Free walking tours

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People who live and work in West London are being encouraged to put a little Spring in their step, through a series of free walking tours beginning next week.

The gentle, 90-minute walks around Hammersmith, Fulham and Shepherds Bush, which are being led by Blue Badge Guides, will highlight different characteristics of each of the town centres, from the strength of the film and TV industry in Shepherds Bush, to the importance of the riverfront in Hammersmith, to the flowering of Indian culture in Fulham. The first walk, a Middle Eastern Food Tour of Uxbridge Road, W12, takes place on Sunday 5 February at 10.30am.

The tours are being organised by Hammersmith & Fulham council’s visitor development team, which aims to encourage both residents and tourists alike to discover more of the attractions that are on offer in the borough. The team earned a nomination at the Visit London awards last month for a similar series of tours in 2005.

Says Catherine Knight, visitor development officer: “Shepherds Bush, Hammersmith and Fulham are such rich, varied and fascinating places that they deserve to be better known by the people who live and work in them. The walking tours are a fun and healthy way for people of all ages to learn more about the world on their doorstep – whether it’s the exotic Middle Eastern shops of Shepherds Bush, the historic riverside path in Hammersmith, or the vibrant Indian fabric stores in Fulham. We believe that, once you’ve been on a tour, you’ll want to discover more about the area’s attractions and venues, and spend more of your free time there.”

The walking tours taking place this spring are:
Sunday 5 February – Shepherds Bush Middle Eastern Food Tour– meet 10.30am Shepherds Bush tube station (Hammersmith & City line), Uxbridge Road. NB Tour is limited to 15 participants on a first come, first served basis
Sunday 5 March – ‘West Side Story’ Shepherds Bush Film Tour – meet 11am Shepherds Bush tube station (Central line), Shepherds Bush Green
Saturday 18 March – Hammersmith Terrace tour, including William Morris museum – meet 2pm Visitor Information Centre, Hammersmith Broadway
Saturday 18 March – Shepherds Bush Middle Eastern Food Tour– meet 2pm Shepherds Bush tube station (Hammersmith & City line), Uxbridge Road. NB Tour is limited to 15 participants on a first come, first served basis
Saturday 25 March – Fulham Past and Present – meet 2pm Fulham Broadway shopping centre entrance
Sunday 2 April – North Fulham Indian Cultural Tour, including Bhavan Centre – meet 11am West Kensington tube station

Further tours, including after-work walks, will be held throughout 2006. Anyone wishing to find out more, or register their interest for a particular tour, should call 020 8735 4171, or email tourism@lbhf.gov.uk

 

January 29, 2006