Notting Hill

A famous and fashionable area of West London, Notting Hill is now extremely popular with the rich and famous. Located in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, Notting Hill is close to Hyde Park and has some of the most beautiful terraced properties in the capital.

At times Notting Hill can seem like the epitome of nouveau riche, and there is certainly a large contingent of media whores and fashion darlings filling the area’s chic wine bars, while Ledbury Road is home to a dozen designer boutiques and upmarket restaurants. It wasn’t always like this however, as racial tensions in the 50s and 60s following the first wave of West Indian immigrants led to police deeming parts of Notting Hill a no-go area.

If you can get past Richard Curtis’ twee depiction in the rom-com named after the district, you will find a vibrant neighbourhood with bustling Moroccan, Middle Eastern and Portuguese eateries around Golborne Road, one of London’s cosiest pubs on Uxbridge Street, and of course the lively Portobello Road and its market, with fascinating if overpriced jewellery and furniture. Last but not least is the festive, crowded and very noisy Notting Hill Carnival, which takes place every August Bank Holiday.