The term West London is most commonly used to refer to districts in the W, UB and TW postcode areas. This includes most districts within Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham, Kensington & Chelsea, Hounslow and Hillingdon.

The boroughs of Richmond and Brent also halfly fall under West London.

West London by Zones

The Real West London is the name to explain the places when you are completely West London. They are explained in Zones of West London. The places include:

• Zone 1 - Holland Park
• Zone 2 - Shepherds Bush / East Acton
• Zone 3 - Ealing Broadway
• Zone 4 - Hanwell / Southall
• Zone 5 - Hayes
• Zone 6 - West Drayton

Definition

London planning documents such as the London Plan refer to a strategic area called the "Western Wedge", which is intended to include West London and the Thames Valley beyond. The Western Wedge is considered to begin around Paddington and to fan along the M4/A4, A40/M40 and A316/M3 routes.

Geography & districts

West London is close to the River Thames and is therefore generally flat, except at its northern edges. As with most parts of London, it is punctuated by numerous local centres of varying sizes, which evolved from older towns and villages connected to London by new railways before becoming absorbed by the expanding urban area.

Inner West London

image:Shepherd's bush.jpg

Close to central London is the traditionally fashionable and expensive residential area of Notting Hill, made better known in 1999 by a film of the same name starring Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts. The Notting Hill Carnival is an annual event here led by members of the Caribbean community, many of whom have lived in the area since the 1950s. The carnival attracts up to 1.5 million people, making it the largest street festival in the world. Also within the area is the famous antique market at Portobello Road.

Sometimes considered part of central London, the areas of Kensington and Chelsea are the most expensive places to live in the country. The area is also famous for the Kings Road, a distinguished and attractive shopping street and thoroughfare.

Slightly further out than Notting Hill and Kensington is the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, which is a mixture of employment with high-density residential areas, and is well-served by the London Underground. Within the borough are the local centres of Shepherd's Bush, Hammersmith, Fulham and White City, the latter of which is the location of the principal operating centre for the BBC, and the site of a vast new shopping complex due to open in 2007. Hammersmith has become an important office location in recent years, whilst Fulham is home to both Chelsea and Fulham football clubs and Shepherd's Bush is home to Queens Park Rangers.