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West Hampstead is a northwest London district within the London Borough of Camden. The area is located between Cricklewood (northwest), Hampstead and Frognal (northeast), Childs Hill (north), Kilburn (west and southwest). South Hampstead (southeast) and Swiss Cottage (east). West Hampstead is primarily suburban, with numerous restaurants, bakeries, cafes and small stores concentrated around West End Green and on the northside of West End Lane.
In the 13th century, West Hampstead NW6 was called “le Rudying” that roughly translates to woodland clearing. Three hundred years later, the area was known as West End. The name derives from the placement of the zone at the western side of an estate.
All three train stations near the district are named West Hampstead – West Hampstead station and West Hampstead Thameslink station are both London Overground railway stations, while the other West Hampstead station (on the Jubilee line) is a London Underground tube station. London Finchley Road tube station, on the Metropolitan and Jubilee lines, is also near the district. There are many bus routes that run through West Hampstead.
In the 19th century, the West End Lane station named after the main road in the area changed the name to West Hampstead station. The entire area adopted the name. David Bowie and Rolling Stones recorded their first single and album respectively at Decca Studios. The Beatles had an audition at the studio but were turned down.
Railway Pub was originally Klooks Kleek jazz club that hosted shows from Stevie Wonder, Rod Stewart, Cream, and Buddy Guy.
West Hampstead has 4 English Heritage blue plaques marked on the homes of famous people who have lived there, namely painter David Bomberg, 1st Viscount Northcliffe, newspaper owner Alfred Harmsworth and conductor Sir Adrian Boult. Other notable personalities associated with the area include filmmaker Sacha Bennett, singers Chaka Khan and Dusty Springfield, actor Bill Nighy, Guns N’ Roses’ guitarist Slash, TV presenter Stephen Fry, actor Jim Carter, actress Emma Thompson and actress Imelda Staunton.