Camden or Notting Hill/Portobello
 

Hello,
I am going to spend 3 days in London next week....have been there 5 times prior and have done all the tourist stuff....I am planning to do 1 day in Chelsea/Kings Road and 1 doing the Oxford Street, Soho, Bonds Street circuit...trying to decide my last day...Camden Town or Notting Hill/Portobello...I am a big fan of 1970's punk rock and would like to visit some of the old stomping grounds of the London-based groups....any suggestions??
Cheers, Mikek

Have been to both Camden Market and Notting Hill/Portobello. Based on your interests I would pick Camden Market. It has a much more young/punk feel to it. Notting Hill/Portobello is more about antiques. Atleast those were my impressions.

Go to the Good Mixer pub in Camden Town. It still has punks in it.

Most of the original punk bands lived in W14 - The Clash even put it on the cover of London Calling (the Westway), but there's nothing there now.

Camden still has a punky feel to it - and as I said pubs that still play the music etc.

You'll like the electric ballroom (market by day night club at night()

Hi Mike,

I'd say Camden but I'm biased 'cause I live here! Get off at Mornington Crescent Tube and walk up Camden High St to the market - you'll pass tons of music history, starting with the Camden Theatre (later The Music Machine and now a club called Koko). Yes check out the Electric Ballroom and Good Mixer and also the Dublin Castle pub in Parkway. Could finish up at the famous Roundhouse (where The Ramones played their first gig in England) which has recently been refurbished after being quiet for many years. It's just north of Camden Market on Chalk Farm Road.

Some links for you -

Camden Theatre http://tinyurl.com/2z5puy

Koko http://www.koko.uk.com/

Dublin Castle http://tinyurl.com/22fsq8

Electric Ballroom http://tinyurl.com/yto72z

Roundhouse http://tinyurl.com/yvja3h

Good luck and have fun -

David

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The southern (Notting Hill Gate) end of Portobello Road is more about antiques; but further north, it and the whole surrounding area gets younger & more 'street'. As a wild young thing in London it was my main stamping ground & I still think it's the most fun area, with lots of good bars & restaurants and interesting people. I rarely went to Camden Town & regarded it as more of a tourist trap.

I was in the Roundhouse on Saturday night - it's a cracking place (beer's an eye- watering 3.50 a pint though).