What you need to know about Hammersmith and Fulham
The fourth most expensive borough of London, Hammersmith and Fulham offers its residents the best of different worlds, with high-end pubs and restaurants and some of the greatest music venues in the city on one hand, while on the other, it delights you with some incredible riverside retreats. Formed in 1965 from the merger of Hammersmith and Fulham, this borough went through a major transformation from the beginning of the 19th-century, when the first energy utility company was established at Sands End in 1824. Many international corporations have offices in this area, and the borough is home to three professional football clubs: Fulham, Chelsea and Queens Park Rangers.
The London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham borders with Brent to the north, Wandsworth to the south, the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea to the east, Hounslow and Ealing to the west and Richmond upon Thames to the south west. This attractive part of the city offers its residents everything they might need, from excellent restaurants and engaging riverside pubs to excellent shops and luxurious boutiques. If you wish to exercise outdoors, a wide range of sports facilities and parks can be found in the borough, and for those who would rather exercise indoors, Fulham Pools offers a public swimming pool, tennis court and fitness suite to help you keep in shape.
The borough has become increasingly popular among young professionals and families who look for a quiet and peaceful area close to the city centre. The legendary theatre venue, the Hammersmith Apollo, offers a schedule of music concerts with major names throughout the year. There are many other live venues in the borough, which makes this part of the city the perfect place for those who enjoy culture.
The region has excellent transport links, in particular Hammersmith, which is considered to be one of the best well-connected districts in the capital. You can easily get to Heathrow Airport via the Piccadilly Line. If you drive, bear in mind that the borough became part of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) from October 2021. Hammersmith & Fulham has good air quality, but the crime rate in this region is higher than the average in London. Charing Cross Hospital and Queen Charlotte’s and Chelsea Hospital are some of the main hospitals in the area. There are approximately 212 primary schools and 87 secondary schools, of which 57 are rated as outstanding by Ofsted.
Tenants are usually looking for flats to rent in Fulham, Brook Green and Hammersmith, while new buyers are eager to find the perfect home in Barons Court, Shepherds Bush and White City. According to Housing in London 2019, there are 185,426 people living in Hammersmith & Fulham with 2.10 people per dwelling. The housing stock in the area has grown 9.5% from 2008 to 2018, with 25,500 affordable homes representing 24% of total stock. The average private rent is £1,690 and the average house price is £702,445, according to the same report.
The borough has 19.75% properties owned outright, 18.78% owned with a mortgage or loan, 32.96% private rent and 28.51% social housing, according to the Office of National Statistics. If you would like to rent a house in Hammersmith and Fulham, it is estimated that you will need a total annual income of £50,700, according to the rent affordability formula.
