Shepherds Bush on a Shoestring

Experience the exotic in Shepherds Bush market. With ethnic food from around the world (Eastern European, Mediterranean, North African, Afro-Caribbean), dress fabrics, music, travel luggage, jewellery, watches, a pet shop, & lots of cafes! 
Mon- Sat from 9am to 6pm, early close on Thursday
Then try a picnic lunch in Ravenscourt Park, with its tea house, all weather pitch, tennis court, lake, rose garden, paddling pool and play area (open dawn till dusk).

Have a laugh at the recording of a BBC television show - free. Age restrictions apply for some shows. See www.bbc.co.uk/tickets Tel: 0870 603 0304

Round the day off at Patio, a “good old-fashioned Eastern European restaurant " with authentic Polish food on offer and amazingly generous the portions (and the waitresses!) really are. The set menu, at £12.95, is a bargain in itself but when you add in the home-baked bread, fresh tropical fruit and mountains of vegetables and salads that constantly arrive at your table, it turns an inexpensive meal into a festive occasion; helped along of course by the complimentary flavoured vodkas (honey, plum, chilli anyone?). See the Eating and Drinking page.

Other budget ideas

Follow the lovely river Thames path from Chelsea Harbour stopping at Fulham Palace gardens for a picnic and a visit to the museum. 

 

Fulham Palace
The historic home of the Bishops of London, the Palace building now contains a small museum. Once enclosed by the largest moat in England, its beautiful public grounds include botanic beds, herb garden and a secluded wall garden.

Museums Tours
Guided tours of the major rooms on the ground floor of the Palace, including the Victorian Chapel, are run every second and fourth Sundays of the month (except December). 

Then end the relaxing day with a delicious vegetarian curry at the renowned Sagar (see Eating and Drinking) and take advantage of the great value performances at the Lyric Hammersmith tel: 08700 500 511 www.lyric.co.uk or the Riverside studios two for one offers or value Tuesday evening performances visit www.riversidestudios.co.uk for all details.

 

Hammersmith Riviera

Relax in Furnivall Gardens near Hammersmith Bridge and enjoy the fine view, or refresh yourselves at one of the many historic riverside pubs with balconies and terraces overlooking the water. 

The Blue Anchor - thought to date from the 1700s, the Blue Anchor catered for sailmakers, boat builders and brewers that traded on the riverfront. Composer Gustav Holst, who wrote the famous Planets Suite, loved to wet his whistle here. 

Drop into the free William Morris society museum – Kelmscott House where Morris spent his last 18 years, free museum with original arts, textiles and printing press. Library for meeting hire.
26 Upper Mall, W6 9TA Tel:020 8741 3735 www.morrissociety.org (open limited days per week) 
and complete the your day out with a meal at the Blue Anchor and a film at Cineworld Hammersmith, 207 King Street, Hammersmith, London, W6 9JT www.cineworld.co.uk