Shepherds Bush

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How to get to Shepherds Bush

Getting Around Shepherds Bush

Finding transportation in Shepherds Bush is not a difficult ordeal, unlike some major cities in the world. There are plenty of easily accessible and affordable options one has when traveling throughout Europe. This article will discuss all of the transportation options one has when traveling in the United Kingdom.

The overground station is one of the most popular ways of traveling. This great station allows a person to travel from places like Shepherds Bush to Wimbledown. This is also a popular way to travel to the Gatwick Airport, which is a popular airport in the United Kingdom.

The underground station is also another popular form of transportation. This underground form of transportation travels throughout all of London. It has been recently redesigned and features a state of the art design.

The Shepherds Bush Market Underground station is also another type of underground station which is frequently used by passengers. This sort of station is usually used for people who commute to work. Buying a monthly pass is a great way to save money when using this underground station.

There are plenty of taxi services to use in Shepherds Bush. If one has a disability, there are even taxi services which cater to disabled people in wheelchairs. The only problem is that taxis can be quite expensive. It is worthwhile to learn how to use the overground or underground station, in order to save hundreds of dollars in taxi fees.

Traveling by bike is increasingly becoming a popular option, even for tourists. There are plenty of bike rental companies which offer people the option to rent bikes, rather than purchase them. Because one does not need to buy gas, traveling by bike is a great way to save money when traveling.

Overall, the overground station offers the easiest and least expensive way to travel in Shepherds Bush.

By Train

From Central London

  • Starting Point: Major hubs like London Victoria, Waterloo, or Paddington.
  • Route:
    • From London Victoria: Take a Southern train towards Watford Junction or Milton Keynes Central via the West London line. This stops at Clapham Junction (about 6 minutes), then Shepherd’s Bush (another 7-10 minutes). Trains run every 15-30 minutes off-peak, more frequently during peak hours.
    • From Waterloo: Board a South Western Railway train to Clapham Junction (8-12 minutes), then switch to a Southern service northbound to Shepherd’s Bush (7-10 minutes). Alternatively, take the Underground (Jubilee to Bond Street, then Central line westbound), but the train-only route is often quicker.
    • From Paddington: Take a Great Western Railway or Elizabeth line train to Ealing Broadway (10-15 minutes), then switch to the Central line eastbound to Shepherd’s Bush (about 10 minutes). Alternatively, use the Underground directly (Bakerloo to Oxford Circus, then Central line), though this avoids National Rail.
  • Travel Time: 20-30 minutes from Victoria or Waterloo; 25-40 minutes from Paddington, depending on connections.
  • Cost: Around £3-5 off-peak with an Oyster card or contactless payment, depending on zones crossed.

From North London

  • Starting Point: Willesden Junction or Stratford.
  • Route:
    • From Willesden Junction: Take the London Overground (Mildmay Line) southbound towards Clapham Junction. Shepherd’s Bush is one stop away (7 minutes), with 4 trains per hour off-peak.
    • From Stratford: Board the Overground westbound towards Clapham Junction (via Highbury & Islington and Willesden Junction). The journey takes about 30-40 minutes, with trains every 15 minutes.
  • Travel Time: 7 minutes from Willesden Junction; 30-40 minutes from Stratford.
  • Cost: £2-3 off-peak within Zone 2-3.

From South London

  • Starting Point: Clapham Junction or Croydon.
  • Route:
    • From Clapham Junction: Take a Southern train northbound towards Watford Junction or Milton Keynes Central, stopping at Shepherd’s Bush (7-10 minutes). Services run every 5-15 minutes during peak hours, slightly less off-peak.
    • From Croydon: Use a Southern service to Clapham Junction (15-25 minutes), then switch to a northbound train to Shepherd’s Bush (another 7-10 minutes).
  • Travel Time: 7-10 minutes from Clapham Junction; 25-40 minutes from Croydon.
  • Cost: £2-4 off-peak from Clapham Junction; £5-7 from Croydon.

From Outside London

  • Starting Point: Watford Junction or Milton Keynes Central.
  • Route:
    • From Watford Junction: Take a Southern train southbound towards Clapham Junction or East Croydon. Shepherd’s Bush is about 25-30 minutes away, with stops at Wembley Central and Willesden Junction. Trains run every 20-30 minutes.
    • From Milton Keynes Central: Board a Southern service towards East Croydon (via Watford Junction), reaching Shepherd’s Bush in about 50-60 minutes, depending on stops.
  • Travel Time: 25-30 minutes from Watford; 50-60 minutes from Milton Keynes.
  • Cost: £5-10 from Watford; £15-25 from Milton Keynes (off-peak, varies by booking time).

By Road

From Central London (e.g., Oxford Circus)

  • Route: Head west from Oxford Circus via Oxford Street (A40). Continue as it becomes Bayswater Road, then Holland Park Avenue. Pass Notting Hill Gate, and after about 2.5 miles, you’ll reach the Holland Park Roundabout. Take the second exit onto Shepherd’s Bush Road (A219), heading south. After 0.5 miles, you’ll arrive at Shepherd’s Bush Green.
  • Distance: Approximately 3-4 miles.
  • Travel Time: 15-25 minutes without traffic; 30-45 minutes during peak hours (e.g., 8-10 AM or 5-7 PM) due to congestion around Oxford Street and Notting Hill.
  • Road Conditions: The A40 is a busy arterial road with frequent traffic lights and potential bottlenecks near Marble Arch. Watch for bus lanes and cyclists, especially closer to Shepherd’s Bush.

From North London (e.g., Willesden)

  • Route: Start on the A404 (Harrow Road) heading south. After about 1.5 miles, turn right onto Scrubs Lane (A219), which becomes Wood Lane. Continue south past White City, and after crossing the A40 Westway, you’ll reach Shepherd’s Bush Green in about 2.5 miles total.
  • Distance: Around 3-4 miles.
  • Travel Time: 15-20 minutes off-peak; 25-35 minutes in rush hour, especially near the A40 interchange.
  • Road Conditions: Scrubs Lane and Wood Lane are narrower in parts, with residential areas and occasional delivery traffic. The A40 junction can be a choke point.

From South London (e.g., Clapham)

  • Route: Take the A3 north from Clapham High Street, then switch to the A205 (South Circular) westbound via Clapham Common. Cross Wandsworth Bridge onto the A219 (Fulham Palace Road), heading north. Continue through Hammersmith (about 3 miles from Wandsworth Bridge), where the A219 becomes Shepherd’s Bush Road. You’ll reach Shepherd’s Bush Green after another mile.
  • Distance: Approximately 5-6 miles.
  • Travel Time: 20-30 minutes off-peak; 40-60 minutes during peak times due to South Circular and Hammersmith traffic.
  • Road Conditions: The South Circular is notoriously slow, and Wandsworth Bridge can back up. Hammersmith’s gyratory system may also delay you—follow signs carefully.

From West London (e.g., Ealing)

  • Route: Take the A40 (Western Avenue) eastbound from Ealing Broadway. After about 4 miles, exit at the Wood Lane junction (just past the Westway Roundabout). Turn right onto Wood Lane (A219), heading south. Drive 1 mile, passing Westfield Shopping Centre, to reach Shepherd’s Bush Green.
  • Distance: Around 5 miles.
  • Travel Time: 15-25 minutes off-peak; 30-40 minutes in heavy traffic, especially near the A40/A406 interchange.
  • Road Conditions: The A40 is a major dual carriageway with good flow outside peak hours, but the Wood Lane exit can queue during rush periods.

By Road

Chester is linked directly to the national motorway system via the M53 and London and all the major regions of the UK are easily accessible from the City.

Distances by Road from Chester –

London 188 miles
Cardiff 152 miles
Birmingham 85 mile
Manchester 42 miles
Edinburgh 237 miles
Liverpool 18 miles
Bath 165 miles
Southampton 220 miles.

Car Parking – Park & Ride

Chester operates a network of Park & Ride sites on the approach roads into the City. Park & Ride sites on the outskirts, and enjoy a speedy bus trip into the heart of the City

Parking for people with Mobility Problems – Orange badge holders can park at any of the City Council’s Car Parks for up to 3 hours free of charge.

They can also park on double yellow lines provided their vehicle does not cause an obstruction. An Access Guide is available from the Tourist Office, Town Hall.

Coach Travel

National Express between Chester and all major towns and cities in Britain. The main terminal in London is located at Victoria Coach Station.

By Air

From London Heathrow (LHR) – Closest Major Airport

  • Distance: Approximately 10-12 miles (16-19 km) west of Shepherd’s Bush.
  • Flight: Heathrow is the UK’s largest international hub, served by dozens of airlines (e.g., British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, American Airlines) with direct flights from major cities worldwide—e.g., 8h 30m from New York (JFK), 6h from Los Angeles (LAX), or 1h 30m from Paris (CDG).
  • Ground Transfer Options:
    • Tube (Fastest Public Option): Take the Piccadilly line from Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3, 4, or 5 towards Central London. At Acton Town (about 20 minutes), switch to the District line towards Ealing Broadway, then at Ealing Broadway take the Central line eastbound to Shepherd’s Bush (total ~35-45 minutes). Cost: £5.50-6 off-peak with Oyster/contactless.
    • Elizabeth Line: From Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3 or 5, take the Elizabeth line to Ealing Broadway (15-20 minutes), then switch to the Central line to Shepherd’s Bush (another 10 minutes). Total: ~30-35 minutes, £10-12 off-peak.
    • Taxi: A direct ride takes 20-40 minutes depending on traffic, costing £30-50 via black cab or rideshare apps like Uber. Quicker off-peak, but congestion on the A4/M4 can slow it down.
    • Bus: National Express coaches run from Heathrow Central Bus Station to Hammersmith (25-40 minutes, £5-8), then a short Tube ride (Central line, 5 minutes) or bus (e.g., 207, 10 minutes) to Shepherd’s Bush.
  • Travel Time: 30-60 minutes total, depending on mode and traffic.
  • Notes: Heathrow’s proximity makes it the most convenient. The Tube or Elizabeth line are reliable and avoid road congestion, though taxis are faster if you’re traveling light and time-sensitive.

From London Gatwick (LGW) – Southern Option

  • Distance: About 30-35 miles (48-56 km) south of Shepherd’s Bush.
  • Flight: Gatwick serves both short-haul (e.g., 1h 15m from Dublin) and long-haul flights (e.g., 12h from Orlando). Airlines include easyJet, British Airways, and Norwegian.
  • Ground Transfer Options:
    • Train: Take a Southern train from Gatwick Airport station to Clapham Junction (25-35 minutes, 4-6 trains/hour), then switch to the London Overground northbound to Shepherd’s Bush (7-10 minutes). Total: ~40-50 minutes, £10-15 off-peak.
    • Gatwick Express: Alternatively, take the Gatwick Express to London Victoria (30 minutes), then a Southern train to Clapham Junction and Overground to Shepherd’s Bush (total ~50-60 minutes, £20-25).
    • Taxi: A direct ride takes 45-75 minutes, costing £60-100, but traffic on the M23/A23 can be heavy, especially during peak hours.
    • Bus: National Express coaches run to London Victoria (1h-1h 30m, £8-12), then take the Tube (Victoria line to Oxford Circus, Central line to Shepherd’s Bush, ~30 minutes more) or a bus (e.g., 148, 40 minutes).
  • Travel Time: 40-90 minutes total.
  • Notes: The train via Clapham Junction is the quickest public option. Gatwick’s further distance makes it less ideal than Heathrow, but it’s viable for southbound travelers.

From London City Airport (LCY) – Closest Small Airport

  • Distance: Around 12-14 miles (19-23 km) east of Shepherd’s Bush.
  • Flight: A smaller airport focused on short-haul European flights (e.g., 1h from Amsterdam, 1h 15m from Edinburgh) via British Airways, KLM, or Lufthansa. Limited long-haul options.
  • Ground Transfer Options:
    • Tube/DLR: Take the DLR (Docklands Light Railway) westbound from London City Airport to Canning Town (7 minutes), then the Jubilee line to Bond Street (15 minutes), and switch to the Central line westbound to Shepherd’s Bush (10 minutes). Total: ~35-45 minutes, £3-5 off-peak.
    • Taxi: A direct ride takes 30-50 minutes, costing £35-60, depending on traffic through East London and the A40.
    • Bus: No direct bus; you’d need to combine DLR to Stratford, then bus (e.g., 25) or Overground via Willesden Junction, taking 60-75 minutes total (£3-6).
  • Travel Time: 35-60 minutes total.
  • Notes: London City’s compact size means quick exits, but its East London location requires more transfers. Best for business travelers or those on regional flights.

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