West Hampstead

West Hampstead
West Hampstead  West Hampstead shown within Greater London
OS grid reference	TQ255855
London borough	Camden
Ceremonial county	Greater London
Region	London
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	LONDON
Postcode district	NW6
Dialling code	020
Police	Metropolitan
Fire	London
Ambulance	London
EU Parliament	London
UK Parliament	Hampstead and Kilburn
London Assembly	Barnet and Camden
List of places: UK • England • London

West Hampstead is an area in northwest London, England, situated between Childs Hill to the north, Frognal and Hampstead to the north-east, Swiss Cottage to the east, and South Hampstead to the south. Until the late 19th century, the locale was a small village called West End. Modern West Hampstead emerged with the arrival of the railways, and the transformation of the area from farm land to housing estates. In 1879, the Metropolitan Railway adopted the name West Hampstead for its station on West End Lane, the main road through the area. Its motivation seemed to be to avoid confusion with the main retail area in central London, which was also known as the West End.

West Hampstead's proximity to the Metropolitan line at Finchley Road and its own Jubilee line stop (West Hampstead), together with a high concentration of bars and restaurants, means that the area is a popular leisure destination for people who live in the northwestern part of London. West End Lane itself is home to a number of cafes, bakeries and small shops, creating a "village" atmosphere during the day. In addition to the aforementioned London Underground links, West Hampstead is also served by West Hampstead railway station and West Hampstead Thameslink railway station.

History

• The first public library in West Hampstead was opened in 1901, but it was destroyed by a fire bomb in 1940.

• The West Hampstead Fire Station was opened in 1901 also. It is still operating, responding to over two thousand emergency calls a year. Its service area covers 12 square miles (31 km²), including Hampstead, West Hampstead, Kilburn, Cricklewood and parts of Golders Green.

Transport links

Stations in West Hampstead

Legend Very generally: South - North Chiltern Main Line to Birmingham Jubilee and Metropolitan lines Thameslink and Midland Main Line ◄ North London Line to Richmond Overground and TLK stations West Hampstead (on West End Lane} Underground Finchley Road OSI Finchley Road (MR) (1868-1927) Finchley Road & Frognal OSI North London Line to Stratford To St Pancras LU to Baker Street Chiltern Main Line to Marylebone  OSI = Interchange is allowed  between these two stations

There are three railway stations named West Hampstead all within close proximity, as well as a number of other tube stations in the area. Numerous local bus routes also pass through the district.

• Tube: West Hampstead tube station, on the Jubilee line. Nearby is Finchley Road tube station, on the Jubilee and Metropolitan lines.

• Trains: West Hampstead Thameslink station on First Capital Connect, and West Hampstead Overground station on the North London Line.

• Buses: 139 (West Hampstead to Waterloo via Oxford Street, 24 hours), 328 (Golders Green to Chelsea via Notting Hill), and C11 (Brent Cross Shopping Centre to Archway via Hampstead Heath).

West Hampstead Signal Box

The power signal box (PSB) for the northern end of the Thameslink route is situated in Iverson Road, West Hampstead, just around the corner from the Thameslink station. The Network Rail signal box can be see from the north end of the platforms on the left. As well as being a 24hrs a day, 7 days a week operational building, it also houses engineers and acts as a base for Mobile Operation Managers (MOMs). The upper floor of this box is where the signals and operation of the railway from Farringdon/St Pancras International up as far as Sharnbrook (just north of Bedford Station) are controlled from. Also located in the signal box (in the same room as the signalling panels) is First Capital Connect's Thameslink control (or known to staff as the Service Delivery Centre aka SDC). FCC's services between London Blackfriars and Bedford are controlled from here. South of Blackfriars, FCC trains are either controlled by southeastern control (to Sevenoaks) or FCC's other SDC at Croydon (for services to Brighton and Sutton/Wimbledon). Information to do with the service status of the line, including the operation of the information screens, is also controlled from here. East Midlands Trains do not have controllers at West Hampstead however.

Famous residents

• Emma Thompson - actress, comedian, and screenwriter. Two-time Academy Award-winner.
• Matt Lucas - comedian and actor.
• Dusty Springfield, pop singer, was born here.
• Jim Carter - actor. Married to Imelda Staunton.
• Imelda Staunton - theatre and film actress
• Johnny Vegas - actor, comedian
• Doris Lessing - author
• Sophie Thompson - actress
• Angela Griffin - actress and television presenter
• Slash - guitarist for Velvet Revolver and former guitarist for Guns N' Roses
• Marina Fiorato - author
• Sacha Bennett - filmmaker
• Chaka Khan - Grammy Award Winning Singer
• Camila Batmanghelidjh - British businesswoman, charity leader and author.

Gallery

• 

  West End Green, near the northern end of West End Lane

• 

  Shops on West End Lane

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  Shops, Library on West End Lane

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  West Hampstead tube station

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  West Hampstead London Overground station

• 

  West Hampstead Thameslink station

External links

• Hampstead Scientific Society
• Hampstead Synagogue
• West Hampstead Business Directory compiled by Paramount Properties