West London’s White City has much to recommend it, including great shopping opportunities and plenty of fantastic transport connections to the rest of the city. There’s plenty to see and do, and in this brief guide, we’ll talk you through some of the key things to know about the White City before your visit.
History of White City
The White City area was farming land until 1908, when it was used as an exhibition ground during the 1908 Summer Olympics. The name ‘White City’ stems from the marble used on exibition pavilions. Within easy reach of the Kyoto Gardens London, this space rapidly developed and now includes plentiful housing, shops and educational facilities. It is favourably situated close to Notting Hill, Acton and Shepherd’s Bush.
Major landmarks in White City
Easily accessible to hotels near Gloucester Road, White City is home to the BBC’s former Television Centre. From 1960 until 2013, this was the space where many of the UK’s most well-loved TV shows were shot. White City is also the site of the new innovation and technology campus of Imperial College London, a leading facility for areas like engineering, business and medicine.
How to reach to White City?
Shopping and Leisure in White City
There is not much green space in White City, but there are plentiful football pitches in areas like Wormwood Scrubs. For sports fans, the local football team is the Queens Park Rangers.
For those staying at the Park Grand London Kensington Hotel, a quick shopping spree is sure to appeal! The recently-completed second phase of the Westfield Shopping centre provides a wide array of retail stores, restaurants and leisure spaces, including a new branch of famed department store John Lewis. You can also expect to find everything from fashion to homewares, electronics and beauty products within this large, well known shopping complex.
For nightlife and relaxation, you’ll find lots of pubs in the area, as well as the Shepherds Bush Empire, which regularly hosts a variety of concerts.
Who lives in White City?
In recent years, White City has become increasingly popular with upwardly-mobile young professionals. This is due in part to the accessibility of transportation, but also due to the cheaper property prices when compared to other desirable commuter areas like Hammersmith. The area includes a mixture of new-build developments, council housing and smaller Victorian-era terraced properties, alongside a range of high-end mansions and sprawling homes. There has recently been a boom in property development in the area, particularly with luxurious complexes springing up in White City. These luxury spaces offer a range of housing developments and shopping destinations, and appeal to a particularly discerning clientele.
White City Transport and Travel
There are plentiful Tube stations in the White City area, as well as numerous bus routes to help you get around with ease. White City Tube Station operates the Central Line, connecting you to all London has to offer – making this a favourable location for exploring the city.
