What you need to know about Shepherd's Bush
Shepherd's Bush is located towards the north of the borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, close to the areas of White City and North Kensington. Hammersmith lies to the south of the district, which is also bound by Kensal Green, Notting Hill, and Holland Park.
In 2020, sold prices in Shepherd's Bush reached an average of £785,253. Flats made up most of the sales that took place in the district, fetching an average price of £511,491. On average, terraced properties reached £1,068,556 and semi-detached properties sold for £1,500,400. Between 2019 and 2020, property prices in Shepherd's Bush fell by 7%. Prices were also 9% lower than their peak in 2018 when the overall average price stood at £862,653.
Shepherd's Bush is significantly more affordable than the district of Walham Green which commands an average property price of £1,859,898 but it is notably more expensive than White City, which is the borough's most affordable area with an average property price of £675,306.
What is living in Shepherd's Bush like?
Ideal for those who don't want to keep up with the pace of some of the more central areas of London but still want to be in the heart of a vibrant area where there's always something going on, Shepherd's Bush in West London could be the perfect choice.
Shepherd's Bush Green is one of the area's main focal points, which occupies approximately 8 acres close to Westfield London shopping centre. It is surrounded by busy roads and shopping streets, which in many ways makes it feel like a real sanctuary in the middle of a busy city. Shepherd's Bush is also well served by cycle lanes, which run around the southern edge of the Holland Park roundabout. Cyclists can therefore enjoy Shepherd's Bush Green from Holland Park Avenue without being forced to navigate through heavy traffic.
A lot of the area's residential housing comprises 19th century terraces, many of which have been split into apartments. This means that the property market often has a selection of different types of property available, including more affordable bijou flats and apartments.
The Shepherd's Bush Conservation Area was created by the Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham and aims to protect a selection of the area's most notable buildings and strives to ensure the character of the district isn't lost. This means that the characterful atmosphere that envelops the area should be retained for future generations to continue to enjoy.
Living in Shepherd's Bush pros and cons
Pro: Easy access to shops
Shepherd's Bush benefits from several thoroughfares including Goldhawk Road and Uxbridge Road, each of which are home to a selection of independent retailers, restaurants, and pubs. Additionally, the popular Westfield shopping centre is situated to the north of the district, which contains a wide variety of high street shops. Residents also have easy access to Shepherd's Bush Market, which is a street market offering everything from clothing to fresh produce.
Con: Sometimes busy and congested
Shepherd's Bush is served by an extensive local road network, which can sometimes become very busy and congested. In addition to frustrations caused by traffic build-ups, drivers of vehicles that do not conform to emissions standards detailed by the ULEZ scheme will need to pay the £12.50 per day charge to use their vehicles in and around the Fulham area.
Pro: Excellent transport links
As you might expect from such a well-located district, Shepherd's Bush benefits from more than 15 bus routes and five nearby London Underground stations.
Shepherd's Bush and White City are both served by the Central line offering connectivity to Essex, Ealing Broadway, and West Ruislip. Additionally, Wood Lane, Shepherd's Bush Market and Goldhawk Road are served by the Circle and Hammersmith & City lines, which makes it simple to reach areas including Edgware Road, Barking, and Farringdon.
Shepherd's Bush railway station is also highly accessible and runs services operated by Southern and London Overground. Direct trains can be taken from the station to the likes of Balham, Croydon, Milton Keynes, Stratford, and West Hampstead.
Additionally, the A40 dual-carriageway links Shepherd's Bush to Acton, Marylebone and Paddington, with the A4 linking the district to Chelsea and the A3220 offering connections to Earl's Court.
Con: Certain areas command premium prices
Some of the more popular parts of the Shepherd's Bush district include Uxbridge Street, which is famed for the selection of cuisine that is available all day and all evening. You'll also find plenty of pubs and bars in the area if you want to sample the Shepherd's Bush lifestyle for yourself.
Pro: Good selection of amenities
From supermarkets and cafés to the Bush Theatre, Shepherd's Bush Empire music venue and Bush Hall which often hosts intimate acoustic performances, there is a range of amenities in the local area which should suit most tastes and preferences.
There are more than 30 primary schools in the Hammersmith and Fulham catchment area, with more than 90% of those schools deemed 'Outstanding' or 'Good' by Ofsted. St Stephen's CofE Primary School, for example, has ensured that 96% of its pupils have secured above-average scores for maths, writing and reading. Hammersmith Academy and Phoenix Academy are excellent options for secondary school age children, both of which have been awarded 'Good' ratings by Ofsted.
Is Shepherd's Bush a safe place to live?
As well as containing an enormous shopping centre, Shepherd's Bush also attracts throngs of tourists which means that certain crimes are more frequently reported than others.
Between January 2020 and December 2021, there were 5,939 crimes recorded. Approximately 50% of these crimes were categorised as theft, with the district seeing 1,279 incidences of violent crime. Since a two-year low in January 2021 where there were just 129 crimes reported, figures have been rising and in December 2021 that figure stood at 283.
Which celebrities live in Shepherd's Bush?
Many of the biggest rock bands to make waves on the music scene have connections to Shepherd's Bush. The guitarist of the Sex Pistols was born in Shepherd's Bush, and the band's drummer Paul Cook also spent many of his formative years in the area.
Pete Doherty, frontman of the Libertines and Babyshambles, moved to the district aged 16, and classical musicians Robert Steadman and Evelyn Glennie have also spent time in Shepherd's Bush.
Things to consider when moving to Shepherd's Bush
If you like the idea of an urban village but you don't want to commit to moving that far out and completely refreshing your life, a small change of scenery really can make all the difference.
Most of Shepherd's Bush residential areas can be found on the western side of Shepherd's Bush Green. There is also a variety of property in and around the Goldhawk Road and Uxbridge Road areas in the southwest part of the district, and around Askew Road to the west. From family homes with private gardens to apartments in the heart of the action, there is an argument to be made that you're more likely to find your dream home in Fulham than you are anywhere else.
Competition within the Shepherd's Bush property market can be intense, particularly as young families from nearby Kensington and Chelsea have realised that this area will allow them to buy the dream property that remained out of reach in the likes of Holland Park or Notting Hill.