London, constituting part of Inner London, Hammersmith and Fulham is considered one of the most expensive boroughs in the United Kingdom with respect to residential property.

Hammersmith and Fulham was formed in 1965 when Hammersmith’s Metropolitan Borough and Fulham’s Metropolitan Borough entered into a merger. Initially, the place was called the London Borough of Hammersmith, but the borough council pushed for the change of name on January 1, 1979. Previously, the two had been joined together in Fulham’s parish until 1834 during which Hammersmith’s hamlet had no church. Between 1855 to 1866, the two were unified once again under the Fulham District.

Since the start of the 19th century, Fulham experienced growth as a result of strong urbanisation and industrialisation. The establishment of the first energy utility company in the whole world at Sands End in 1824 contributed greatly to significant developments. Rapid expansion and progress in railway and road transport systems to the borough’s east followed.

The Kensington and Chelsea London Borough Council was constructed in the vacant land near the boundary of the new railway sidings. This centre gained international recognition, having been visited by Queen Victoria in 1879. Several international exhibitions and fairs perked up the area for a century until the construction of Earls Court II. The development started in the 1980s but was dismantled in 2015.

The Olympic Games was held in Hammersmith in 1908, along with the Franco-British Exhibition. These events were held at White City which eventually underwent decades-long redevelopment.

In 1960, the BBC Television Centre opened its doors in Hammersmith. And in 2008, Westfield London completed the redevelopment after 100 years. Today, it has shopping centres and new transport links.

Going Out in Hammersmith & Fulham

Going out in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham will always be exciting. There are numerous attractions to visit, culinary wonders to taste, and activities to enjoy. There are hidden gems in the borough just waiting to be discovered and several tourist destinations frequented by people from all over the world.

Commercial areas

With a considerably large population for a small borough and a diverse ethnicity, the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham is home to several commercial areas to cater to the needs of its residents and other people visiting the place.

One of the most famous structures in Hammersmith and Fulham is the stunning Empress State Building, a high-rise building which is largely utilized for office spaces. Known as London’s 14th tallest building, it is also an important landmark tower.

The Ark is another commercial building mainly used for offices. It is a 10-storey glass and copper structure which provides people with a great view of the Hammersmith flyover.

Westfield London is famous for the luxurious shopping experience it offers to guests and locals in the area. From Boots to Burberry and so much more, high-end shopping in Westfield London will always be a delight. Another shopping centre to see is the Hammersmith Broadway Shopping Centre where you can literally allot your whole day in exploring shops and restaurants in Hammersmith and Fulham.

When it comes to entertainment, the Olympia Exhibition Centre located at the border of Hammersmith is a must-visit place. There are three massive exhibition halls where several trade and consumer exhibitions are held every year.

Tourist attractions in Fulham

For some casual sightseeing around the city, you can visit Queens Club Hammersmith. This is where world-renowned events like the World Rackets Championships and the Stella Artois Championships take place every year. Another must-see tourist attraction is the gold and green Hammersmith Bridge which is London’s oldest suspension bridge.

If you’re more of a water lover, you will definitely enjoy a peaceful time at the charming Riverside Walk of Hammersmith. Another place you might want to see is Ravenscourt Park where a lake, a tea house, and a rose garden are located. Children will surely love the pool and play area in this park.

Services in Hammersmith & Fulham

A number of services can be found and offered by different organisations and companies in Hammersmith and Fulham. Adult learning and skills services (ALSS) are offered in the area to help adults further their career, develop new skills, share interests, or gain qualifications.

There is also a family information service (FIS) offered in Hammersmith and Fulham to give concerned people details and advice on children and young people’s facilities and needs.

Services concerning births, deaths and marriages are available in Hammersmith and Fulham where one will be able to know about the changes to the services of registrars, civil partnership, deaths, marriage, birth, ceremonies and venues among others.

Help is definitely within reach for people needing assistance with licensing, filming, business support and advice, food safety, industrial strategy and other business-related concerns.

For crime-related matters, there are services and campaigns aiming to inform people about community safety units, hate crimes, self-protection from distraction burglary, neighbourhood wardens, theft and robbery, and anti-social behaviour.

The borough provides services on animal welfare, pest control, noise and nuisance, carbon reduction, pollution and air quality to help solve environmental problems.

For the important sector of healthcare, Hammersmith and Fulham offers a wide range of medical services, hospitals, and clinics to cater to everyone’s needs.

Charing Cross Hospital is one of the most famous hospitals in Hammersmith and Fulham. It offers acute specialist services, 24/7 accident and emergency department, and a hyper acute stroke unit for the whole region.

When it comes to finding a dentist in Fulham and general dental health, one Practice of note is Fulham Road Dental. This contemporary dental clinic is composed of experienced specialists and a multi-disciplinary team. Fulham Road Dental believes that patients deserve the chance to receive the highest level of dental care from a highly-trained team and for them to enjoy a truly unique patient experience.

Fun Facts about Hammersmith and Fulham

The Hammersmith Bridge is the lowest bridge in England’s capital city. It is just four meters higher than the Thames. Hammersmith and Fulham also holds the first ever underground line in the whole world

On the entertainment and literature side, Hammersmith and Fulham is home to some of London’s most famous sports clubs. These are Chelsea F.C., Fulham F.C. and Queens Park Rangers. Also, Mahatma Gandhi used to live in Hammersmith while studying laws in the 1880s.

The smallest bar in England is stationed in Hammersmith. The Dove is an 18th-century pub along the River Thames. It is said that the poet James Thomson worked on the words for Rule Britannia in the upstairs room of the Grade II listed pub.

Getting around Hammersmith and Fulham

Hammersmith and Fulham is a large district and has several places one can tour and explore. To go around the city, one can opt to travel by tube. Tube stations in the area include Shepherd’s Bush, White City, Hammersmith, Goldhawk Road, Fulham Broadway and Putney Bridge among others.

One can also ride the bus to check out some parts of Hammersmith and Fulham. Most buses have designated numbers and they are known like buses 94, 74, 28, 414, 430 and more. There are also night buses like buses N11, N22 and N28.

If you choose to take the train, you have to stop by the Shepherds Bush Railway Station. Traveling by road will lead you to the A219, which links Fulham with the A205 and with the A4.