Photo credit: © Lucy Sutton-Long
Notting Hill, located north west of Mayfair, is a fantastic place to visit with picturesque roads, a great selection of bars and restaurants, boutique shops and a historic cinema.
History
Until the nineteenth century, Notting Hill was a rural hamlet in Middlesex before becoming a London suburb in the 1870s. During the Victorian period, as part of the expansion of London, large villas were built to house the gentry. Over time, they were divided into apartments and in recent years, some have been returned to their former configuration.
The most Instagrammable area of London
Hailed as the most Instagrammable area of London, Notting Hill is rich with the most beautiful stucco-fronted villas painted in pastel hues, pretty mews cottages and an abundance of blooms including wisteria, cherry blossom and roses.
Portobello Road Market
Portobello Road Market is a fantastic place to explore, particularly on a Saturday when its whole range of stalls are open. Famed for being the UK’s largest antiques market, you can also buy clothes, accessories, food and drink.
Shops
Notting Hill has an excellent range of boutique shops selling decorative arts, clothes and artisan food. The Notting Hill Bookshop, which inspired the shop in the Notting Hill film, is a traditional store offering a fantastic variety of reads.
Electric Cinema
The Electric Cinema is the most lavish cinema you can imagine with front row double beds, luxurious leather armchairs, cashmere blankets and waiters who bring your cocktail orders to your seats! It opened in 1910, making it one of Britain’s first buildings to show motion pictures and to be supplied with electricity.
Getting there
Notting Hill is three miles from Hertford Street. The closest underground stations are Ladbroke Grove and Notting Hill Gate. Should you chose to walk, we recommend the scenic route through Hyde Park.