Lady’s 7 Lovely Things to Do in Notting Hill

When I think of my favorite London neighborhoods, Notting Hill always comes to mind. The area offers the perfect mix of everything I love about London, from markets and mews to good food and great nights out. I’ve been spending a lot of time here lately to soak up the colorful houses and atmospheric streets, and today I want to share some of my favorite things to do in Notting Hill.

Things to Do in Notting Hill

From neighborhood classics to hidden side streets, this area delights with its ability to both reassure and surprise me.

Whether I go to browse the antiques market or sip a Tang-flavored cocktail in an underground bar, there’s something to discover every time.

It’s easy to get here, too. The area is served by number of tube stations, including Notting Hill Gate in the south and Westbourne Park and Ladbroke Grove in the north.

A lot of London buses also go through the neighborhood, and it’s a great place to walk to from Hyde Park, Kensington, and other parts of the city.

1. Colorful Houses in Notting Hill

One of the best things to do in Notting Hill is admire the rows of colorful houses in the area.

From absorbing the rainbow on Lancaster Road to reveling in the pastels on Chepstow Villas, the neighborhood’s bright hues always put me in a good mood.

And that’s to say nothing of the cheerful tones on Westbourne Grove and Lonsdale Road.

Notting Hill has some of the prettiest streets in London, and its colors play a big role.

2. Portobello Road Market

So does the endless array of antiques on offer at Portobello Road Market. The world’s largest antiques market, it has everything from vintage maps to your grandpa’s spectacles. There are over 1,000 dealers selling their goods here.

The market makes Portobello Road one of London’s most beloved streets. Every time I’m here I make sure to explore the wares in the stalls and duck into the shops to explore their labyrinthine shelves.

I like to get here early, as the market gets crowed in the afternoons. This is particularly true on Saturdays, so I go during the week when I can.

3. The Mews

Speaking of labyrinths, Notting Hill has some of the best mews in London. One of the most well-known is St Luke’s Mews, with its Instagram-worthy pink house, painted doors, and Notting Hill film fame.

I also love walking down Colville Mews, which is home to colorful shops and picture-pretty homes. Streets like Pencombe Mews and Simon Close are worth peering into, too.

In fact, I’m so obsessed with the area’s streets and mews that I’ve written an entire self-guided walk in Notting Hill. It’s perfect if you want to see the best of the area.

4. Restaurants and Cafes

A lot of the mews are close to the best restaurants and cafes in the neighborhood.

One of my favorite things to do in Notting Hill is explore the food scene, whether it’s stopping for the famous rose latte at Farm Girl or sitting down to dine at The Ledbury.

Between those two ends of the spectrum, there are a lot of good places to eat in the area. E&O and Gail’s are classics, and Osteria Basilico has great ambiance. I always like getting cupcakes at The Hummingbird Bakery, too.

5. Westbourne Grove

One of the best concentrations of restaurants and cafes in Notting Hill is on Westbourne Grove. The triangle around Colville Road is colorful with their presence, and alongside them drift the scents of flower shops and chic boutiques.

There’s no shortage of places to indulge here, and I always leave feeling like every one of my senses has been satisfied.

Having a leisurely lunch on Westbourne Grove is one of my top things to do in Notting Hill.

From the Australian-inspired food at Granger and Co to the British fare at Daylesford, it’s hard to go wrong here. And the famous Ottolenghi is just around the corner. Yum.

6. Notting Hill Bookshops

But perhaps my favorite places to indulge in this part of the city are the bookshops.

From Books for Cooks to The Notting Hill Bookshop and Lutyens & Rubinstein, the neighborhood has more good bookshops in a two-block radius than many areas of London have in total.

The Notting Hill Bookshop is particularly popular, as it’s where the movie Notting Hill was filmed. It’s fun to walk in when I’m on Blenheim Crescent and replay all the scenes in my head.

7. Notting Hill Bars and Pubs

Then there are the drinking establishments. At the end of a long day, one of my favorite things to do in Notting Hill is unwind in the hipster paradise of Trailer Happiness or sip a classic cocktail at Portobello Star.

If I’m in the mood for a pub, The Walmer Castle is a staple (it has great Thai food, too) and The Westbourne guarantees a good night out. And if it’s pub food I want, I head to The Oak or The Cow.

By the time I leave, I’ve had no shortage of reminders of why this place is one of my favorite London neighborhoods. I could keep coming back here and finding new treasures forever, and that’s exactly what I plan to do. I hope you can do the same.

What are your favorite things to do in Notting Hill?

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