Notting Hill is an iconic neighborhood…thanks to Julia Roberts, Notting Hill Carnival, and the world-famous Portabello Market. The area offers an amazing assortment of colorful buildings, great independent cafes and restaurants, and a seemingly endless supply of cherry blossoms.
It’s hard to believe that Notting Hill was once considered the ‘slum’ with high poverty and crime rates. Today, it’s one of London’s most fashionable areas, attracting a residential wave of young professionals and American expats. However, despite being a tourist hot spot, the area has retained some of it’s quirky, bohemian charm. If you happen to be visiting London and are looking for a wonderful place to explore and wander, look no further because I’ve got the perfect itinerary for spending one day in Notting Hill.
TIP: The best way to get to Notting Hill is to take the tube to the Notting Hill Gate or Westbourne Park Station. It’s a 10-15 minute journey if you’re staying somewhere in Central London.
Morning
Kick off the morning by having brunch Aussie-style at the Farm Girl Cafe. The cafe is small and cozy, tucked away down an alley off the main Portabello Road. Be prepared to wait at least 30-minutes before being seated (there’s always a queue out the door, and they don’t take reservations), but the atmosphere and coffee are worth it. Must-have food items are the avocado toast and the berry pancakes with crushed pistachio! And while it sounds odd….the Charcoal Latte made with activated charcoal and date syrup is absolutely delightful. Kevin and I love it.
Afternoon
Brace yourself for some crowds (particularly if you’re visiting on a rare, sunny Saturday afternoon) as you make your way through the Portabello Market. London has no shortage of markets but Portabello happens to be the busiest and the most famous. The mile-long street market sells a variety of antiques, clothes, handcrafted goods, and food – spend time meandering through the various stalls and maybe even buy a few knick-knacks while you’re there!
TIP: Make sure to stop by Alice’s antique store. They sell all sorts of random and beautiful items, from kitchen goods to garden tools. Every time we visit, Kevin has to drag me away from the store because I spend too much time oogling the adorable flower-patterned pitchers and mugs (mugs are my weakness.)
It wouldn’t be a perfect day in Notting Hill without exploring the side streets lined with colorful homes. From bright yellows, to bubblegum pink and ruby reds, there’s a house for every color you can think of. Kevin and I will often play a game while walking through London’s clusters of colored neighborhoods by guessing one another’s favorite colored home – he always wins because I always choose the green ones (perhaps I should stop choosing homes that are painted in various shades of my favorite color).
It’s hard to describe, but one always gets a feeling of whimsy when strolling through the area….pictures can’t do the place justice. I’d live there if I could, but unfortunately each one of the houses is valued anywhere from $4-$15 million a-pop!
For an afternoon pick-me-up, grab some tea and biscuits at the Biscuiteers Icing Boutique and Cafe. The cafe has one of the cutest storefronts I’ve ever seen (seriously, they should get a reward for it!), and the frosted biscuits are just as adorable. The place is an Instagrammer’s dream-come-true.
Evening
Just a hop-and-skip away from the Notting Hill Gate Station is a pub called the Churchill Arms, made famous over the last 30 years with it’s extravagant flower displays (their annual flower bill is rumored to run over $30,000) and massive collection of Churchill memorabilia. You wouldn’t know it from it’s quintessential British exterior, but the Churchill Arms actually specializes in Thai food. I can say first-hand that they know how to whip-up a mean Thai curry! It’s known to be one of the first, if not the first, pubs in London to ever offer Thai food…a trend that has caught on in recent years (which makes sense since spicy food is best paired with a nice cold beer). Enjoying a pint and hot dinner in this historical, proper pub is really a perfect way to end a perfect day.
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