Home to London's most famous market and its most talked about carnival, Notting Hill is one of London's most exciting and lively areas.
The Notting Hill Carnival
One of the most famous, and indeed most popular annual events in London, the
Notting Hill Carnival has been a staple of the city's summer calendar since 1964.
Originally conceived as a way to ease the racial tensions experienced by Caribbean immigrants into West London, the first carnival treated attendees to performances from talented steel drum players. From these humble beginnings, the carnival now attracts over a million revellers every year to enjoy a festival of Caribbean music and cuisine, as well as popular masquerade parade.
The event is always spread across the August Bank Holiday weekend, allowing an extra day of celebration. One day is always set aside as 'Children's Day' and as such is ideal for families. Would-be visitors should have been alerted when we mentioned there are over a million attendees - if you are looking for hotels in Notting Hill around carnival time, it is essential to book early.
Portobello Market
Running throughout the week, it is generally accepted that Saturdays are the best time to come and visit this fabulous market on Portobello Road. Stretching about a mile across almost the entire length of Notting Hill, the market runs fruit and vegetable stalls all week, but on Saturdays the famed antiques dealers come out to play.
People come from far and wide to search through the vast array of stalls searching for a diamond among the bric-a-brac. Other stalls sell vintage and unusual clothes, while yet more carry stacks of old records that could occupy any vinyl enthusiast for hours.
There are plenty of cafes and bars lining the route for you to stop and take a rest in, some of which are detailed further down this page.
This is all well and good, but where can I find Hugh Grant?
Of course, Notting Hill is almost inevitably linked with the 1999 romantic comedy film which uses its name, starring Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts. Fans of the film may be disappointed to hear that the blue door which marked the entrance to Grant's character's house is no longer in place, and alas the
Travel Bookshop which featured in the film is also now operating under different owners.
That said, parts of the film were shot in these streets, and they remain much as they were. It should also be noted that the cinematic history of Notting Hill is not limited to one film. In fact, cinema buffs may be more interested to note that parts of truly iconic films such as
The Italian Job,
Withnail and I and
Quadrophenia were also shot in the Notting Hill area.
Getting to Notting Hill
Helpfully, there are tube stations at either end of Portobello Road for those looking for easy market access. Notting Hill Gate is closer to Hyde Park and the city centre on the Central, Circle and District Lines, while Ladbroke Grove is at the far end on the Circle and Hammersmith & City Lines. Alternatively, Holland Park is great for access to other parts of Notting Hill, and is found one stop further along from Notting Hill Gate on the Central Line.
There are also plenty of buses that can get you from the heart of London to Notting Hill, and back again. Number 452 runs along the bottom of Hyde Park, taking in South Kensington and Knightsbridge, number 94 is the route to pick for Paddington and Oxford Street, while 148 passes through Wesminster and Waterloo.
Hotels in Notting Hill
Notting Hill hotels are as stylish as you would expect for this area, and we would heartily recommend one of the excellent serviced apartments in the area, such as
202 Modern Serviced Apartments or
Notting Hill Apartments by Bridgestreet Worldwide. If you would prefer a more traditional room,
New Linden Hotel near the bottom of Portobello Road is a real Hotels-London favourite.
Pubs and Bars in Notting Hill
We promised you bars along the market route, and here they are in the form of
Portobello Gold and Portobello Star, both competing to provide Notting Hill's finest cocktails. That is not all they sell, of course, and you will get just as much enjoyment from settling down for a cup of coffee before venturing back out to tackle more bargain-spotting.
If you favour a pub for your evening drink, The Castle is also found on Portobello Road, and proudly boasts a wide range of beers, ales and ciders alongside an appetising food menu, while outside seating allows you to continue soaking up the atmosphere.
Restaurants in Notting Hill
Eateries in Notting Hill can edge towards the expensive, but there are always cheaper options available with a bit of digging. If, however, money is no obstacle and you are looking to treat yourself, you may wish to consider the sumptuous Mediterranean menu of Notting Hill Brasserie.
Alternatively, welcoming, family-run Italian restaurant
Valentina is so inviting that you won't be able to resist popping in to the accompanying deli next door to stock up on fresh ingredients, while The Lonsdale is a sublime steakhouse where you can enjoy a fantastic range of cocktails with your meal.
Parking in Notting Hill
If you need to leave your car somewhere, London's array of
NCP car parks are a safe place to use if your Notting Hill hotel does not provide on site parking. Arthur Court (W2 5HL) is the closest to Portobello Road, and costs £26 per 24 hours. If you just want to explore Notting Hill in general, West 12 Centre (W12 8PZ) may also be acceptable. It is also open 24 hours and costs just £20 for the day.