Notting Hill

Combining traditional British culture with an infusion of ethnic communities, the culinary scene in Notting Hill is among the best in the country. Within just a short walk, you can find highly rated restaurants ranging from prix-fix French cuisine to delicious home-made Thai meals:

Notting Hill Brasserie
Tucked away on Kensington Park Road, the Brasserie is known for its live jazz music, along with its unique seafood recipes that have made it a local favorite for years.

The Ledbury
One of the finer restaurants in the city, the Ledbury draws diners with discerning palates from throughout the city, and draws rave reviews for its fine vaulted-ceiling architecture as well as its signature dishes. Menu items are unique and range from pumpkin gnochhi to home-made custard, along with a fine wine list to cap off the perfect meal.

Electric Brasserie
Located along Portobello Road, Electric Brasserie serves meals throughout the day, ranging from seafood at lunch and dinner, to a fine wine and cocktail selection that makes it a social hangout for Londoners of all types.

Churchill Thai
An independent Thai restaurant located on Kensington Church Street, Churchill has earned a reputation for its great values and its world-famous pad Thai and curry dishes. With a mixture of authentic Thai cuisine and British decorations, Churchill represents the best of modern London.

Mandalay
Serving authentic Burmese cuisine, the Mandalay draws locals from throughout the city to its Edgware dining room. The home-made dishes are both delicious and affordable, ranging from fish curries to papaya deserts

The Portobello Road Market anchors the traditional shopping experience in Notting Hill, and is one of the world’s largest antique markets. With an active trade across a variety of goods, from art to collectibles, nearly every visitor can find something to their liking at the Market, which has a rich tradition dating back centuries.

Back in the 18th century, the Market began to evolve in its modern form based upon trade among local merchants, collectors and craftsmen. Over the decades, a series of nearby markets coalesced to make Portobello the anchor of commerce in Notting Hill. Today, the market has expanded into three major sections, offering antiques, produce and clothing, all in a single location. In order to trade in the market, merchants must be fully licensed. Running along the market, a number of anchor stores offer their fares year round, including independent clothing retailers and restaurants which serve local cuisine.

With active connections by bus or subway, the Market is easily accessible from throughout the city and is a common weekend gathering for locals and travelers alike. To get to the Market, take the Tube to Notting Hill Gate or take a bus directly to Portobello RoadOpen starting at 8 a.m., the market is open everyday except Sunday, and on the weekends a number of specialist craftsmen and artists sell their wares.

While its charm and vibrant daily life make it an ideal destination for travel, the pre-modern grid layouts of London can make it difficult to navigate through the city. Developed for transportation by way of carriage, modern travelers have come to rely upon the London Underground subway, as well as a variety of transportation options to navigate the city:

The London Underground
Taking the “Tube” is the single best way to navigate London, as there are a dozen lines that run throughout the day and fares start as low as £2 for a trip. You can also take public buses for as low as £1 for a trip, which runs throughout the city. Notting Hill has a number of conveniently located stops for easy access.

Taxis
Most areas in Western London are replete with black cabs, whose availability is indicated by a lit sign on the room. Rates can be a bit higher, as they are based upon mileage as well as time, which can add up during busy hours with traffic. It can be difficult to navigate the city, even with your own car, as there are parking and congestion surcharges as well.

Walking Tours
The majority of areas in Notting Hill are accessible within or short walk, and the scenery can be quite enjoyable. To get to the variety points in the city, you can take a short Tube ride and walk from there.

As a popular tourist destination for continental and global travelers, there are over a dozen hotels in the area for visitors. In addition to traditional hotels, travelers can often rent local homes and apartments on a seasonal basis to give the “true” local feel of the area. We profile some of the leading traditional hotels and Inns:

Blue Bells Hotel
Located on Pembridge Square, in the heart of the city, Blue Bells reflects the traditional style and feel of Notting Hill. Its traditional architecture and view of the Pembroke Garden Quare combinees well with its comfortable suites, friendly hospitality and central location near the major attractions such as the Portobello Market.

Hyde Park West
Another centrally located hotel, Hyde Park is adjacent to Whiteley’s Shopping Mall, as well as a variety of fine local eateries. Adventurous travelers will appreciate the nearby subway stations, which provide just a short trek to Oxford, Buckingham Palace and the Piccadilly Circus. The nearby Parks provide an ideal relaxing walk, and you will benefit from the friendly service from locals who will help guide you to booking tickets, reservations or enjoying local markets.

Portobello Hotel
Situated along Stanley Gardens, the private Portobello Hotel is built on traditional Victorian architecture, which combined modern technology with 19th century history buildings to give travelers the best of both worlds.

Early Percy Hotel
At a convenient corner of the city, located along Ladbroke Grove, Early Percy is adjacent to the City tube line, as well as within walking distance of a number of local gatherings along the Carnival route, including Wembley Stadium and the Cricket Grounds.

London’s real estate market has been quite popular in recent years, as one of the world’s hottest markets for both residential, commercial and investment property. While the financial district in the center park of the city remains one of the most active, vibrant property markets in all of Europe, Notting Hill has a unique character that has made it increasingly attractive to families and real estate investors alike.

Located near the popular Hyde Park area, Notting Hill real estate has become trendy in recent years, with many wealthy families selecting the areas private garden homes over more traditional homes in other parts of the city. Many buyers are attracted by the unique stucco architecture and friendly social scene. With square of properties ringing Ladbroke Square, near the Portobello antique market, has emerged as one of London’s top property markets.

Despite a recent down turn in the global real estate market, a number of top homes in the area are selling into the millions, with prime locations near the city square. Younger families can find attractive flats for less than half a million pounds, and there are still many attractive locations for sale in the area. Notting Hill remains one of the most popular locations in West London for new buyers, which has led to a quick closing time for the majority of properties in the market. Investors throughout Europe continue to buy vacation homes in the city, focusing on traditional Victorian housing, as the market remains much more active than many other regions. Considered a prime “bohemian” destination, Notting Hill is as popular as ever.

In the 19th century, modern Notting Hill began to emerge in West London as a neighborhood in its own right. During this period, the area became known as a hub for craftsmanship, with a large brick making industry which helped fuel the development in Central London due to the large clay repositories in the area. While the Central parts of the city developed extensively during the Industrial Revolution, Notting Hill retained its rural culture well into the era.

At the middle of the century, large land-holding families (such as the Ladbrokes) began to develop residential and commercial real estate, and the Kensington Park area emerged as the central hub in the city. Today, the unique architecture and colors in Notting Hill can be traced to this era, which marked the emergence of the modern commercial and arts culture surrounding Portobello road.

When the 20th century began, Notting Hill began to catch up with the rest of the city and emerged as a prime neighborhood in its own right. While surrounding areas, such as Golborne, attracted a more edgy, urban culture, Notting Hill developed its own unique culture, infused with English traditions, as well as the influences of a variety of Mediterranean communities in the area. As a result, the city’s unique setting emerged, with the development of the Trellick Tower in the 1970s along with a series of local businesses that give the city its trademark style and feel.

In recent decades, urban residents and young families begin to anchor in Notting Hill, migrating from Central London, which had become of the most dense neighborhoods in all of Europe. With its traditional impulses, the city maintained its feel with a number of parks ranging from the Kensington Gardens, as well as the smart shops and local merchants which have helped Notting Hill remain true to its roots over the years.