White City is a neighbourhood that most Londoners have probably heard of. Famous for being the site of the first London Olympic Games, the neighbourhood might have since shed its historic buildings but remains a centre of tourism. Formerly home to the headquarters of BBC Television, the neighbourhood also welcomed in the well-known Westfield Shopping Centre in 2008. However, if big box stores aren’t your thing, there are also some great independent eateries, like the highly rated Bush Hall Dining Rooms, on Uxbridge Road. The locality is also home to Loftus Road, home to Queens Park Rangers FC, which brings thousands of football fans to the area at the weekends. There’s more to the neighbourhood than just commercial, sport, and business opportunities though. Many residents are drawn to the area when in search of the desirable West London lifestyle without the Notting Hill price tag. A short commute into central London via three different tube stops - White City, Wood Lane, and Shepherd’s Bush Market, it can’t really get more convenient than this.

This neighbourhood began to develop in the 19th century, when the West London Railway arrived. While the original line no longer cuts through the neighbourhood, the area is still served by many transit lines - including the Hammersmith and City line which opened in 1864. At this point, the neighbourhood was still mostly farmland though, indeed the current Wood Lane station sits on the site of the former Woodlane Farm. The neighbourhood eventually got its name after the Great White City complex was built - with palaces, halls, canals, and a stadium. The name was inspired by the White City at the Chicago Columbian Exposition. Upon opening in 1908, the complex hosted the fourth modern Summer Olympic Games. Today, this complex no longer exists but its legacy surely lives on in the area.

Wood Lane tube station is the newest station in the Underground network. It was built in 2008!

With the major Westfield Shopping Centre in the neighbourhood, the area can feel a bit hectic at times. Many Londoners travel from throughout the city to do their shopping at this mall. Still, for residents in the neighbourhood, they find that the convenience of the shopping centre outweighs the chaos.

The former BBC building (and Olympic stadium) will soon become a series of luxury homes. Known as The Television Centre, this development will bring over 900 new homes to the neighbourhood. The first phase of the redevelopment has alreayd begun, bringing 142 new affordable homes for Peabody (above) in two new buildings called Macfarlane Place at Television Centre, with delivery expected in early 2024. The second phase was recently announced, adding another 511 homes in four separate plots, including a contemporary 25-storey tall building for completion in 2026. Beyond the homes, the development will have a hotel run by Soho House, as well as many opportunities for eateries and office space. This addition to the neighbourhood will likely encourage more development in the coming years.

The nearby Westfield has also unveiled updated plans for a large complex of 9 blocks, including 46-storey tower that could become the tallest building in all of West London. Westfield wishes through this scheme to build 1,760 flats, 355 of which would be discounted from market rates (with 89 classed as “affordable” and 266 as “intermediate”). The plans have proven to be controversial considering that they only offer 20% of total housing as affordable, far below the council’s targets. The council’s final decision on the matter has yet to be announced.