Benefit from the wealthy cultural tapestry of this vibrant London group crammed with quirky museums, a bustling market, and many in between with our information to the very best issues to do in Notting Hill.
LAST UPDATE: 16 Jan 2024
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Notting Hill has a vibrant and vibrant previous stretching again to the 1800s when it was first developed into a trendy space for London’s higher courses.
By the early 1900’s Notting Hill fell from grace and the wealthy moved to the costlier Belgravia and Mayfair.
Following large-scale immigration to the UK within the Fifties, and a housing scarcity, the grand properties in Notting Hill had been transformed into multi-occupancy dwellings and the world grew to become considerably impoverished due in no small half to lawless landlords.
At the moment, as gentrification has taken maintain, Notting Hill is a vibrant neighbourhood with the Beckhams up one finish and a wealthy cultural enclave on the different.
As locals, we all know the world properly. Right here’s our information to our favorite issues to do in Notting Hill.
1. SEE THE COLOURFUL HOUSES
Following the gentrification of Notting Hill within the late 20th century, the properties that had been beforehand multi-occupancy slums have steadily been reworked into vibrant residences.
Lined up in charming rainbow-colored rows, the pastel-hued facades of Notting Hill are at present one of many space’s star points of interest.
The most well-liked avenue is Lancaster Highway, in all probability resulting from its proximity to Portobello Highway. Nonetheless, there’s stunning structure throughout Notting Hill.
Elgin Crescent, Rosemead Highway, and Lansdowne Highway type a wonderful circuit of vibrant homes that you simply’ll typically have fully to your self.
2. PORTOBELLO MARKET
Portobello Highway is the guts of Notting Hill and Portobello Market runs alongside its size. It’s one of the well-liked issues to do in Notting Hill and the thrill of the gang creates a vibrant power.
The market is break up into 4 sections, every with its personal finest day to go to.
- Classic & Bric-a-brac Market: Friday, Saturday & Sunday
- Style Market: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday
- Fruit & Veg Market: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday
- Antiques market: Friday, Saturday
In our opinion, probably the most fascinating are the Classic and Antiques Markets, making Friday and Saturday wonderful occasions to go to. Nonetheless, they’re additionally the busiest days.
Portobello Market Opening Hours: In summer time the stalls are often open from 8.30 am to six pm and in winter from 9.30 am to five pm. Thursday is half day working from 9 am to 1 pm.
3. GRAFFIK GALLERY
The Graffik Gallery on Portobello Highway is an fascinating house devoted to avenue and concrete artwork.
They provide non-public graffiti masterclasses the place you’ll be able to study the essential expertise of spray paint with educated and pleasant academics. It’s an awesome exercise for teenagers and so they additionally take teams, making it a enjoyable team-building train.
You should buy artwork from the shop or go to one of many exhibitions they’ve all year long.
All the main points are on the Graffik Gallery web site.
4. ELECTRIC CINEMA
The Electrical Cinema is a trendy solution to see a current blockbuster or old-school basic film by the folks behind Soho Home.
It commenced working in 1910 as one of many first movement image home in Britain to be equipped with electrical energy. Regardless of a number of intermittent shutdowns, it has been in virtually continuous use as an image theatre since.
The Edwardian Baroque interiors are embellished with luxurious crimson velvet seats. You may choose an armchair with a footstool, a front-row mattress seat, or a back-row couch. Meals and drinks are offered by the onsite restaurant.
5. BRUNCH
Notting Hill is among the finest locations in London for brunch. After strolling the market, there’s nothing higher than sitting all the way down to a high quality breakfast and well-constructed espresso.
A few of our brunch highlights within the Notting Hill space embody the Electrical Diner for his or her correct Ful English, Beam for his or her Center Japanese-inspired plates, and Farm Woman for his or her wholesome Aussie-inspired treats.
Our full record is accessible on our information: finest brunch locations in Notting Hill.
6. WESTBOURNE GROVE BOUTIQUES
Notting Hill is a various space. Distinction the flea market really feel of Portobello Highway Market with the high-end boutiques on Westbourne Grove.
The part of Westbourne Grove between Colville Highway and Chepstow Highway is full of nice causes to go to.
On the decrease finish in the direction of Colville Highway you’ll discover designer outlets together with Soho Dwelling Studio, Max Mara, Olebar Brown, Kooples, Toast, and Aesop.
There are additionally some nice eating choices together with Taquería, Wild Notting Hill, and Sumi.
7. BOOKSHOPS
BOOKS FOR COOKS
Books for Cooks is among the most fascinating issues to do in Notting Hill. Cabinets are filled with each tasty title you could possibly think about, and well-worn sofas are wedged into corners for the good thing about cookbook junkies.
The spotlight although is the check kitchen sandwiched into the again of the shop. Cooks check out uncommon experiments from the books with a menu that adjustments every day primarily based on what they’ll get their arms on from Portobello Market.
NOTTING HILL BOOKSHOP
We’re sorry to say however the bookstore positioned at 13 Blenheim Crescent has been designed as a recreation of William Thackery’s bookshop from the Notting Hill film, nonetheless, it’s not the one which was used within the movie. For those who can push previous the crowds lining up for a photograph, it’s nonetheless a beautiful bookshop to go to.
LUYTENS & RUBENSTEIN
Luytens and Rubenstine is a small unbiased bookstore stocking chosen titles throughout a broad vary of genres. Operated by two literary brokers, the main focus is on wonderful writing. Every e-book within the retailer has been hand-picked by somebody who loves it.
8. MUSEUM OF BRANDS
The Museum of Manufacturers is a nostalgic journey by way of 200 years of shopper tradition.
Full of memorabilia from Victorian occasions by way of to the fashionable day, the museum is filled with cultural markers. Discover classic prints, family merchandise, previous magazines, toys, and all the things in between.
The constructing was as soon as the world’s largest centre for folks residing with HIV. Princess Dianna frequently visited sufferers within the memorial backyard which is now a part of the cafe.
9. NOTTING HILL FILM LOCATIONS
It’s laborious to know whether or not the world has pushed the recurring curiosity within the film or visa versa. Both manner, it’s left its mark on Notting Hill, to not point out it’s home costs. Listed below are some spots from the film to gather in your go to.
- The Blue Door – The blue door to William’s flat is at 280 Westbourne Park Highway. It’s simple to identify for the throng of individuals out entrance.
- Notting Hill Bookshop – As talked about above, the bookstore positioned at 13 Blenheim Crescent will not be the one which was used within the movie. It’s a trustworthy recreation so there’s no hurt in grabbing a selfie out entrance.
- 142 Portobello Highway – That is the placement of the particular store used for filming the bookstore scenes. Throughout filming it was an vintage store, it’s now a memento retailer with the unsuitable signal. (Within the movie, it was referred to as “The Journey Guide Co” not “The Journey Guide Retailer” which is what you see at present.
- Coronet Theatre – This arts venue was once a cinema and it was used when William and Spike had been watching a movie.
- Rosemead Gardens – That is the placement of the non-public gardens the place William and Anna climbed over the fence.
10. ACKLAM VILLAGE MARKET
Reverse the Classic Market, which you’ll be able to go to on our Notting Hill stroll, you’ll discover Acklam Village Market, a wonderful vacation spot for stay music and avenue meals.
The Worldwide Avenue Meals Market on Acklam Highway sells eclectic mixture of avenue meals from all over the world. You’ll discover all the things from noodles to falafel, plus Thai, Chinese language, and naturally, a good curry. The road meals market is open Friday to Sunday.
The Acklam Village Market Bar (Saturday’s) hidden inside an previous sports activities corridor, has a number of the finest stay music in west London. They champion regionally sourced spirits and craft beer with a seasonal cocktail menu. Take pleasure in a beer in a cool venue whereas catching a stay act.
Examine what’s on through the Acklam Village web site.
11. NOTTING HILL’S SECRET BANKSY
Hidden beside the stalls of the Acklam Village meals market is the Banksy mural “The Painter.”
Regarded as Spanish painter Velazquez, a bow-tied artist holding an easel and brush hand paints the phrases BANKSY in crimson lettering.
It’s one of many oldest Banksys in London, having first appeared in 2008. It was lined by constructing works for a number of years however reappeared in 2020.
You’ll discover it on the wall of the Grand Resort on the nook of Portobello Highway and Acklam Highway, nonetheless, you’ll be able to solely see it when the Acklam Village Market will not be working.
12. ROUGH TRADE
Tough Commerce West is the oldest and smallest of the Tough Commerce shops. They promote a collector’s array of vinyl, however you can too choose up books, merchandise, and stereo gear.
It’s properly value popping in for a poke round however in addition they function common in-store performances from a proficient bunch of artists. They’ve a concentrate on unplugged and acoustic units, in addition to talks with musicians.
See what’s on at roughtrade.com.
13. ST LUKE MEWS
A mews is a small traffic-free avenue discovered behind extravagant 18th and Nineteenth-century mansion homes. They had been used to secure horses of the rich and to supply lodging for servants.
They’re a standard function of Notting Hill and at present they’ve been transformed into charming homes.
St Luke Mews is among the prettiest mews streets to go to in Notting Hill and it was the one featured in Love Really.
Colville Mews is usually talked about as an excellent mews to go to. Nonetheless, that is in all probability due to the well-known Union Jack masking one of many buildings which has now been eliminated. It’s very a lot a residential avenue and possibly a good suggestion for guests to offer them their privateness again.
14. FARMERS’ MARKET
As locals, the Notting Hill Farmers’ Market is one in every of our favorite issues to do. Even when you’re visiting the world, it’s value popping in for a glance.
They inventory natural produce from native farmers together with the freshest fruit and veg, superb wild mushrooms, the very best goat’s cheese you’ll discover wherever in addition to contemporary pasta, meat, fish and way more.
Other than the standard produce the world is a superb a part of Notting Hill to go to. Close by you’ll discover Kuro, one in every of our favorite cafes in Notting Hill, in addition to Greek eating places Suzi Tros and Mazi.
The Farmer’s Market is within the Fox Main Faculty on Edge Avenue W8 7PP.
15. NOTTING HILL CARNIVAL
The Notting Hill Carnival is a celebration of the Caribbean Group, going down on the August financial institution vacation weekend yearly.
The carnival was solid out of the Notting Hill race riots within the 1950’s and by 1976 it had a distinctly Caribbean flavour. At the moment, you’ll be able to count on to be celebrating with round 2 million folks making it the biggest avenue pageant in Europe.
Keep updated on the official Notting Hill Carnival web site.
