Colourful houses, cute cafes and quaint book shops and boutiques line the streets of Notting Hill. And thanks to the charm of a well known 90s movie - Notting Hill is a must-visit if you’re touring London! There is plenty to do in this quirky West London area. We’ve put together our top five reasons to visit Notting Hill.
1. Portobello Road Market
Enjoy antiques? Portobello Road Market is home to the world’s largest antique market, with more than 1000 sellers offering every kind of antique you can imagine! Tourists come from all over the world to marvel in this market and maybe take home something that they’ll cherish forever.
2. Biscuiteers Boutique
Who doesn't love icing biscuits? This Notting Hill Icing Cafe located in Kensington Park Road hosts themed icing classes and workshops, teaching visitors decorating and piping techniques. Even if you’re not one for icing (though hard to imagine why!) , they also sell a fine selection of other sweet treats
3. Rough Trade Records
Rough Trade Records is an iconic record shop located in Ladbroke Grove which gave great brands like The Smiths and The Fall their first break into the music business. While Rough Trade Records might be an international label which boasts the likes of The Stokes, Antony and the Johnsons on its portfolio, it still operates as a record shop on its original site
4. Graffik Gallery
A truly special place in London - Graffik Gallery was the first street art gallery in West London and the very first to bring graffiti workshops to the world. The gallery is well-known for being London’s street art destination. On display at the gallery, visitors are able to view work by Stik, Alek Monopoly and Banksy. We highly recommend a visit to allow yourself to be completely submerged by the amazing pieces around you.
5. The Front Door
Speaking of a particular famous movie about the area - Roger Michell’s ‘Notting Hill’ placed not only the area but a specific blue front door on the map! Also featuring the famous Notting Hill Bookshop, the film is undoubtedly the subject of many tours in London. We recommend going on a Notting Hill Film Tour and see some of the famous locations as seen in the film.
For the true Notting Hill experience, we cannot stress enough the importance of staying in the area. New Linden is a design-led bed and breakfast hotel in the heart of this beautiful historic area. Spread across three pretty white townhouses in peaceful Leinster Square, we are in the heart of London’s cosmopolitan Notting Hill neighbourhood, a short walk from the Portobello Road Market and within easy reach of various tourist hotspots including Hyde Park, Oxford Street and Westfield Shopping Centre. Just a few steps from us is the fashionable Westbourne Grove where the annual Notting Hill Carnival passes through. Book today!