Mainly defined by the railway stations of the same name, it is situated between Childs Hill to the north, Frognal and Hampstead to the north-east, Swiss Cottage to the east, South Hampstead to the south-east and Kilburn to the west and south-west.

The neighbourhood is mainly residential, with several local amenities, including a range of independent shops, supermarkets, restaurants, bars, cafes and bakeries; most of these are concentrated in the northern section of West End Lane and around West End Green.

An area, known as "le Rudyng" (indicating a woodland clearing) in the mid-13th century, had by 1534 come to be called West End.

In 1851 residents were mainly agricultural labourers, gardeners, craftsmen and tradespeople, with an innkeeper, two beershop keepers, a schoolmistress and a few gentry.

There are four English Heritage blue plaques in West Hampstead commemorating historic personalities that have lived there.