A walk through über-cool Portobello Market in Notting Hill, choc-a-bloc with colour, antiques & more

Tripoto
16th Sep 2017
Photo of A walk through über-cool Portobello Market in Notting Hill, choc-a-bloc with colour, antiques & more by Shalini Rai

Before I walked through Portobello Market, which is London's largest street market, and the world's largest antiques market, I saw it on the TV. In a movie, which had Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts as main leads. Yes, that iconic movie Notting Hill, which made famous both this market and that travel bookshop (owned by Grant's character William Thacker) painted blue. It is STILL painted blue (pic below).

So, what's so special about this market? It's special because of its location and spread. First the location: from one end of Portobello Road to around the corner of Golborne Road, a total distance of about 1 km, this street market winds its way around the natural curve of Notting Hill and offers many photo ops for trigger-happy types. And now for the spread: although largely famous as an 'antiques' market, there are also stalls with second-hand fashion, floral crockery/pottery, old-world cutlery, steel tumblers, jute rugs in geometric patterns, and a lot of other household furnishings stuff you might want to buy.

Then there are street-food stalls, freshly-pressed juice kiosks, gelato shops, fresh veggies and fruits sellers, dried roots and medicinal herbs stalls.

What really works for Portobello Market is that it offers a break from the impersonal luxury of London's high streets and makes you feel like you are in a time long gone, atleast in the West. This is a shopping experience like no other and everyone who visits knows that well.

And of course, there's the added appeal of those inimitable candy-coloured houses on Notting Hill, which never fail to cheer you up. Many 'famous' people have made these lovely buildings their home. From the real-life novelist George Orwell (real name Eric Blair) to the fictional but equally-impactful William Thacker (played by Hugh Grant) of the Notting Hill Travel Bookstore.

"You live in Beverly Hills, I live in Notting Hill...." Once you see Notting Hill and its Portobello Market, you will know what Hugh Grant's character really meant. Happy Wandering!

Photo of A walk through über-cool Portobello Market in Notting Hill, choc-a-bloc with colour, antiques & more 1/8 by Shalini Rai
THE Travel Book Shop of Notting Hill
Photo of A walk through über-cool Portobello Market in Notting Hill, choc-a-bloc with colour, antiques & more 2/8 by Shalini Rai
Bric-a-brac shop estd. 1887
Photo of A walk through über-cool Portobello Market in Notting Hill, choc-a-bloc with colour, antiques & more 3/8 by Shalini Rai
Street stalls in Portobello Market
Photo of A walk through über-cool Portobello Market in Notting Hill, choc-a-bloc with colour, antiques & more 4/8 by Shalini Rai
Diana in the distance
Photo of A walk through über-cool Portobello Market in Notting Hill, choc-a-bloc with colour, antiques & more 5/8 by Shalini Rai
Elixir and Panacea Cafe in Portobello Market
Photo of A walk through über-cool Portobello Market in Notting Hill, choc-a-bloc with colour, antiques & more 6/8 by Shalini Rai
Street art here is at another level altogether
Photo of A walk through über-cool Portobello Market in Notting Hill, choc-a-bloc with colour, antiques & more 7/8 by Shalini Rai
Colourful hats and woollens in Portobello Market
Photo of A walk through über-cool Portobello Market in Notting Hill, choc-a-bloc with colour, antiques & more 8/8 by Shalini Rai
Medicinal roots and herbs on street stalls in Portobello Market

Coloured shop-fronts: Vintage Notting Hill

Photo of Notting Hill, London, United Kingdom by Shalini Rai

'No Boyfriend, No Problem' in Notting Hill's Portobello Market

Photo of Notting Hill, London, United Kingdom by Shalini Rai

Affordable high fashion in Notting Hill's Portobello Market

Photo of Notting Hill, London, United Kingdom by Shalini Rai

Mr Bean seems to be saying, 'Keep Calm and Kill Zombies', in Notting Hill's Portobello Market

Photo of Notting Hill, London, United Kingdom by Shalini Rai

Handpainted shoes in Notting Hill's Portobello Market

Photo of Notting Hill, London, United Kingdom by Shalini Rai

The Unofficial Banksy Store in Notting Hill's Portobello Market

Photo of Notting Hill, London, United Kingdom by Shalini Rai

Doll-sets, phone booths and cars in Notting Hill's Portobello Market

Photo of Notting Hill, London, United Kingdom by Shalini Rai

'Keep Calm and Love London' in Notting Hill's Portobello Market

Photo of Notting Hill, London, United Kingdom by Shalini Rai

Supercool antique antics in Notting Hill's Portobello Market

Photo of Notting Hill, London, United Kingdom by Shalini Rai

The sheep is fake and the girl's in a poster, in Notting Hill's Portobello Market

Photo of Notting Hill, London, United Kingdom by Shalini Rai

The Beatles live on in Notting Hill's Portobello Market

Photo of Notting Hill, London, United Kingdom by Shalini Rai

Gallery 85: The name is enough, in Notting Hill's Portobello Market

Photo of Notting Hill, London, United Kingdom by Shalini Rai

Even the fruit van is a work of art, in Notting Hill's Portobello Market

Photo of Notting Hill, London, United Kingdom by Shalini Rai

And here are all those lovely candy-coloured houses Notting Hill is world-famous for

Photo of Notting Hill, London, United Kingdom by Shalini Rai

Sun in Splendour: Candy-coloured shops in Notting Hill

Photo of Notting Hill, London, United Kingdom by Shalini Rai

Candy-coloured stores in Notting Hill

Photo of Notting Hill, London, United Kingdom by Shalini Rai

And here are those lovely candy-coloured houses Notting Hill is world-famous for

Photo of Notting Hill, London, United Kingdom by Shalini Rai

More of those lovely candy-coloured houses Notting Hill is world-famous for

Photo of Notting Hill, London, United Kingdom by Shalini Rai

Some more candy-coloured houses Notting Hill is world-famous for

Photo of Notting Hill, London, United Kingdom by Shalini Rai

No. 22, Portobello Road: George Orwell's home in Notting Hill

Photo of Notting Hill, London, United Kingdom by Shalini Rai

George Orwell, Novelist, Political Essayist & so much more, lived here...

Photo of Notting Hill, London, United Kingdom by Shalini Rai

What colours! In Notting Hill's Portobello Market

Photo of Notting Hill, London, United Kingdom by Shalini Rai

In Notting Hill, even the Garage looks cool :p

Photo of Notting Hill, London, United Kingdom by Shalini Rai

The super-old Electric Cinema in Notting Hill's Portobello Market

Photo of Notting Hill, London, United Kingdom by Shalini Rai

Let the shopping begin! At Notting Hill's Portobello Road Market

Photo of Notting Hill, London, United Kingdom by Shalini Rai

Everything you could possibly want. Or Not. At Notting Hill's Portobello Road Market

Photo of Notting Hill, London, United Kingdom by Shalini Rai

L.O.L...! Spotted on Notting Hill's Portobello Road

Photo of Notting Hill, London, United Kingdom by Shalini Rai

Floral crockery in Notting Hill's Portobello Market

Photo of Notting Hill, London, United Kingdom by Shalini Rai