23 Things to do in Notting Hill, London – by a local (2023)

Markets, music and mews; Notting Hill in West London has seen many changes over the years yet still manages to retain that rare, mix of old world, west London warmth combined with upmarket, hipster hangouts and boutique bohemia.

From colourful streets (have I got Mews for you!) to the iconic and incredibly popular Portobello Market, here is our updated 2023 guide to the top things to do in Notting Hill, London.

Getting to Notting Hill in West London

The easiest way to get to Notting Hill London is to take the London Underground tube train to Notting Hill Gate station (on the Central line) or the London Underground tube to Ladbroke Grove Station (on the Circle line and the Hammersmith and City line)

You can also get a direct bus from nearby Westfield shopping centre in Shepherd’s Bush or from Hyde Park.

Alternatively, you can take an Uber or local taxi direct to Notting Hill Portobello Road, join a private tour or jump on board a hop-on hop-bus tour.

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Things to do in Notting Hill

1. Portobello Road Market

During the week, Notting Hill’s Portobello Road is an eclectic mix of independent stores and the usual chain cafes but as the weekend arrives, Portobello Road Market comes alive and welcomes an array of antique, flea market and superb street food stalls that line either side of the street.

Although Portobello Market can sometimes be a victim of its own success (often too crowded with tourists), it is still one of the best markets in London and a wonderful way to see west London at its finest.

If you are only in town for a few days including a weekend, we would say this is the number 1 thing to do in Notting Hill. The best day to visit Portobello Road Market is early on Saturday mornings, arriving via Notting Hill Gate Tube station.

Keep an eye out for Alice’s antique shop on Portobello Road, as this also had a ‘starring’ role in the Paddington movies, as Paddington’s place of work with Mr Gruber.

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2. St Lukes Mews, Notting Hill

An attractive and alluring side road, St Lukes Mews is one of the most famous streets in London and is a charming residential dwelling with pretty houses.

Rom-com fans will recognise this mews from the British film ‘Love Actually’ – the scene where Andrew Lincoln declares his love silently (albeit very creepily) for Keira Knightley!

When visiting St Lukes Mew, remember this is a quiet Notting Hill neighbourhood and side street so be mindful of the residents.

We’d rate St Lukes Mews in Notting Hill as one of the most Instagrammable places in London.

3. Notting Hill Museum of Brands

Hidden away in the quieter side streets towards Ladbroke Grove, the Museum of Brands details the development of consumer culture and highlights some of the best ads you know, and possibly some you didn’t.

Showing 150 years of advertising through a time tunnel, the Museum of Brands also hosts temporary exhibitions as well as numerous events.

Admission entrance fee is £9 per adult, £5 for children, concessions £7 and a family ticket £24 as of summer 2023.

Book your London: Museum of Brands Skip-the-Line Ticket >

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4. Notting Hill Carnival

An annual celebration that takes usually takes place over the long Bank Holiday weekend in August, this is Notting Hill at its most liveliest and also one of the world’s five biggest street carnivals (up there with the Rio carnival).

A process of colourful floats and street parties run over three days, with Sunday usually being the Family Day and Monday being the main carnival.

Street sound systems are set up all over the area and neighbours compete for the loudest and best set-ups. Local entrepreneurs open street food stalls in every place imaginable as well as their toilets (usually for £1 or £2 a time).

All in all, quite the party experience and something everyone must do at least once in their lives.

The Notting Hill Carnival 2024 dates are Sunday 27 August 2024 (family day) and Monday 28 August 2024.

We’d rate the Notting Hill carnival as one of the best free things to do in London >

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5. Lancaster Road, Notting Hill’s most colourful street

This row of rainbow houses is likely Notting Hill’s most photographed area and one of the most colourful places in London. Every time we visit Lancaster Road, we’ll usually see at least another couple of people taking snaps or selfies.

Our tip is to head to Lancaster Road for mid morning when the rainbow houses are in full sunshine with no shadow – just remember this is a residential street and to be respectful of people’s properties.

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6. Acklam Village in Notting Hill

A treasure trove of tasty street food market stalls and live entertainment, you can find Acklam Village next to Portobello Green Market, at the end of Portobello Road as you walk down the hill away from Notting Hill Gate.

The location acts as a foodie reward after you’ve survived the walk through the hustle and bustle of the main market.

There is food from all over the world at Acklam Village, with salt fish and jerk chicken stalls the specialities – stall owners always welcome you with a smile and sometimes samples!

Aside from carnival time, this is one of the best places for street food in Notting Hill.

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7. The Notting Hill Travel Bookshop, Blenheim Crescent

As featured in the ‘Notting Hill’ movie, this legendary bookshop (complete with the famous blue door) was owned by Hugh Grant’s William Thacker character in the film and the location for his first celluloid encounter with Julia Roberts.

A slight word of warning – several other similar bookshops with blue doors have popped up in recent years, trying to cash in on the movie, very much to the detriment of the original Notting Hill Bookshop.

We noticed yet another new ‘fake’ Notting Hill bookshop on our last visit to Portobello Road. Avoid them like the plague and make sure you head to Blenheim Crescent, a side street just off Portobello Road.

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8. Notting Hill Rough Trade, Talbot Crescent

One of London’s last few bastions of the independent music scene, Rough Trade Notting Hill this is a music lover’s wet-dream, with many people describing this as one of the world’s best music stores.

If you are a music fan and vinyl collector, combine your trip to Rough Trade in Notting Hill with the record stalls in nearby Portobello Green Market.

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9. Portobello Green Market

Located at the far end of Portobello Road, nearer Ladbroke Grove, you’ll know you are getting near to the market as you’ll hear the unmistakable sounds of vinyl records being played at volume.

Specialising in vintage items such as dresses, prints and even army uniforms, this is a much more relaxed and sedate affair than Portobello Road Market.

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10. Farm Girl Cafe

Notting Hill has many lovely cafes, but one of the most trendiest (and instagrammable) spots in town is the Farm Girl Cafe.

Tucked away at the quieter part of Portobello Road, Farm Girl serves healthy brunches, flat whites, smoothies and sandwiches, with many ingredients sourced from local London suppliers.

The small outdoor terrace with hanging plants and pastel coloured tables is perfect for dining on a summer’s day. We recommend visiting early to avoid the queues, especially at weekends.

Farm Girl has several locations in London in addition to Notting Hill including Farm Girl Soho and in Kensington. thefarmgirl.co.uk

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11. Biscuiteers Baking Company

You may recognise this charming boutique biscuit shop/cafe from your Instagram feed – its pretty black and white exterior is one of the most recognisable shopfronts and most Instagrammable places in London.

They specialise in selling luxury hand-iced biscuits, chocolates and cupcakes, and also run themed biscuit icing workshops events in store.

You can also check out the Biscuiteer’s Belgravia branch at Ecclestone Yards near Victoria Station. biscuiteers.com

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12. Electric Cinema

The Electric Cinema on Portobello Road is a Grade II* Listed building and the main Notting Hill cinema. Amazingly, it is also one of the oldest working cinemas in the UK.

This classic Notting Hill cinema was built in 1910, then lovingly restored in 2001 at a cost of £2 million – preserving the original architecture and period flourishes on the walls and ceiling.

The Electric Cinema is now a rather luxurious and unique experience – seating options include leather armchairs (with footstools and cashmere blankets), large comfy sofas or a velvet double bed!

There is a fully licensed bar serving cocktails, wine, beer and champagne with waiter service, and the films screened here are a combination of art house, classic and mainstream.

If you fancy a bite to eat after the film, the Electric Diner next door serves food until late. electriccinema.co.uk

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13. Westbourne Grove

Sometimes it is nice to escape the hurly-burly of Portobello Road (especially on a Saturday) – as such, Westbourne Grove is a delightful diversion with lots of (quieter) bars and restaurants to enjoy, as well as some independent retailers and boutiques.

14. Ladbroke Grove

Another example of the gentrification game, this is a marvellous mix of hipster hangouts, boutique and bohemian shops surrounded by stalwarts from a bygone era.

It is also one of the main areas for the Notting Hill carnival route and is barely recognisable during the annual parades.

Book your London cinema tickets with Fever >

15. Graffik Gallery

Urban and street art is the star of the show at the Graffik Gallery, in the heart of Notting Hill on Portobello Road and selling works of art by the likes of Banksy and Endless.

Even the exterior of the building acts as a huge canvas, currently depicting a girl reaching for a copy of the Mona Lisa.

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16. Books for Cooks / The Test Kitchen

From Notting Hill’s famous blue door to a renowned red door…across the road from the Notting Hill Travel Bookshop, Blenheim Cresent is home to the famous Books for Cooks shop which houses a cavernous collection of cookbooks, with its own cooking school. 

Celebrating its 30^th anniversary in 2023, Books for Cooks is an iconic culinary institution in London and perfect for recipe rarities or to home your home cooking skills.

Notting Hill’s Books for Cooks has a test kitchen too, hidden away amongst back of the shop. Here, the store regularly tests out recipes from their huge cook book collections (the resulting dishes are sold cafe style).

As they say themselves, this is  “…the best smelling shop in London”) – so get your nose down to Notting Hill now!

17. Holland Park

Just across from Notting Hill brings you to one of London’s best open spaces, Holland Park.

Renowned for its oriental style Kyoto Garden (glorious in Spring, London’s very own sakura / cherry blossom spot), Holland Park is also home to Holland House and its glorious Formal Gardens (a very popular wedding spot too).

Free to visit, in the summer months, you can also listen to open air opera at Holland Park Theatre. Holland Park is also a prime picnic spot, where you can stock up with hamper goodies either from delis in Notting Hill (or Waitrose on High Street Kensington.

The Kyoto Gardens contain a beautiful waterfall too and if you are lucky, you might spot a peacock – not your typical find in West London!

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18. Notting Hill Farmers Market

Handily located right next to Notting Hill Gate Tube station, Notting Hill Farmers Market takes place in West London every Saturday between 10am and 2pm (and could be easily combined with a trip to Portobello Road Market).

A great example of all the incredible fresh British farm produce you can buy in West London, here at Notting Hill Farmers Market, you’ll find award-winning cheese, fresh fruit and veg from the likes of Brambletye Farm and Perry Court Farm plus local characters such as Nigel from Nigels’ Lettuce and Lovage.  

Having been around for almost 25 years, Notting Hill Farmers Market may not the prettiest London market but given a lot of the produce here is seasonal, you’ll find something new to eat or cook every time you visit.

Check out our guide to the best farmers markets in London >

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19. Notting Hill pubs and bars

After a morning or afternoon of walking around Notting Hill and the Portobello Road Market, you’ll likely deserve a cheeky pint or two (especially if you are strolling in the summer).

Notting Hill’s pubs are some of west London’s best bars and drinking establishments especially in terms of history and incredible interiors.

Some of our favourite Notting Hill pubs and bars include:

The Cock and Bottle

The Cock and Bottle is a cracker of a Notting Hill pub tucked away in the back streets just off Westbourne Grove.

Everything is so charming at the Cock and Bottle pub, from the welcoming bar staff (always happy for a chat) to the old school interior, complete with bunting and an actual ‘grandad corner’ (so says the sign) bedecked with old photos and vintage signs.

The Ginstitute

A celebration of all things juniper and gin, this is in the heart of Portobello Road, with tables and large windows directly overlooking the market – just the ‘tonic’! They also run regular gin making and gin tasting classes. the-distillery.london

The Castle Portobello

Once a grimy bar that was the heart of the London music scene frequented by musicians, this building has been refurbished numerous times over the years and is now a gastro pub, albeit with live music performances several nights a week.

The Earl of Lonsdale

This laid back and cosy old pub is run by Samuel Smiths (a Yorkshire based brewer that has a reputation for running some of the most historic yet inexpensive pubs in London).

One of the historic features of this pub are the partitions between each bar ‘snug’ which you need to duck under to walk through! The pub has a large beer garden, and they also serve great British classic dishes such as fish and chips and Sunday roasts.

The Elgin

A friendly local pub, this Victorian bar has incredible polished wooden interiors and stained glass windows plus a side snug bar – we think this one of the most beautiful boozers (bars) in the whole of London. 

Ukai

This is actually more of a Notting Hill sushi bar and gastropub with an Asian twist than a bar but you can still enjoy drinks here overlooking Portobello Road. We haven’t eaten here (yet) but if the food is as good as their exterior decor, you’ll likely be in for a treat. ukai.co.uk

Trailer Happiness

Portobello Road’s most popular cocktail bar, take a Tiki trip to this naff but nice Notting Hill bar that is proud of its kitsch interior and Polynesian, Asian and Caribbean influences.

With 70s vibes (and reasonable 2020s prices), signature cocktails at Trailer Happiness include Polynesian Princess (vodka, strawberry liquor and champagne with fruits), The Cotton Mouth Killer (rums galore) plus 6 different types of Daiquiri.

Trailer Happiness celebrates its 20th anniversary this year (2023) of being in Notting Hill so we’ll raise a glass to that (preferably with a salt rimmed glass and small bright umbrella).

Finally, a little further away towards Kensington but worth the walk, we’d recommend the Churchill Arms on Kensington Church Street.

This beautiful pub is adorned with hanging baskets and serves really tasty Thai food. We like it so much we wrote this guide to the Churchill Arms >.

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20. Trellick Tower (AKA Terror Tower)

Not all of Notting Hill is pretty mews and colourful houses. One of London’s most iconic and famous Brutalist buildings, Trellick Tower, dominates the Notting Hill skyline and is divisive in its appearance.

Nicknamed the ‘Terror Tower’ (probably best not to say this if asking a local for directions!), Trellick Tower was built in the early 1970s with over 30 floors and 200 flats. It is now a Grade II listed building meaning it has protected status. 

Troubled with anti-social behaviour over the years due to its unique layout with lots of hiding locations, living on the Trellick Estate used to be quite …erm brutal (ist). It has since become highly desirable and one of London’s most sought after centrally located skyscrapers to live in.

It is also said that brutalist Trellick Tower was the inspiration behind J G Ballard’s 1975 novel High Rise, which was recently turned into a (very underrated) movie starring Tom Hiddleston.

The nearest station to Trellick Tower is Westbourne Park London Underground station. Check out our guide to the most brutalist buildings in London here >

Try this – London: Brutalist Architecture & History Walking Tour >

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21. Kensington Park Road

One of Notting Hill’s nicest streets, Kensington Park Road is a residential road near the famous Notting Hill Travel Bookshop and Books for Cooks that is chock full of cafes with alfresco terraces and pavement gardens.

On our last visit to Notting Hill in August 2023, Kensington Park Road was a nice escape from busy Portobello Road with several white picket fenced gardens and outdoor dining areas.

Popular Notting Hill cafes and bakeries along Kensington Park Road include La Mia Mamma Deli (‘run by real Italian Mammas’), the Biscuiteers biscuit boutique and icing cafe and the Mediterraneo Restaurant Notting Hill, all of which had outdoor spaces.

Also look out for the cute flower garden set up in front of ‘the west village’ ladies clothing store. There are so many things to do in this little neighborhood of Notting Hill.

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22. Visit the Notting Hill Cabman’s Shelter – Ye Olde Green Cafe

Got ‘The Knowledge’ about the iconic green huts that you’ll occasionally see dotted around London squares and parks?

These bright green kiosks are actually small cafes that predominantly serve licensed Hackney Cab drivers with cheap as chips food and cups of tea (but also open to the public for takeaway drinks and snacks).

Notting Hill has a cabman’s shelter (AKA Ye Old Green Cafe Notting Hill) close to Notting Hill Gate station, across the road from Kensington Temple.

Whilst you have to have a taxi badge to dine inside, anyone can order outside through the hatch and take advantage of possibly the cheapest cup of tea in London.

There are just over 10 Cabman’s shelters left in London including one near Euston Station and one just outside the V&A in nearby South Kensington – a splendid way to have a very unique cup of afternoon in London!

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Our final thing to do in Notting Hill, London

23. Take a Tour of Notting Hill

Our final thing to do in Notting Hill – hopefully we’ve given you all the insights and tools you need to see all these things to do in Notting Hill and do a self guided tour.

However, if you are short on time and would some additional local knowledge, there are several Notting Hill tours and trips you can take.

Notting Hill tours include:

• A private walking tour of Notting Hill
• The Notting Hill, Bridget Jones, Love Actually & Four Weddings Tour of London
• Notting Hill Group Tour – from £16pp
• London: Notting Hill Film Locations and Stars Walking Tour

Other things to do in the Notting Hill neighbourhood, West London

If you are staying in the Notting Hill area for several days, there are lots of other things to nearby in West London. 

All of these London activities are within a 15-minute car ride of Notting Hill (or take public transport):

• Shop at Europe’s biggest shopping centre in Shepherd’s Bush >
• Go for a pint of beer on the river Thames in Hammersmith >
• Take part in the UK’s only official BBC Sherlock Holmes interactive escape room >
• Pour a pint at one of London’s oldest breweries – Fuller’s >
• Visit Chiswick House and Gardens (free admission) >
• Visit the Design Museum on Kensington High Street >
• Shop til you drop at London’s most famous shopping street, Oxford Circus >

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