Is Hammersmith a good place to stay in London?

Hammersmith is a good base if you want a lively part of west London with easy links to the centre and Heathrow. The Piccadilly line runs direct to Leicester Square and to the airport, and the District, Circle and Hammersmith & City lines also stop here. It suits budget-conscious travellers, people going to a show at the Eventim Apollo or an exhibition at Olympia, and anyone flying from Heathrow.

The area has a busy centre and a gentler side by the river. King Street is lined with shops, cafés and restaurants, and the Lyric Hammersmith and Riverside Studios put on theatre, films and talks. A short walk south, the Thames path runs past old pubs like The Dove, with views of Hammersmith Bridge, and Ravenscourt Park and Furnivall Gardens give you some green space.

The downside is that the middle of Hammersmith is dominated by traffic. The Broadway and the flyover are loud and not pretty, and the streets around the stations feel more like a transport hub than a neighbourhood. The classic sights are a Tube ride away rather than a walk.

What makes Hammersmith worth considering is the balance it offers. Hotels are cheaper than in Kensington, the Tube connections are excellent, and a walk along the river to a historic pub at the end of the day feels very different from the crowds in the West End.