London living

Our five hospitals are spread across west and central London and offer easy access to many of the capital’s diverse attractions. We’ve picked out some of the highlights for you below. You can find more information, including details of the city’s incredible variety of bars, cafés, restaurants and clubs, on the ‘official’ London website, Visit London.

Charing Cross Hospital
Charing Cross Hospital is located within easy walking distance of central Hammersmith. Visit the Hammersmith Apollo for gigs, shows and stand-up comedy, or the Lyric for fresh and groundbreaking theatre. You can also choose from a wide selection of theatre, cinema, exhibitions, comedy and more at the Riverside Studios. For shops, try the Broadway shopping centre or King’s Street.

The ‘best urban site in Europe’ to watch wildlife, the London Wetlands Centre, is just across the Thames in Barnes. The historical grounds and botanical gardens of Fulham Palace are also within easy reach.

Two of London’s best entertainment and exhibition venues, Earl’s Court and Olympia, are only a short bus, tube or taxi ride away.

Hammersmith and Queen Charlotte’s & Chelsea Hospitals
The largest local nature reserve in west London, Wormwood Scrubs, is right next door to Hammersmith and Queen Charlotte’s & Chelsea Hospitals. Over 200 acres of green space make it one of the largest areas of common land in London.

The BBC Television Centre is just a short distance away in White City. You can book a backstage tour or get free tickets to be in the audience for TV and radio shows. The Westfield London shopping centre in White City offers over 150,000 square metres of shops, restaurants, cafes, bars and leisure facilities.

The popular Shepherd’s Bush Green area is also close by, acclaimed for its live music venues. Go mainstream at O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire or more intimate at Bush Hall. Visit the Bush Theatre to see original work by some of the best new theatre writers.

St Mary’s and Western Eye Hospitals
St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington and Western Eye Hospital in Marylebone are both within walking distance of Hyde Park, one of the largest green spaces in central London. St Mary’s Hospital is also moments away from the waterfront of the Paddington Basin, the end-point of the Paddington branch of the Grand Union Canal and the site of a major rejuvenation offering vibrant bars, cafes and apartments.

The popular Notting Hill area is nearby, famous for the colourful Notting Hill Carnival (Europe’s largest street carnival) and Portobello Road Market. The picturesque waterways of Little Venice are also within easy reach.

For shops, try the Whiteley’s centre in Bayswater, or take a short bus, tube or taxi ride down to Oxford Street.

South Kensington, home to a world-class collection of museums, is also just a short distance away. Visit the hi-tech Science Museum, celebrate the world of nature at the Natural History Museum or check out the history of design, fashion, art and sculpture at the Victoria and Albert Museum.

The main campus of Imperial College London is also in South Kensington.