A SoulMap™ London journey by Penna a Spillo
🗺️📍Follow my SoulMap™ and discover London like a local
🇬🇧 Category: London Neighbourhoods
🇬🇧 What to See and Do in Notting Hill, London’s Most Romantic Neighbourhood
Notting Hill is probably one of the most well-known neighbourhoods in London, because of the famous Movie and the Portobello Road Market on Saturday mornings (a crowded and popular tourist destination).
But one of the things I love about London is that even when a place is as famous and busy as Notting Hill, it doesn’t lose its identity or its character as a truly authentic London neighborhood.
Aside from Saturday morning, when it can honestly feel almost impossible to walk through the crowds of tourists gathering along the first stretch of the street, lined with antique and vintage stalls, it is definitely worth visiting on any other day of the week, when you can really take in the creative and charming atmosphere of the area.
Unless, of course, you specifically want to experience the antique market.
In that case, you will need to plan your visit for a Saturday morning (the only day it takes place); just be prepared for the crowds, the experience is still worth it.
This neighborhood is an essential stop on my London SoulMap™, shaped over the years by living in the city and paying attention to its less touristy details.
In this article, I’ll share what to see and do in Notting Hill, without a doubt one of the most romantic areas in the city.
📌 Read also:5 Romantic Villages you shouldn’t miss in London
🇬🇧 Portobello Road, the Most Famous Street in Notting Hill
🎸 Live Music and the Magic of the Market
As almost everyone knows, Portobello Road is the main street of Notting Hill.
It’s just a short walk from the Notting Hill Gate tube station and stretches all the way down to the lower, more central part of the district.
It is lined with a wide variety of shops, vintage clothing stores, antique dealers of all kinds, souvenir shops, bookstores, and all sorts of unique finds, which stay open regardless of whether the market is on or not.
During the day, it is always lively and busy, with a constant, cheerful flow of people browsing in every direction and never really stopping.
In the lower part of the street, you’ll also find the permanent fruit and food market, vibrant and full of different things to try, with steaming pots bubbling away; this section of the market is always there, every day of the week.
One last thing: if you’re an art lover, don’t miss Graffik Gallery on Portobello Road, home to works by Banksy and emerging artists, located at number 284.
🌙 Notting Hill by night
🥂 Romantic Walks and Evening Atmosphere
In the evening, Portobello Road is completely different.
Walking there alone at seven on an ordinary Wednesday evening, on your way to meet friends for dinner, with no traffic and hardly anyone around, feels completely different.
The colourful houses in the sunset look like they’ve stepped out of a painting, and the quiet of Portobello Road has something truly magical about it.
The same street that buzzes with people and traffic during the day becomes, in the evening, a calm and quiet London street, similar to many others, yet unique at the same time.
And like many well-known places, once night falls and the crowds disappear, leaving only the local residents behind, its true charm really comes into its own.
There are plenty of ways to spend an evening here, from stopping by a pub for a quick drink to enjoying a romantic dinner at one of the restaurants (including Michelin-starred ones), or even going to the cinema, which I’ll tell you more about in the next sections.
📌 Read also: 3 Cool Restaurants in London: Decimo at The Standard, SushiSamba Covent Garden, Coya
🎬 Electric Cinema
🍿 A Cozy Movie Experience: Armchairs, Couches, and Red Velvet
At the cinema as if you were in your own living room: movies, food, and drinks for an exclusive experience.
For some time now, here in London, in order to make people fall in love with cinema again in the age of the Internet and Netflix, several movie theaters have been working on their own identity and offering the public a true Cinema Experience, aimed at going beyond just a screening on a big screen.
The idea is to go to the cinema, somewhat like going to the theatre or to see a musical, in short, transforming the outing into a real event.
One of these places in London is certainly the Electric Cinema in Notting Hill, a historic and vintage cinema, with a screening room that resembles a beautiful playhouse, featuring soft armchairs and small tables, and even, in the front row, sofas where you can lie down and watch the movie as if you were in your own living room.
Al this with the added option of ordering drinks and food while enjoying the film.
It’s a different way to go to the cinema and makes you want to try it, because it’s not the usual multiplex that could be anywhere, it’s a unique place, with an intimate and cosy atmosphere.
Not to mention that when you leave, you find yourself right in the heart of Notting Hill, with plenty of options to end the evening with a drink at a nice nearby spot.
It’s essential, for the Electric Cinema in Notting Hill as for the other cinemas mentioned, to get your tickets in advance, just like at the theatre, because screenings often sell out.
191 Portobello Rd, London W11 2ED, United Kingdom
☕ Westbourne Grove
🍰 Tranquility, Charm, and London’s Best Brunch
NDon’t forget to also explore this area of Notting Hill, which is just a short walk from Portobello Road but much less hectic and touristy.
Westbourne Park Grove is a very beautiful, elegant, and peaceful street, with a variety of shops and plenty of places to stop for a meal or a coffee/tea.
The place you see in the photo is the most popular spot, called Granger & Co, famous for its iconic brunch, which always has a long queue outside.
🏡 Little Doors and Colourful Houses
🌸 Hidden Pastel Wonders in the Mews
UOne of Notting Hill’s charms is its pastel-colored houses, like those shown in the photos above, and the colourful doors.
You can find dozens of them, in all shapes and colors, by wandering randomly through the streets around Portobello Road.
Generally, the residents of Notting Hill are quite creative, and the doors, beautiful on their own, always match the wall colour, the roses in the garden, or some other detail.
Don’t miss St. Luke’s Mews, the beautiful little street you see in the first photo below, which was also one of the filming locations for the movie Love Actually.
📌 If you’re interested in this topic, also check 5 lovely London Mews
🗺️ The Other Streets of the Neighbourhood
🍂 Discover Notting Hill’s Hidden Corners
Of course, Notting Hill isn’t just the busy Portobello Road, but also all the parallel and perpendicular streets that cross it, featuring beautiful and elegant Victorian houses with white colonnades and lush green gardens.
Explore Kensington Park Road, Ladbroke Grove, Elgin Crescent, Westbourne Park Grove, and Blenheim Crescent to find these elegant buildings with countless chimneys and timeless charm.
🍽️ Food Ideas in Notting Hill
🥑 Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch, or Dinner: Here Are My Suggestions
There’s no shortage of places to eat in Notting Hill; like the rest of London, you can find virtually every type of cuisine here.
Of course, the lower part of the Portobello Road market, which is open every day of the week, offers street food from all over the world, and one of the fun things is trying something new each time.
But if you want to take a break or have a proper meal in Notting Hill, here are some of my personal favorites that I’ve tried so far, all located around Portobello Road:
- The Duke of Wellington – traditional pub
- Earl of Lonsdale – historic London pub in Notting Hill
- Ottolenghi – for an excellent lunch
- Ukai – pub-style venue with Asian cuisine
- Granger & Co – for brunch or lunch
🍪 Sweet Tooth Tip: don’t forget to stop by Biscuiteers for a fantastic afternoon tea — or to pick up a box of London’s most famous biscuits.
Notting Hill is such a delightful place to wander that my exploration is constantly evolving.
Did you enjoy exploring Notting Hill with me?
📌 Notting Hill in Brief: 6 Must-Visit Spots
| Place | Type of Experience | What to Expect |
|---|---|---|
| Portobello Road | Market & Urban Culture | The beating heart of Notting Hill: vintage markets, street food, rare finds, and a lively atmosphere. |
| Colorful Doors | Photography & Local Style | Iconic pastel-colored houses perfect for photos and picturesque strolls. |
| Westbourne Grove | Shopping & Lifestyle | Elegant street with fashion boutiques, chic cafés, and independent art galleries. |
| Electric Cinema | Historic & Vintage Cinema | One of London’s oldest cinemas: leather armchairs, retro atmosphere, and timeless charm. |
| Earl of Lonsdale | Traditional English Pub | Historic pub with wooden interiors, outdoor garden, and a wide selection of beers. |
| St Luke’s Mews | Film Location & Romance | Dreamy little street, famous for film sets like Love Actually, with colorful houses and a peaceful vibe. |
🗺️ Follow My SoulMap™ and Discover London Like a Local
Welcome to my SoulMap™: every photo and story comes from firsthand experiences.
📥 Discover More
- If you want to explore other neighbourhoods, try also:
- 5 Romantic Villages you shouldn’t miss in London
- The Ultimate Soho London Guide: What to do & hidden gems
- For information on London’s markets, you can download my FREE GUIDE TO LONDON MARKETS.
- If you’d like a practical, pocket-sized guide to carry with you on your trip and discover London “like a Londoner”, check out my book Alessandra in London
- And don’t forget to subscribe to the Penna a Spillo monthly newsletter for updates on events, exhibitions, unusual spots in London, and more.
