West London Guide 

My definition of West London is probably going to ruffle a few feathers but it's true of most of London that where an area or place exists in the popular imagination differs quite a lot from geographical pedantics.

I would say that West London starts around the Edgware rd and goes West from there. So Paddington (W2) and Maida Vale (W9) would be the most Easterly part of West London not Westminster (W1) which I think most people would class as central London. I think it would be strange to say that Covent Garden is in West London. The areas of North West London such as Belsize Park and Hampstead and so on are, to me, more North London than West London.

Paddington used to be quite a rough place but is way to well located to remain that way. Billions of pounds have recently been piled into the area in the form of the Paddington basin - smart offices and flats located right next to Marlyebone. As you go West, the areas are fairly similarly minted in Notting Hill (W11) and South in Kensington (W8) and Chelsea although the Northern part of Notting Hill (Holland Park) can be surprisingly rough.

Earl's court (most of the residents here prefer to think of themselves as living in 'West Kensington') and Olympia are similar, somewhat unremarkable places although well located. For the most part they retain the somewhat upper-class feel of Kensington although I guess as a hangover from their backpacker days, there are lots of seedy hotels here.

West and North from Earl's court becomes a very mixed bag. Continue along the A4 and you're into Hammersmith (W6) - a somewhat schizophrenic place caught between 60's concrete nightmare and beautiful pubs on the Thames. Chiswick (W4) is lovely - more Twickenham and Barnes than a neighbour to Hammersmith and Shepherd's bush.

The situation goes a bit pear-shaped as you get to Shepherd's bush (W12), White City (W12) and Brentford, with Acton (W3) and Ealing (W13) being notable exceptions. Shepherd's bush is pretty rough around the edges and the theme continues as you head North through various industrial parks towards Harlesden (technically North London but anyway) which is quite a rough place. Willesden is giant improvement on Harlesden (and also, technically, North London).

South-West of Chiswick and Brentford - Twickenham - is very nice. All leafy village greens, old pubs and cricket pitches. Richmond is a beautiful place - stately, right next to a lovely part of the Thames and Richmond Park where you can watch the deer roam.

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