How To Spend A Lovely Day In Notting Hill, London

While visiting London, you might already know to visit the big sights like Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, the London Eye, and Tower Bridge. However, once you’ve hit all those must-sees, you should absolutely consider exploring different areas of London, of which there are many. If you want to experience one of the coolest neighborhoods the city has to offer, then definitely add Notting Hill to your list. The streets are colorful and full of exciting things to do, so make sure you visit all these hangouts while you’re there.

Portobello Road Market

Portobello Road is full of small independent shops and chain cafes throughout the week, but on the weekend is when it truly comes alive with the Portobello Road Market that’s full of flea markets, antiques, and food stalls. It’s a great way to see west London. It’s best to visit on early Saturday mornings as to avoid lots of crowding. A great place to visit is Alice’s antique shop, which has been seen in the Paddington films.

St. Lukes Mews

St. Lukes Mews is one of the most famous streets in the city with good reason, as it is dotted with beautiful houses. You might even recognize it if you’ve seen Love Actually, from the scene when Andrew declares his love for Keira Knightley’s character with the signs.

Notting Hill Museum of Brands

In the side streets of Ladbroke Grove, you’ll find the Museum of Brands, which showcases how consumer culture has evolved and displays some of the best ads that you may or may not have seen. The museum has a display of over 150 years of advertising as well as contemporary exhibits. The admission fee is £9 for adults and £5 for kids.

Lancaster Road

Lancaster Road is the most colorful street in Notting Hill, which is what makes it the most photographed area. You can take in the rainbow homes and take beautiful pictures, but just keep in mind that this area is residential, so be mindful with the noise levels as well.

The Notting Hill Bookshop

If you’ve seen the Notting Hill movie, you’ll know this iconic book store and its famous blue door. In the film, the bookshop was owned by Hugh Grant’s character and was the location where he met Julia Roberts’ character. You can visit this shop but also be aware of the fact that many shops have painted their doors blue to take advantage of the film’s fame. Make sure you head to Blenheim Crescent to find the real deal. Another famous shop is Books for Cooks, which sells a massive selection of cookbooks and has its own cooking school as well.