Hammersmith station serves as a major transport hub for the area. It opened on Beadon Road on 13 June 1864 as part of a western extension of the Metropolitan Railway – the station was moved south to its present location in 1868. When the station opened, Hammersmith was a relatively small settlement outside London.
The Hammersmith population grew from 10 000 in 1801 to 250 000 in 1901, and a lot of that was due to the railway connecting the area to the rest of the city and enabling its rapid growth. As the population of Hammersmith swelled in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the station underwent several renovations and improvements to accommodate the increasing demand for transport.
As you exit the station and are facing the “other” Hammersmith station, turn left and follow the road left again into Shepherd’s Bush Road, a main road. On its left, you’ll walk past the former site of the Hammersmith Palais.
With a large branch of Tesco’s in sight, Brook Green, a serene little park equipped with a notable pub (The Queen’s Head) and tennis courts.
Take time to explore Brook Green but rejoining Shepherd’s Bush Road, turn left into Lena Gardens. Follow this and then Sulgrave Road.
To get to Goldhawk Road station, follow the Tube line down a path that’s easy to overlook from Sulgrave Road, passing the railway arches leading to the London United Shepherd’s Bush Depot. The station is situated on the south side of the bridge over Goldhawk Road..
During their early days, The Who performed at the Goldhawk Social Club located in Goldhawk Road, where they gained a loyal following of ‘Mod’ enthusiasts. Their first hit single, “I Can’t Explain,” propelled them to stardom and established them as favourites on the new TV show, Ready, Steady, Go!. The streets of Goldhawk Road witnessed the sale of Vespas and Lambrettas, which were often embellished with additional mirrors, a long aerial, and a fake tiger tail at the back, reflecting the distinct mod culture of the 1960s.
The 1979 film, Quadrophenia, presents a fictional but accurate portrayal of the Mod culture of the 1960s. The movie features several scenes shot in different locations, including Shepherd’s Bush Market, Goldhawk Road (which includes Cooke’s Pie & Mash shop and Ashken’s grocery), Uxbridge Road, Latimer Road, and the Wormholt Estate.
