Shepherd's Bush Green

Shepherd's Bush Green is a triangular patch of grass of roughly 8 acres (3.2 hectares) in west London, ringed by trees, busy roads and shops. It gave its name to the whole Shepherd's Bush neighbourhood, and it is also an electoral ward of the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham.

What is Shepherd's Bush Green?

It is the open centre of the district and works as a local living room. The lawn offers a breather between traffic and shop windows, handy for a coffee or a sandwich on the grass. Do not expect winding paths and lakes: this is a compact urban green, and everyday neighbourhood life revolves around it.

Where does the name come from?

The origin of the name Shepherd's Bush is uncertain. The popular story says shepherds rested their flocks on the common land here before driving them on to London markets. Historians note that the real origins are obscure, so treat the tale as local folklore rather than settled fact.

What is there to see around the Green?

The streets next to the grass make up one of west London's busiest entertainment corners.

• Shepherd's Bush Empire – opened in 1903 as a music hall for impresario Oswald Stoll and designed by Frank Matcham. Charlie Chaplin was among its early performers. In 1953 it became a BBC television studio theatre, and since 1994 it has been a live music venue. The building is Grade II listed.
• Bush Theatre – since late 2010 housed in a former public library designed by Maurice B. Adams and funded by Passmore Edwards. Before that, the company played in a room above a pub on the corner of Goldhawk Road.
• Shops and cafes – a run of shops, cafes and bars wraps around the lawn, and a local market operates here day to day.

Westfield and the wider area

In 2008 the Westfield London shopping centre opened a short distance away on the former White City exhibition grounds. Today it is one of the best-known landmarks of the district, and a visit combines easily with time on the Green. Major roads run around the Green, and postwar routes such as the Westway cut Shepherd's Bush off from neighbouring Holland Park.

Frequently asked questions

How big is Shepherd's Bush Green? About 8 acres, or 3.2 hectares.

Is it a park? It is better described as a triangular urban green: grass, trees and surrounding streets lined with shops. It suits a rest, not a long walk.

Is the Green only a patch of grass? No. The name is also used for an electoral ward in Hammersmith and Fulham. At the 2011 Census its population was 12,175.

Why visit? For gigs at the Empire, plays at the Bush Theatre, the nearby Westfield London and an everyday west London atmosphere far from the central tourist trail.

Is it a good spot for an evening out? Yes. Thanks to the Empire and the Bush Theatre the area stays lively after dark. Check the programme on each venue's website before you go.

In short

Shepherd's Bush Green is a small but distinctive corner of London. If you are heading to a concert, a play or Westfield, take a few minutes on the lawn that named the whole district.