Residentially Hammersmith is very nice (though not cheap). Central Hammersmith should continue the theme of nearby Kensington, Chiswick and Kew - leafy, English, a decent variety of interesting shops, pubs and restaurants. Unfortunately Hammersmith fell victim to the sixties enthusiasm for gyratories (large roundabouts which inevitably fill themselves with McDonalds and Witherspoons pubs) and lots of concrete. There's lots of shopping. But, I don't really know why but you just never seem to get any original shops or businesses where there's lots of concrete. Pretty much every shop here is part of a chain: you could be in Croydon; you could be in Texas.

The good news is that you don't have to go very far before things are dramatically improved. Walk down King St. and there are some great (and varied) restaurants as you approach the Goldhawk rd. - in particular Saigon Saigon for Vietnamese and, across the street, Tosa for Japanese.

Ravenscourt Park is a lovely spot and I have to, at this point, give a plug for my local: the Raven, which is one of the best pubs in London (well I would say that.)

Hammersmith is lovely (and extremely expensive) down by the river. I don't think a summer would be complete without a walk beside the river followed by a stop in some of the nicest riverside pubs in London.

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