A Pictorial Walking Tour of London’s Notting Hill
Notting Hill is possibly the most popular area in London. I have always loved picking an area of London, spending the day just walking around. That way, I get to have a better feel of the area and after a day of immersing, I feel like I know London just a little bit more. When I went on a pictorial walking tour of London’s Notting Hill, I had to bring my photography eyes along. It’s just one of those areas of London that I believe is a photographer and blogger’s dream. For tourists, foodies and coffee lovers, Notting Hill is definitely a vibe.
A few reasons for its popularity would be due to Notting Hill Carnival and Portobello market. It has also been made popular by some blockbuster British movies. Hello Notting Hill! Not the location this time. I’m referring to the 1999 romantic movie in which Hugh Grant, bookshop owner falls in love with superstar, Julia Roberts. In the last few years, thanks to Instagram, Notting Hill has become one of the most photographed parts of London.
So what did I get up to on my pictorial walking tour of London’s Notting Hill? Keep reading and if you love any of the pictures, don’t forget to Pin it!
Portobello Road
Portobello road is one of the main attractions to Notting Hill. However, I went on a Sunday to avoid the crowds. On a Saturday, the market is open and busy AF so if you are trying to score a deal on the best antique piece, that’s the day to go. On Sundays there are no street stalls. Some shops are open but it is relatively quiet.
Most people spend the day just browsing which is what I did.
A Few Pretty Mews: St Luke’s and Dunsworth
London Mews are such a special cultural part of London. Mews are usually a unique row of houses tucked away from main streets. They were traditionally cobbled streets, quintessentially British and used to house servants. These days, the houses in these mews are worth millions of pounds and most stables have now been converted to storage rooms. They are beautiful and worth seeking out on walks.
St Luke’s Mews was made popular by that iconic scene in Love Actually. Remember the scene where Mark tells Juliet that he’s in love with her with placards? The door bell rings and she runs to the door, he tells her to tell her husband it’s carol singers. Which she does (at this point, I’m side eyeing her). Then he starts pulling out card after card, basically telling her he loves her.
“…To me, you are perfect. And my wasted heart will love you….” – Love Actually
What is even more side-eye worthy is that she runs after him and kisses him. Meaning what exactly? They can be a side thing? She loves him back? Goodbye kiss?
Anyway, I had my own Love Actually moment with Mr E in front of the cute pink house!
Another pretty mew I stumbled upon was Dunsworth Mews. From the main road, it doesn’t look as gorgeous but stepping in, it is the prettiest site you will ever see.
Pastel Coloured Buildings
Isn’t this why we are here? A pictorial walking tour of London’s Notting hill without its pastel coloured buildings? That’s impossible of course! Lol I spotted A LOT of pastel coloured buildings. This is the main reason a lot of bloggers take their pictures in this area and I get it. A pretty flowy dress with the pastel backdrop is an instagrammer’s dream. In fact, there is no point trying to go to any specific ones you’ve seen online. Just keep going and you will spot them.
The Famous Casa Rosa
I went to the more popular ones and of course stumbled upon a lot more! Notting Hill is pastel buildings heaven!
Colville Terrace for a bit of variety. The building shapes were quite different to the others, which I found interesting.
Colour Blocking
Although I loved the pastel coloured buildings, I must admit that the bolder colour block buildings were my fave. The way that dark purple contrasts with blue and green is so striking! For some reason, the pastel colours are more popular; however, the deeper colours took my breath away!
These ones are not as popular on Instagram but as you can tell, this was my vibe! As much as I love pastels, bolder colours feel much more vibrant especially in pictures.
Coffeebello
Coffeebello is one of the most famous coffee houses in London. There it stood or do we say sat? There it sat LOL. I’m not much of a coffee drinker so I gave it a pass. However, worth highlighting since it is quite popular!
Biscuiteers
We stopped for a cold drink and biscuits at Biscuiteers. I had seen Biscuiteers all over Instagram so I knew had to stop and have a teeny peek. It’s a really cute and fancy biscuit shop with the friendliest staff. The lady who got my cold apple juice complimented my dress and was so smiley. I love great customer service so much! So for that reason, I’m definitely going back for afternoon tea at some point!
The Notting Hill Bookshop
My Pictorial Walking Tour of London’s Notting hill led me to 13 Blenheim crescent to satisfy my inner romcom heart. The travel bookshop, The Travel Book Co. in the movie was set in real life The Notting Hill Bookshop. So it was only natural to stop by!
We all remember the line “I am just a boy, standing in front of a girl, asking him to love her”. How many of us awww-ed when Julia Roberts’ character said those lines to Hugh Grant’s character in the movie, Notting Hill (1999)?
I thought it might be rude to have gone in when I knew I was not there to purchase a book. The only reason I was there was because of the movie so I did not want to disrupt their business. Instead, I settled for a little peek from the door. The Nottinghill Bookshop does look exactly like it did in the movie and left me with the biggest smile.
Simon Close
Everyone goes on and on about Notting hill’s mews but Simon close might be the prettiest street I’ve ever seen. There was a rose covered front door, which I instantly fell in love with. The close is a little cute one, just like the mews and it just seemed so peaceful. I kept saying to Mr E that it looked like something out of a Disney storybook.
It is definitely prettier in spring and summer when the roses on that pretty front door are in bloom. I had a little search online and it does look quite ordinary in other seasons. So maybe that’s why it’s not very popular with the Instagram world? I’m not sure.
Farm Girl
By the time we were leaving Simon close, we knew it was time for food. Ended my pictorial walking tour of London’s Notting Hill at Farm Girl for Brunch. Farm Girl is a famous Aussie all-day brunch spot on Portobello road. We sat outside, in their cute courtyard and ordered the most delicious food.
It was your typical, fancy brunch millennial menu. Mr E had cherry ripe pancakes with a latte. Bobo and I had well done fried eggs on toast with hot chocolate. Our meal was really lovely and it’s definitely a spot I’ll go back to with my girlies.
Related Post:
A Pictorial Walking Tour of London’s Notting Hill: My exact route
I got out at Westbourne Park Road underground station on the circle line. Headed straight to St Luke’s Mews because I assumed there might have been a crowd, there wasn’t. From St Luke’s Mews, it was off Lancaster road for the really bold colour block buildings. Then it was off to Westbourne Park Road for the light pastel coloured buildings. Found myself on Portobello road, at this point everything seemed to revolve around Portobello road. There was Coffeebello just on the corner and then, on my way to Blenheim crescent, I saw Dunworth Mews.
Afterwards, we headed to Blenheim crescent to see The Notting Hill bookshop. Stopped at Biscuiteers on Kensington Park Road. The next area to tackle was Colville Terrace and then, Elgin Crescent. Both are next to each other so it doesn’t really matter where you start pottering from. Ended up again on Portobello road. Simon Close is just off Portobello road and Farm Girl is on Portobello road!
Tbh most of the streets above weave in and out of Portobello road, Lancaster road and Westbourne Park road. So I would not be too worried about going to one place before the other. Also, there are so many pastel coloured streets for you to discover on your own on your walking tour. So don’t worry too much about finding the ones mentioned above.
Oh, a major fun fact: Mr E and I got married in a London Catholic Parish in Notting Hill. Retracing our London Wedding Day: 6th Year Anniversary
Until my next little mooch around the city, or perhaps an international trip, who knows?
Bisous, ‘Bugo!
Pin for later x
2 Comments
Gbemi
Lovely pictures!
Definitely bookmarking this and doing the tour when next I’m in London. Cannot wait for travel to resume, so many bookmarks from the lockdown.
Bugo
I know what you mean! I was so conscious of documenting London much more after lockdown was lifted as it dawned on me that London is actually a travel destination for a lot of people. Hopefully, when people can travel again, all these resources will come in handy!