Bush Tucker & More

Shepherd’s Bush was once where shepherd’s rested and let their sheep graze on their way to the market at Smithfield (hence the name). Like most of London, Shepherd’s Bush was a mostly rural area until the 19th century. In Shepherd’s Bush is the area of White City, named after the beautiful exhibition halls from the Franco-British Exhibition. Sadly, the original White City fell into disuse after the first world war and was demolished in the 1930s to make room for a housing estate. The BBC took over the remains of the site, and now their BBC Television Centre sits there (and is to be made into flats, studios, and retail). Nowadays, with the area slowly gentrifying following the completion of Westfield Shepherd’s Bush in 2008, Shepherd’s Bush holds a few things that might make it worthwhile to spend a day there.

Westfield’s Shepherd Bush and Kidzania

A modern mall, with beautiful waves of glass overhead, Westfield’s is a one-stop shop for all your buying needs. With a food market offering a wide variety of foods from across the globe, and brands that range from high-end to affordable, there’s something there to cater to everyone – even kids! This Westfield’s not only has a cinema on the top floor, it has Kidzania. It’s described as a “75,000 sq.ft. child-size City where kids are in charge!” Let kids empower themselves and role play real-life activities. Each experience is crafted to teach kids a life-lesson and it’s guaranteed to be fun. Kidzania caters mostly for 4-14 year olds, but they also have an Early Years section for those under 4. Perfect spot to drop the kids off while you do your shopping?

Shepherd’s Bush Market

The opposite of Westfield’s. Shepherd’s Bush Market sits on a large stretch of land and is made up of stalls that are filled to the brim with a wide assortment of things from around the world. Like most stall-oriented markets, everything you can find here is very well priced, even if it can sometimes be slightly bizarre. It’s the quintessential Shepherd’s Bush, before Westfield’s moved in, and offers you an authentic experience in the ways of the locals. It’s open from Monday to Saturday, 9am till 6pm, so get lost in its maze for a little while!

The O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire

Built in 1903, this theatre went through several transitions before becoming what it is today. In 1953 it became the BBC Television Theatre, and then in 1994 a music hall. Nowadays it’s the O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire for sponsorship reasons. It’s held circus acts, theatre acts, and even saw Charlie Chaplin on its stage in 1906, When it opened. Nowadays you can catch music gigs, comedy gigs, and even go out on its club nights on every day of the week. Check it out!

Escape London

Escape rooms are popping up all over London, and they are so much fun. Get locked in a room with your friends and solve the series of clues in order to escape (perhaps not for the claustrophobic, but we promise, they let you out regardless after the timer runs out!). Shepherd’s Bush has it’s very own Escape room, called Escape London, and trust us, you won’t see it unless you’re looking for it. It’s quite a nondescript door, and you’ll probably find your attention caught by the overflow from the pound store next to it. Nevertheless, it’s recommended highly!