London/Notting Hill
From World travel guide
Made famous by the film with Hugh Grant, Notting Hill is a very fashionable area of west London to live in.
Contents |
Get in
The nearest Underground stations are
- Notting Hill Gate
- Queensway
- Holland Park
- Bayswater
- Ladbroke Grove
See
Do
Don't just stick to the area around Notting Hill Gate tube station and Portobello Road (illustrated guide), there's a lot more interesting places in and around the area. For smart boutiques and outdoor cafes there's Guide to Westbourne Grove leading to Queensway, and for a nice stroll in the park there's Holland Park. In the summer this is a great place to catch outdoor opera.
- Take part in the Notting Hill Carnival, a two day carnival which takes place every year on the August Bank Holiday weekend. It is said to be the largest carnival of its type in the world, and attracts over a million people. What really gives it its flavor is the large local Caribbean and Trinidadian population.
- See a movie at the Electric Cinema, recently restored and boasting all leather armchairs (most with footstools) and a bar in the theatre - this is definitely a Notting Hill experience. The Electric shows a wide range of films from cinema classics, cult and independent films, to regular Hollywood blockbusters. They also have the Electric Scream session, specifically for parents with screaming babies! 191 Portobello Rd, W11 2ED, ph 020 7908 9696 [1]
Buy
- Central to Notting Hill is Portobello Market. During the week this is the place to go to buy your fruit and veg but at the weekend there are hundreds of stalls selling clothes, antiques, jewellery and lots more.
Eat
Food-wise there is so much to choose from, and something to suit all budgets. If you're budgeting then there's great Malay food, bangers & mash, falafel and German sausages. For those with a bit more money to burn there's some seriously swanky bars and restaurants including E&O and 192.
Some of the most popular dishes sold along the route of the carnival are jerk chicken and goat curry.
- Geales - a fantastic, old-style fish and chip restaurant, much favoured by local and out-of-town celebs. Great value. 2 Farmer Street W8 7SN, 020 7727 7528. M-Sa 12-3pm & 6-11pm, Su 6-10.30pm. Main courses £7.25-£11.50. Cover 50p.
- Fresco's 25 Westbourne Grove W2 4YN (Nearest tubes Bayswater & Queensway, or buses 7, 23, 27), 020 7221 2355. M-Sa 11am-11.30pm, Su 11am-10.30pm. It may not look it at first but this is the best Lebanese food in Notting Hill, and certainly the cheapest. Delicious food with a huge variety of fresh juices make this place a must. Eat in or take away. £3-£10.
- Standard Indian Restaurant 23 Westbourne Grove W2 4UA (Nearest tubes Bayswater & Queensway, or buses 7, 23, 27), 020 7727 4818 M-Su 12-3 & 6pm-12am. Just what it says on the label: consistently good Indian food.
Drink
Populated by the young, hip and rich it's unsurprising that Notting Hill has so many trendy bars. Expect to pay prices that match the location though.
- Lonsdale House, 44-48 Lonsdale Rd, W11 3JZ, 02072281517. Like a cocktail bar from the future, the decor in this place is too good to miss. Relatively strict door policy; turn up earlier rather than later if you're not a famous celebrity.
- E&O, 14 Blenheim Crescent, W11 1NN, 02072295454. Japanese influenced restaurant with a stylish bar attached. Great cocktails.
- Beach Blanket Babylon, 45 Ledbury Rd, W11 2AA, 020 7229 2907. A beautiful bar with fantastical decor. Quality and service at the restaurant seem to vary wildly, but the bar is usually a safe bet.
- The Electric Brasserie, 191 Portobello Rd, W11 2ED. Attached to the Electric Cinema this trendy brasserie is a good place for a drink before or after your movie. Very busy Fri/Sat evenings especially.
- Elbow Room, 103 Westbourne Grove, W2 4UW, 020 7221 5211. A bar with pool tables too, rather than the other way around. Relaxed and friendly.
- The Cow, 89 Westbourne Park Road, 020 7221 0021. A small and trendy pub/bar with a focus on Guinness.
Sleep
Contact
External links
- My Notting Hill.com - local community website with good listings for travellers
- Westbourne-Grove.com - Illustrated shopping guide to Westbourne Grove
- AllSaintsRoad.com - Map guide to shopping in All Saints Road, Notting Hill
- PortobelloVillage.com - Illustrated shopping guide to Portobello Road and surrounding area
- ClarendonCross.net Shopping guide to this smart Notting Hill village
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