It’s hard to beat Notting Hill. This famous part of London is known for everything from its huge street market to its chic boutiques and cute cafes. The neighborhood’s colorful houses and range of things to see and do make it a London favorite. And if there’s one place everyone knows here, it’s Portobello Road. Read on for my guide to this beloved street. I’ve included a map and everything.
Portobello Road
Portobello Road is the backbone of Notting Hill. From Ladbroke Grove in the north to Pembridge Road in the south, it’s known for its market, shops, and restaurants.
While the market is the main event for most people, locals and savvy visitors know there’s more to Portobello Road than the stalls and street food vendors. Even if you visit on a quieter day, you’ll find a lot to appreciate about this famous high street.
Which is to say nothing of the area around it. Portobello Road is surrounded by hidden mews, pastel crescents, and side streets bursting with boutiques and cafes. They help make this part of west London worth a special trip.
How to Get Here
It’s easy to get to Portobello Road from other parts of London. The Notting Hill Gate tube station is on the Central and Circle lines of the London Underground, and it’s located near the southern end of the street.
To the north, Ladbroke Grove and Westbourne Park tube stations are on the Circle and Hammersmith & City lines. They’re on either side of the road, and both are an easy walk from it.
Local buses stop around Portobello Road, too. You can also walk, cycle, or ride a scooter from areas like Paddington, Bayswater, Kensington, Ladbroke Grove, and Holland Park. Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park aren’t far away either.
Portobello Road Market
Once on Portobello Road, the market is the big draw. Operating since the 19th century, it’s famous for its antique and bric-a-brac stalls and shops. From teacups to pearl-handled magnifying glasses and old maps, it has a bit of everything.
And that’s not all. You’ll also find vendors selling clothing, accessories, jewelry, handicrafts, books, and music. There are literally hundreds of traders selling all kinds of vintage, antique, and new treasures.
Food vendors round out the scene with everything from giant paella pans to oysters, baked goods, sweet treats, fresh produce, and refreshing drinks.
There are stalls here every day of the week, but Saturday is the main event. The market gets crowded, so arrive early if you want to get here before the masses descend.
Restaurants & Cafes
In addition to the street food stands at the market, there are a lot of restaurants and cafes to discover on Portobello Road. This place is full of delicious places to eat, and you can find cuisine from all over the world here.
If you’re in the mood for something light, famous coffee shops like Farm Girl are always a treat. Their rose latte is so photogenic it’s hard to want to drink it.
Up north by Golborne Road, Lowry & Baker is another popular place for coffee and light meals. It’s particularly famous for breakfast and brunch.
If you want to sit down for a proper meal, you’re spoiled for choice. From the Greek food at Zephyr to the Italian cuisine at Ci Tua Osteria Romana, there are great restaurants all up and down the road.
Shops
Back to shopping, there’s a wealth of antiques shops and independent stores to browse on Portobello Road. They offer everything from clothing to homewares and souvenirs.
If it’s fashion you’re interested in, there are plenty of vintage shops and chic boutiques. If you love secondhand stores, places like Goldsmith Vintage have you covered. And if you want something classic British, look no further than Stumper & Fielding.
There are other types of shops on Portobello Road, too. From fabric stores to gourmet grocers and labyrinths full of antiques, you can find a range of places to browse here. If you love treasure troves, Alice’s is hard to beat.
Pubs
When it comes to watering holes, there are a number of good ones on Portobello Road. Notting Hill has some famous pubs, and some of the best are on and around this street.
At the southern end, The Sun in Splendour is home to one of my favorite pub gardens in London. It’s a great place to get a drink on a sunny afternoon.
To the north of it, places like The Duke of Wellington and The Castle are popular for food and drink on Portobello Road. The former is famous for having appeared in the opening scenes of the movie Notting Hill. Adele signed her first recording contract inside, too.
Hotels on Portobello Road
If you want to stay on Portobello Road, you have some great options. There’s a range of accommodation on and around the street, including hotels and apartment rentals.
The Portobello Hotel is my top pick. As the name implies, it’s just off Portobello Road and it’s a great boutique hotel in Notting Hill. It has lots of character and great style, and rumor has it Johnny Depp and Kate Moss once bathed in champagne in Room 16. If that appeals, you can book a room here.
You can see a number of other hotels, apartment rentals, and accommodation options in Notting Hill here. With so many good ones to choose from, you’re bound to find somewhere you love.
Bars
Back to watering holes, there are some famous nightlife spots on Portobello Road. Whether you’re looking for a cocktail haven or a themed bar, this street has you covered.
When it comes to classics, award-winning Trailer Happiness is a neighborhood staple. Not far away, the 1970s-themed Naked & Famous Bar is a great place for cocktails.
If you’re looking for a hybrid between a bar and a cafe, Permit Room is just the ticket. Curved around a corner of Portobello Road, this hip all-day bar-cafe has everything from breakfast to chai, cocktails, snacks, lunch, and dinner.
Side Streets
There are a lot of places around Portobello Road that are worth a trip when you’re in the neighborhood. From pretty lanes to famous shopping streets, there are plenty of fun spots to explore in Notting Hill.
If you love books, you’ll find some of the best independent bookshops in London on Blenheim Crescent. From The Notting Hill Bookshop to Books for Cooks, you’re spoiled for choice. Oh, and there’s a Daunt Books around the corner.
If you’re into food, you’ll adore places like Biscuiteers on Kensington Park Road. And that’s to say nothing of fine-dining restaurants like Core by Clare Smyth.
If shopping is your thing, look no further than Westbourne Grove. This trendy street has everything from Parisian clothing boutiques to famous florists. Add to that stylish cafes, and it has something for everyone.
If you’re seeking the area’s famous colorful houses, Lancaster Road is home to the iconic rainbow row. The crescents to the west of Portobello Road have plenty of pastels, too.
And if mews get your heart fluttering, places like St Luke’s Mews are hard to beat. Closer in, Alba Place and Dunworth Mews are right off Portobello Road. You can see them without leaving the street.
You can do my free self-guided Notting Hill walk to see my top picks for side streets and mews to discover in the area. It will take you around and show you all this and more. If you prefer a guided tour, you can see options and book one here.
Seasonal Highlights
If you’re in Notting Hill during a particular time of year, there are lots of seasonal highlights to discover on Portobello Road.
In the springtime, the street is a great place to see London’s famous flowers. From magnolias in early spring to cherry blossoms and wisteria later on, there’s no shortage of blooms and blossoms to admire throughout the season.
In the summer, the Notting Hill Carnival is the main event. This Caribbean extravaganza is Europe’s largest street festival, and it takes place over the August bank holiday weekend each year.
Portobello Road Map
If you want to see all the places I mentioned in this blog post, you can find an interactive Google map I created of Portobello Road here. You can use it to pinpoint all the shops, cafes, restaurants, pubs, and other spots I covered.
Portobello Road
I hope you’ve enjoyed my guide to Portobello Road and that it’s inspired you to spend time exploring this beautiful part of west London. There’s so much do and see on and around the street, and I’m sure you’ll enjoy getting to know it as much as I have.
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