Notting Hill

It’s hard to imagine somewhere as central as Notting Hill as being a wasteland, but that is what Notting Hill was until it was developed in the 1840s. It was also once considered to be a “slum” by the residents of Kensington and Chelsea, and this only 50 years ago! If you go now you’ll find a pleasant collection of colourful townhouses, a wide variety of cafés and restaurants, eclectic stores, and, of course, Portobello Road.

Portobello Road Market

This road (and of course the market) was named after a farm called Portobello, which in itself was named after a Caribbean town named Puerto Bello, which in itself was named for the British captain who captured it. That’s a long history in and of itself! The road is packed with some great finds (and we’re not talking about the Market!) Take a walk around the road and pay visit to the stores you might have missed behind all the hustle and bustle of the stalls.

Antiques Market (Saturdays)

Welcome to the world’s largest antiques market (you heard us right!) There’s over 1000 dealers here that sell everything you can imagine (and in many cases, for a very, very good deal too). The southern part of the road holds antiques, the middle features food stalls, and northwards from there you’ll find vintage clothing (and some seriously gorgeous pieces too! These sellers take their work very seriously and find the best in vintage – but at a price, don’t expect to find something dirt cheap from these well curated collections). You’ll also find accessories, bric-a-brac, and furniture. So, everything! The market is technically open every day, however the days you’ll find the most stalls are Friday and Saturday. On Saturday the Antiques Arcades is open (where you will find the real collectors). We suggest going early to snag the best and beat the crowds!

Hummingbird Bakery

This bakery is famous. Hailed as one of the best cupcake shops in the world by Buzzfeed, and one of the best in London by Vogue, there’s no way to go wrong. Their flavours are rich and delicious, and they’re perfectly adorable too! There are currently 6 locations for you to get to, but the location in Notting Hill was the first and has been feeding our grateful sweet tooth since 2004. And don’t worry if you’re only in London for a short while – they sell recipe books for their delicious concoctions so you can make them at home too!

Carnival

We mentioned Notting Hill was once a “slum”, right? This was because, by the mid-20th century, the area was suffering from overcrowding, unemployment, and crime. When immigrants arrived following the second World War, tensions rose. These immigrants (from the West Indies) were barred from establishments, were refused tenancy, and subjected to exploitation. The Riots that began in 1958 would later lead to The Notting Hill carnival, an event where the Afro Caribbean residents could celebrate their culture. Today, the event attracts over a million people, making it a massive carnival, only second to the one in Rio de Janeiro. Want to know more?