Notting Hill is one of London’s most eclectic areas, a meeting of chi-chi cafes, high-end boutiques and cool spots, not to mention that carnival. Looking for the best things to do in Notting Hill? We’ve got you covered.
Aside from the carnival, and the Richard Curtis/Hugh Grant/Julia Roberts movie filmed in, and named after, this West London area, you’d be forgiven for not knowing much about this trendy hotspot.
Yet unlike some other affluent areas in London that have become knowingly posh, Notting Hill has retained much of the quirky identity and charm that’s attracted locals and visitors alike for decades.
So if Notting Hill is on your radar, and if it’s not, why ever not, and you want to know the best things to do, wonder no more. Here is our guide to the best things to do in this diverse, multicultural West London spot.
Brilliant things to do in Notting Hill
Take a peek at the colourful houses of Notting Hill
Notting Hill is an area of contrasts, on the one hand you have brutalist concrete towers, and on the other, row after row of pretty pastel houses.
You might recognise the rows of pastel houses from the movies, or perhaps the ‘gram, they’re certainly a hit there. Our favourite way to enjoy them is phone down, just soaking in the little details and the overall atmosphere.
A snap or two is fine, but do bear in mind that these are people’s homes before you start hanging off the doors and rampaging around in pursuit of the perfect (but in all honesty, cookie-cutter) photo. If you do have to hang out in the middle of the road for that picture, watch out for bikes, they’re not known to stop for those enjoying a spot of Notting Hill sightseeing.
Portobello Road is usually the starting spot for seeking them out. Other roads including Lancaster Road, Clarendon Road and Westbourne Grove also offer up plenty of pastel-y goodness.
Portobello Road Market
All your Antiques Roadshow dreams can come to life at Portobello Road Market. It’s the largest antiques market in the world, with over 1,000 stalls, you can find anything and everything from retro fashion to collectable stamps and antique porcelain scattered between the jumble of stalls.
Fair warning, you may have to sort through a fair bit of trash to get to the treasure, but that’s all part of the fun. While we can’t promise you’ll go away with a million-pound gem in the rough, you’re sure to have a great time exploring all the stalls.
Don’t miss Portobello Green Arcade towards the Notting Hill end, a covered strip of streetwear stalls, vintage sellers and a Chinese tea company all under one roof, plus a proper vintage market outside on Fridays and Saturdays. Antiques may be the main drawcard on Portobello Road itself, but we’re pretty fond of the food stall selection too.
Visit Trellick Tower
There are lots of beautiful things to visit in London, but there’s so much more to the city than #pursuepretty and #thatsdarling. Before you rush to snap yet another rose latte, why not check out one of the city’s most striking Brutalist buildings?
When a building serves as the inspiration for a dystopian novel, you know things are about to get pretty dramatic. Trellick Tower is one of the city’s most striking pieces of architecture, built in 1972 in the Brutalist style, it was supposed to lead the way in social housing design.
Instead, it became a hotbed for crime and vandalism for a number of decades. By the 1990s, however, gentrification had swept through Notting Hill and all of a sudden the uncool was cool again, Trellick Tower included. So much so that it was Grade II listed back in 1998 and is today one of Notting Hill’s most iconic buildings.
Dig into a world of street art at Graffik Gallery
While Notting Hill might seem awfully fancy, it’s also got a discernibly urban edge. In particular, it plays host to one of the capital’s premier street art galleries.
That’s Graffik Gallery, an ultra-cool space devoted to some of the world’s best street art. You’re sure to recognise some of the names on display here, like that little-known dude, Banksy.
While Graffik Gallery sells art pieces to people looking to add to the overall cool factor of their homes, it’s also open to the public. Not everyone will be able to take a piece home (if you can, we’re very jealous), but everyone can drop by and admire works from some of street art’s biggest names, Banksy, Stik and Dotmaster among them.
Catch a flick at Electric Cinema, or the newly restored Gate Picturehouse
An unusual stop during your Notting Hill visit is the charming Electric Cinema. It’s one of the oldest, and dare we say the most charming, cinemas in the UK.
When the beautiful building was constructed in 1910, it was one of the first purpose-built cinemas in Britain. It’s so old it was designed for silent films, with no sound facilities, imagine the refurb required once “talkies” were invented some two decades later. Today the cinema very much has sound, showing all the latest releases alongside a selection of artsy flicks, and the front row’s velvet-lined double beds are about as date-perfect as cinema seating gets.
If Electric Cinema is booked up, The Gate Picturehouse is a genuinely good alternative just up the road. Also dating back to 1911 and recently given a full restoration, it’s a single-screen, Grade II listed cinema with just as much period charm and a fraction of the crowds.
Hang out in one of Notting Hill’s chic cafes
Notting Hill is full of cafes that are just as sugary sweet as the cream teas they do so well. No wonder these sweet hotspots are some of our favourite spots to hang out in the area, Notting Hill’s quaint, bohemian vibe matches up perfectly with a long and lazy coffee and cake.
There are so many ultra-adorable places where getting a coffee is a true excursion rather than a pitstop, not to mention the fact that they do a stellar breakfast and brunch trade too.
We love Farm Girl (don’t let your coffee go cold as you admire the decor), while another fave is Biscuiteers with its impossibly photogenic exterior.
Looking for more? Read our full guide to the best cafes and coffee shops in Notting Hill.
Get lost in a book in one of Notting Hill’s independent bookstores
You know what goes hand in hand with picturesque streets, to-die-for cafes and retro-chic? Independent bookstores. Luckily, Notting Hill boasts quite a few good ones. So if you’re looking for a slightly worn novel, the best kind, to read at a cafe, you’re in luck.
There’s the Notting Hill Bookshop, the one that inspired the iconic film of the same name (did you think we weren’t going to mention it? Don’t worry, more is coming up soon).
Not all of Notting Hill’s bookstores have quite the same claim to fame, but if you want to avoid avid fans snapping away, there are other options. Daunt Books is equally Instagrammable, while Books for Cooks just down the road is perfect for any budding, or experienced, amateur chef.
Pop into the Museum of Brands
A museum devoted to advertising might seem a little like a consumerist nightmare, but trust us when we say it’s a genuinely interesting way to spend an afternoon. The Museum of Brands takes a critical look at the industry, considering how branding shapes and reflects our society, and strips back some of the psychology behind advertising.
There’s also a hearty dose of nostalgia, with plenty of products you’ll recognise from childhood. As well as the permanent exhibits featuring marketing materials throughout history, there are frequent events, speakers and workshops too.
Hunt out the spots from the Notting Hill film
If you’re anything like us, we can’t visit Notting Hill without hearing a voice in our heads reciting the iconic Julia Roberts line, “I’m also just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her.” Which, now we read it, looks cheesier in print than we thought it was when we heard it uttered by Julia.
Cheesy or not, hunting out the filming locations from the 1999 film is undoubtedly one of the top things to do in the area. There’s the famous Notting Hill Bookshop, the setting for Anna and William’s meeting, and the blue door that led up to Will’s humble abode, you’ll find it at 280 Westbourne Park Road.
Grab lunch at Acklam Village Market
All that hunting down movie sets and vintage shopping makes hungry work, so no doubt you’ll need refuelling before you crack on again.
Notting Hill has plenty of excellent places to eat, but one of the coolest has to be Acklam Village Market. It’s a stone’s throw from Portobello Market or the famous Notting Hill blue door depending on which way you’re coming from, and full of worldly delights, street food from pretty much every continent, open Friday to Sunday.
You can’t go wrong with the Berlin Döner, a kebab that’s actually acceptable to eat outside the confines of a sloppy night out, but you’d be remiss not to have something from one of the jerk stands, or the banh mi.
Worth knowing: the market’s long-term future has occasionally been a subject of local debate given ongoing redevelopment plans for the wider Westway site, it’s open and trading as normal, but worth checking current hours before a special trip.
Visit Kyoto Garden, London’s Japanese garden
Once you’ve had a stroll through those famous pastel-coloured houses on Kensington Park Road and Hillgate Place, you’ll be only a short walk from one of London’s lesser-known but most interesting green spaces.
It’s Holland Park, a small (by London standards) park with a pretty stunning Japanese garden. The Kyoto Garden was a gift from the city of Kyoto and symbolises the long-standing friendship between Japan and Great Britain.
It’s a delightful sprawl of perfectly manicured lawns, trees and shrubs from Japan, and peaceful ponds full of carp. There’s even a waterfall, and if you’re lucky you might catch a glimpse of one of the park’s peacocks.
There’s also the Fukushima Memorial Garden nearby, which commemorates the support given by the British people to Japan in the aftermath of the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster.
Learn about (and drink plenty of) gin at the Ginstitute
People love Notting Hill because it feels quintessentially British, and what could be a more quintessentially British drink than gin?
OK, we’ll grant you that a cup of tea would have also been a strong answer there, but we’re here to tell you about the strong stuff, and where you can find it. That’s the Ginstitute, part of a four-floor mecca of booze known appropriately as The Distillery.
They offer an experience where you can learn all about the history of gin, from its creation in Holland to the hipster distillation boom of the present day. Of course there’s lots of tasting involved (after your history class, that is) and some gin-based cocktails to try. Best of all, you leave with a bottle of your own personal blended gin.
Shop at the “world’s coolest” music store
While you’re on a roll with all the shopping, why not browse some vinyl? At Rough Trade, you’d only be doing so in one of the world’s coolest music stores. Yes, people actually call it that.
Rough Trade was founded in the 1970s and quickly went on to open a record label under the same name, one that’s since signed the likes of The Smiths and The Libertines, you don’t get much cooler than that. Rough Trade now has a few stores around London, the UK and even one in New York, but the Notting Hill branch is the original, still packed with an epic selection of vinyl and other music-related merch.
See the cute mews houses
A big reason for London’s truly horrific traffic is that our roads just weren’t made for cars. Back in the day, it was horse-drawn coaches that ruled the streets, as a result, London is full of “mews”, little lanes that once housed the horses and drivers responsible for carting aristocrats from mansion to mansion.
Between gentrification, an intense housing market and the fact that they’re simply drop-dead gorgeous, the mews where horses and coachmen used to sleep are now some of the area’s most sought-after properties.
Some of the cutest mews houses in London can be found in Notting Hill, so don’t miss them. Colville Mews is a particular delight, you’ll find it just off the shopping strip of Westbourne Grove and Ledbury Road.
Head to The Elgin for a pub lunch
Good food, check. Photogenic exterior, check. Live music, yup, The Elgin has all the ingredients for a great British boozer, making it the perfect pub stop in Notting Hill.
In keeping with Notting Hill’s oh-so-charming character, the inside of this pub is quirky and opulent, a charming fireplace and a historic Grade II listed bar are particular highlights.
The pub serves up classic British pub fare with fresh local ingredients, the burger is delish, and the wine list lives up to expectations, with plenty of local and international beers and a generous gin selection alongside it. Bottoms up.
Notting Hill Gate Farmers’ Market
One thing we love about Notting Hill is that despite its London location, it still retains quite a village-y feel, complete with community spirit. And it obviously wouldn’t be an English village without a farmers’ market on a Sunday, right?
Enter the Notting Hill Gate Farmers’ Market, a weekly market just a stone’s throw from the Tube stop. To get the best stuff, spring out of bed early, the crowds usually start forming around 9am. All is fair in love, war and the pursuit of the best preserves, you’ll find plenty of fresh fruit and veg, flowers, herbs and spices. Our fave is the honey from Bee Friendly.
Take a stroll through Kensal Green Cemetery
Notting Hill is not just a charming place to live. If you’re wondering about the more unique places to go in the area, try popping into Kensal Green Cemetery.
Set over 72 acres, it was inspired by Paris’s Père Lachaise, perhaps the world’s most famous graveyard. With opulent Gothic monuments and tombs set amongst an overgrown garden, it’s a beautiful and interesting place to stroll through.
A number of famous people are buried here, from actors to artisans. A personal favourite is Maria Graham, one of the world’s first travel writers, her first travel book was published all the way back in 1812. Quite the trailblazer, and one of many graves worth finding in the cemetery.
Head to BaySIXTY6 Skate Park
Do you fancy yourself as a bit of a Tony Hawk in waiting? Or maybe you plan on keeping your feet firmly on solid ground, but being amazed by the feats of others?
If so, we highly recommend dropping by BaySIXTY6 Skate Park. Skate parks can be found all around the world, with or without groups of shifty-looking teenagers, but BaySIXTY6 is pretty special, a genuine mecca for fans of the sport, and also a not-for-profit helping grow skateboarding and provide an outlet for local kids and residents.
They run regular skate schools suitable for everyone from pros to beginners, tip: wear helmets, elbow pads, actually, just pad everything.
Drink rum at Trailer Happiness
It’s no secret that Notting Hill has cool bars in abundance, but there’s something so special about Trailer Happiness.
Is it because owner Sly Augustin is one of the coolest dudes ever? Perhaps. But the welcoming ethos and stellar menu of rum-based drinks certainly add to its charm. Take it from us, if there’s one drink you have to try here, make it the Dia de Muertos, a smoky take on a classic margarita. Dream.
Eat Michelin-star food at Core by Clare Smyth
With a booze scene so good, it’s only right that Notting Hill’s food game is on fire. The area is packed with brilliant restaurants, though none are more impressive than Core by Clare Smyth.
If we had to describe it in two words, we’d go with stylish and elegant, yet it’s not too faffy, and we’re so glad about that. Core uses seasonal and sustainable ingredients on its ever-changing menu, so whatever’s on offer, you can guarantee it’s of the highest quality.
Visit Maddox Gallery
In an area as cool as Notting Hill, it’s only right there are plenty of creative spaces to explore, one of our favourites is Maddox Gallery in Westbourne Grove.
Inside the Grade II listed building you’ll find plenty of cool exhibitions to admire, many by British artist David Yarrow, who was first to host a collection here when the gallery opened in 2017. Check the website for upcoming events.
Visit the Design Museum
Situated on the edge of Holland Park, the Design Museum is one of London’s best museums, celebrating cutting-edge contemporary design.
Covering everything from fashion to graphics, architecture to technology, there’s plenty to see, from the building itself, a former Commonwealth Institute the museum moved into in 2016, to the various exhibits once you’re inside.
Cool exhibits include the good old London Tube map brought to life in a way you’ve never seen before, while the permanent Designer, Maker, User exhibition includes nearly a thousand pieces of 20th and 21st-century design, viewed through the lens of designers, manufacturers and consumers. Check out the Vespa, an Xbox controller and a trendy Valentine typewriter, not to mention Barber Osgerby’s iconic torch for the London 2012 games.
See a show at the Coronet Theatre
Housed in a stunning Grade II listed building deep in the heart of Notting Hill is the Coronet Theatre, a space dedicated to showcasing the best and most diverse array of arts in the area, from dance to jazz, comedy to poetry.
Both main performance areas are intimate, the 195-seat main auditorium and 90-seat Print Room studio space, something that truly elevates the viewing experience.
The theatre’s history dates back to 1898 and it was a regular haunt of Edward VII. John Gielgud saw his first Shakespearean performance here, and in 1923 it became a cinema. In 2014, Anda Winters took it over to restore it to its former glory, and it now plays host to some of the best, most diverse and risky performances around.
Spot blue plaques
We love a bit of blue plaque spotting to help us piece together London’s past, and Notting Hill is a predictably rich source of them.
Among former famous inhabitants are the music hall comedian Albert Chevalier, former Director General of the BBC Hugh Carleton Greene, fingerprint identification pioneer Sir Edward Henry, and cartoonist Sir Osbert Lancaster, not to mention Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of independent India.
It’s authors that really grab the imagination, though, George Orwell, Agatha Christie, Ford Madox Ford, Kenneth Grahame, Siegfried Sassoon and James Joyce all lived in this West London neighbourhood in the first half of the 20th century. The women’s suffrage movement is well represented too, with the house of Emmeline Pankhurst and her daughter Christabel on Clarendon Road.
Visit the Tabernacle
A former church, The Tabernacle is a local community-owned arts hub and theatre housed in a Grade II listed building.
It regularly hosts events and exhibitions exploring and promoting the local area, and it’s also an educational hub where kids can enjoy free workshops in the arts or dance lessons. Adults can enjoy Santhosh dance during the week, alongside other weekly classes including steppan, singing, ballet, zumba and, believe it or not, contortionism.
What about Notting Hill Carnival?
Have you ever looked at the bright, loud and joyous celebration that is carnival and dreamed of attending?
Notting Hill Carnival is an absolute must if you get the chance, fact. It’s a spectacular celebration of Caribbean culture in London, with all the music, costumes and food you’d expect. It started from very humble beginnings back in the 1960s, and today attracts over two million visitors.
Head to Notting Hill for the August bank holiday weekend and get ready for an amazing time.
The London x London Take: Trellick Tower and Portobello Road are the two entries that best sum up Notting Hill’s real character, a genuine tension between rough-edged history and the postcard version everyone expects. See both on the same walk and you’ll understand the area far better than the pastel houses alone ever could.
