Want to visit Notting Hill London? Notting Hill is full of colorful houses, mews, and shops. It’s the perfect London neighborhood to get lost for a day with a close friend, partner, or just by yourself. With charming boutiques, Portobello Market, and enough Instagram-worthy scenes to post for a whole year, it’s no wonder why Notting Hill is one of London’s most enviable neighborhoods to live.
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Even if you are visiting London and have only a half day or a few hours to spend, go to Notting Hill.
It took my husband and me 18 months to experience Notting Hill after moving to England. My only regret? That we waited that long.
The Notting Hill fuss is real. And it’s not just because of the Hollywood films that make it so.
Quintessentially British like the heart of London, but charming beyond words. Notting Hill gives you the best of London in a more quiet and unspoken way. The neighborhood mews, colorful homes, and spring flowers do all the talking.
How To Spend A Half Day In Notting Hill
My advice is to find the time (spring is lovely) to visit Notting Hill without the kids. Unless it’s to simply enjoy Portobello Market, the best of Notting Hill will be hard for children to appreciate.
Use Notting Hill as the perfect excuse for a few hours off from work or with your partner for a daytime date while the kids are in school. And if you’re with the kids, then plan on visiting Notting Hill on a Friday and focus on Portobello Road itself. You know best!
Start In Holland Park
After a good breakfast take the underground to Holland Park tube station or Uber/taxi to Hilton Kensington London.
Across from the Hilton Kensington London, walk along Royal Crescent. Look up and along the streets as you go. On a Friday morning Holland Park should be quiet with fewer cars, lending itself for a great #Fridaycarpic or without strangers in your photos.
Turn left onto Holland Park Avenue and then left onto Addison Ave. Addison Avenue is my favorite street in Holland Park. Stop and take in the colorful doors, houses, perfectly placed vibrant bicycles, blooming flowers, and St James Church.
Turn right on St James Gardens, then left and right onto Penzance Place. Follow along where it connects with Portland Road.
Linger On Portland Road
You’ll enter a sweet crossroads of beautiful streets, host to Cowshed, and coffee shops for taking a break or splurging on a few beauty products. Pop into Summerill & Bishop to admire all the flowers.
Turn right on to Clarendon Cross and left on Clarendon Road. Keep an eye out for art that adorns houses, that perfectly planted cherry blossom tree and rows of houses representing every color in an Easter egg basket.
Trace Steps On Elgin Crescent
Walk west on Elgin Crescent but pop up to Rosmead Garden for a glimpse of lush gardens that separate the booming mansions before turning around to continue on Elgin Crescent towards Kensington Park Road.
Keep an eye out for film crews for Hollywood-ish filming that could be taking place. Perhaps Notting Hill 2 is in the works because our own walk included several parked trailers, photographers, and videographers galore.
Buy Something Sweet At Biscuiteers On Kensington Park Road
At Kensington Park Road, cross the street to see what blooms Harper & Toms Flowers have for the day. Then explore the fun book shop with the hanging book display and pop into Biscuiteers Boutique and Icing Cafe for a Notting Hill biscuit and coffee to go.
Pause At Notting Hill Bookshop
Turn right on Blenheim Crescent as you make your way to Portobello Road. Immediately on your right, you’ll discover Notting Hill Bookshop. Continue walking till you meet Portobello Road, which will be easy to identify with all the stalls and people as you approach.
Turn left onto Portobello Road for a glimpse into the stalls before heading to St Luke’s Mews. My favorite stalls include the British inspired pillowcases and Alex The Plant Guy.
The pillowcases make a great souvenir or as a British gift for an American friend. Or if shopping for yourself, the cabbage succulents sold by Alex are always the first to go.
Visit St Luke’s Mews To Surround Yourself In Color
After a few stalls turn right onto Westbourne Park Road, then left on All Saints Road. St Luke’s Mews is on your right. The pink Love Actually house cannot be missed, but make sure to wander throughout the mews. St Luke’s Mews has so much to offer that it’s hard to continue on. I could just photograph all day!
Once your partner drags you out of St Luke’s Mews, wander your way back to Portobello Road. Turn left on Portobello Road and let the famous Portobello Market shopping begin.
Browse Portobello Market
I could have spent an entire day going in and out of all the shops and browsing every vintage stall, but with only a half day in Notting Hill, we hit a couple of highlights: Sara Tiara and Alice’s.
Sara Tiara sells handmade English hats and coats. If your shopping list includes something incredibly British and 100% handmade in England, then visit Sara Tiara.
From Sara Tiara continue onto Alice’s where you’ll find nearly anything and everything. The shop is a tight squeeze as you navigate the antiques, crates, and other bric-a-brac with other like-minded vintage-shoppers but it’s well worth a look.
Eat At Farm Girl Cafe
As you continue on Portobello Road, Farm Girl Cafe is on your right. It’s the perfect place to end your few hours in Notting Hill before returning home, to your hotel or to work. Try to arrive just before or after the noon hour to minimize the wait.
And if you do get stuck in line for a bit, have your partner hold the spot so you can pop into Sister Jane.
Check Out Sister Jane Next To Farm Girl Cafe
In addition to the unique clothing line, they have a 4-6’ crystal arachnophobia suspended from the ceiling that will completely stun you.
Transport Yourself to Austin Texas For Lunch
As you enter Farm Girl Cafe, prepare to feel as though you entered some sort of time machine. Both my husband and I felt like we were no longer in England and had returned to Austin, Texas, or Portland, Oregon for that matter. We love England but felt amazed at how this little cafe could send you thousands of miles away in an instant.
We loved the Farm Girl Cafe vibe, the farm-fresh dishes, the uniqueness of the ambiance, and diversity of the clientele. The food was amazing and the beverage choices completely unique. Try the Liquid Gold Latte for a feel-good drink or rose latte for something pretty.
Farm Girl Cafe is the perfect spot to end the perfect half day in Notting Hill.
Finish Your Day At Notting Hill Gate
After you finish lunch and make your way towards Notting Hill Gate, there are still lots of pastel houses to admire as you wrap up your Notting Hill tour.
The houses are shorter than those on Kensington, giving them their own unique Notting Hill charm. The cherry blossom trees are perfectly lined along the street, like a scene from Mary Poppins.
This section of Notting Hill offers its own unique charm to the Notting Hill neighborhood. In fact, I’m certain I saw more photographers in this one small street section than any other part of our walk. It’s that pretty.
Amount of time to visit Notting Hill, including lunch: 3.5 hours
Map of the half day self-guided Notting Hill walk: Click for map
You can easily reverse the walk by starting your half day in Notting Hill for breakfast at Farm Girl Cafe, making your way with a finish in Holland Park.
Final Thoughts On A How To Spend A Half Day In Notting Hill
However you choose to spend some free time in Notting Hill, you will not be disappointed. Just be sure to pack a few essentials to maximize and capture your time in this lovely London neighborhood:
- A collapsible water bottle – With all the walking be sure to stay hydrated to make it all the way to lunch. This water bottle is super functional and collapses making it easy to travel anywhere. Fun Notting Hill colors, too!
- A phone charger – Trust me, visiting Notting Hill isn’t where we want to lose juice. Recharge with this colorful iPhone charger that clips onto your tote!
Whether it’s inspiration from Hollywood films, Portobello Market, or simply to escape from it all, Notting Hill delivers on all three. Notting Hill London is the perfect neighborhood to experience the best of, without all the crowds. Visit today!
Looking for more London travel ideas? Try these.
- A St Albans Day Trip
- Things To Do At Windsor Castle
- Moving abroad? Download my ultimate MOVING ABROAD CHECKLIST
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