Notting Hill and Portobello Road Suggestions?
 

First trip to London! Planning a full day meander through Notting Hill and Portobello Road in late May. We are planning a Saturday and want to relax and take our time. We're okay with it being crowded as we have no agenda. I'd like to stop at the Churchill Arms Pub. Does anyone have any other suggestions? Should we begin at Portobello road and make our way from there? We are also looking for suggestions as to where else we might want to explore when we are done there. Maybe Kensington Gardens? Thanks for your thoughts!

Saturday is THE day for Portobello Rd -- but it certainly isn't a time to 'meander' there. If you actually want to explore the shops/vendors you need to be there EARLY. Like by 8AM. And out by 10-ish. By then the crowds are extreme and you really can barely walk let alone meander. So get there early and then mid morning go wander around other parts of Notting Hill then south into Kensington/ the Gardens, maybe Holland Park. Maybe the Design Museum. https://designmuseum.org/?gclid=CjwK...xoCGicQAvD_BwE

This commercial photo gives an idea what P. Rd. is like by 10:30 AM.

https://www.dreamstime.com/royalty-f...t-image4377777

https://www.theginstitute.com/

Stop for R&R at the Ginstitute?

Kensington Gardens, adjacent to Notting Hill, is a lovely area - a nice walk surrounded by the beautiful mansions and embassies. The adjacent park should also be lovely in May, and the palace itself is very interesting and full of history, of course. It's not that big so a couple of hours will be sufficient.
I was there in January and there was a great exhibit of Diana's gowns, if you like that sort of thing.

Thanks for the warning on the crowds! . We are clear that it will be very crowded, that's why we have a wandering attitude about it. If we don't like it we will leave. It's the experience, not the actual shopping or acquisition of goods. :)

The gin institute looks great! Thank you!

I was thinking of heading towards Kensington Gardens. Late May should be lovely there. Any thoughts on things just beyond there but nearby? Maybe we should just hop on the tube and explore another entirely different area.

Hi Euro18, if you find it's too busy, take a side road. Just a block away the crowds disappear.
Check out Kensington Park Road (The Biscuiteer for biscuits), Westbourne Grove, Ledbury Road for other shops (Ottolenghi on Ledbury Rd).
Blenheim Crescent with the Spice Shop, Books for Cooks and Ceramica Blue (great souvenirs). And E&O for Asian food.
If you go all the way north on Portobello Road, past the Westway (where you find most second hand clothes stalls) you end up at Golborne Road. Most people don't walk that far up Portobello Rd.
Great pizza from Pizza East, and several other good restaurants (108 Garage - book ahead for lunch, it's fabulous), and some quirky antique shops and stalls. There's a well-known vintage store there too, called Rellik (in the shadow of the Trellick Tower, icon of brutalist architecture).

In the other direction, you could go to Holland Park. There's a design museum in an interesting building (free entry). Leighton House is close.
Or walk down Kensington Church Street if you want to go to the Churchill Arms, towards Kensington High Street.

What you could do is start at Golborne Road (take tube station Westbourne Park) - and walk south on Portobello Road from there towards Kensington Church Street.

I think 8 am is really too early; many stalls are still setting up. The regular stores don't open till 9 at the earliest, some at 10.

Great! Thanks so much! Def want to stop at the Biscuiteer! Heard lovely things about that place!

Tulips has a flat in the area so I defe to her . . . But the last few times I've been, (last time was last summer) the market has been slammed by 10AM and walking back towards the tube station it was salmon trying to fight up stream- just a mass of humanity. But they all mostly stick to he immediate area so once you are off the main drag it calms down a LOT.

Go early and see if you can get a window table at Gail's, right in the middle of Portobello Road, and have breakfast there. You can see the stalls being set up.
If it's busy, starting in the north from Westbourne Park station and Golborne Road has the advantage of avoiding the crush at Notting Hill Gate station.
You will walk in the opposite direction most people take. Plenty of breakfast places in Golborne Road too (and a fantastic Portuguese bakery).

https://www.biscuiteers.com/biscuite...e-notting-hill

The Biscuiteer looks like walking into an Alice in Wonderland place! I wish I had known about it last time I was in Portobello Road which was just two years ago.
What a wonderful post tulips. How lucky to live in my favorite city!

We went to Portobello Rd early as well because they had a Paddington Bear reading and a special visit by Paddington himself.

You can take biscuit-decorating classes too. There are lots of interesting places near Portobello Road. I love browsing in Books for Cooks on Blenheim Crescent.
And check out Talitha on Powis Terrace, a lovely tiny little boutique. And quirky All Saints Road.
Towards Holland Park, there's a small area called Clarendon Cross, with boutique The Cross and some interior and antique stores, and the best pedicures at the Cowshed.
All far from the tourist crowds.
I should do tours :-)
I only live there part of the year, for now, though.

Tulips I SO appreciate all your suggestions! I am a private chef by trade and would LOVE to take a class at Biscuiteer! I have sent them an email to try and get it arranged. Books for Cooks sounds wonderful too. Nothing like suggestions from people who have actually been there to bring a place to life. Thank you so much!

Tulips I would love to live in England part of the year but family says they are staying put :( here in the states so it is probably not going to happen but for maybe a month or two in the summers. Can you elaborate on your situation. I am retired so wouldn't need to figure out a job.

Euro18, if you're a chef, you may be interested in the farmers market, just off Notting Hill Gate, on Saturday mornings (behind the Waterstone's). It's pretty small, nothing like the farmers markets I've seen in the US, but I like to buy food there.
Also check out the spice shop on Blenheim Crescent, opposite Books for Cooks.

Thank you for all the great suggestions! We are back after a fabulous trip and followed your thoughts to begin at the end and go against the crowds. It served us well. We wandered the entire day and it was just a wonderful experience. Big shout out to Farm Girl Cafe if anyone needs a recc We loved it!

Glad you enjoyed your visit!