June 4, 2025, 4:39 am | Read time: 5 minutes
Notting Hill is one of London’s most famous neighborhoods, especially since the release of the film of the same name in the late 1990s. TRAVELBOOK writer Anna Wengel (Chiodo) visited the area and shared her favorite spots and additional tips for exploring this iconic district.
You’ve likely not only heard of the movie “Notting Hill” but have probably seen it once or even multiple times. When the romantic comedy starring Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant was released in 1999, both were many years younger, as were you and I, presumably. I was so young that I didn’t even see it in the theater, but later in various formats from video to DVD to streaming. Partly because the film is charming, but especially—and now I finally get to the topic of this text—because of the London district of Notting Hill.
A few years ago, during a vacation in the United Kingdom, I finally visited Notting Hill myself, and to put it simply: I fell a little in love with it. Especially with those enchanting houses that reminded me a bit of San Francisco and yet are so very British, especially since it was, of course, pouring rain. But even in the rainiest gray, Notting Hill was enchantingly beautiful. That’s why I’ve compiled a list of six exciting, beautiful, or simply unmissable places in Notting Hill for anyone who wants to see the colorful district with its iconic bookstore, hipster cafes, vintage shops, and crowds of visitors, either for the first time or once again. This includes personal favorites and true classics.
Overview
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Bookstore
If you’ve seen the movie and have at least a minimal interest in travel literature (which I assume, since you’re apparently browsing TRAVELBOOK), you might remember the bookstore. In the film, it was called “The Travel Book Shop” and was located at 142 Portobello Road, but today it’s a souvenir shop. The bookstore that inspired the film is located at 13-15 Blenheim Crescent and is called “The Notting Hill Bookshop.”
The bookstore with its blue sign was one of my few destinations during my walk through Notting Hill. Inside, there was much more than just travel literature. However, it was so crowded that you constantly stepped on the toes of other literature lovers, film fans, or simply people who just wanted to photograph the admittedly very social media-friendly bookstore, or you had to squeeze past each other in the small shop. Quickly overwhelmed, I was out faster than expected. Still, a visit to the iconic shop is worthwhile.
Vintage Shopping
Something you can do wonderfully in Notting Hill—besides admiring and photographing colorful houses and exploring film locations—is shopping. In addition to elegant, high-end boutiques, the chic London district is particularly good for vintage shops. There are several, and you can discover some truly special treasures in them. Found and Vision, Y2K Vintage Clothing, and Vault Vintage are just three examples.
Pastel Houses and Georgian Architecture
The many colorful, often pastel houses and colorful doors are probably the image that comes to mind when you think of Notting Hill. For me, it’s definitely the most prominent image before and after my visit there. These streets with their many Georgian houses are simply lovely, and I personally love walking there. If you’re also in the mood for a stroll along colorful and otherwise charming houses, check out Portobello Road, Lancaster Road, Colville Terrace, and Elgin Crescent. Or just let yourself wander and turn down any street that appeals to you. There are probably quite a few in Notting Hill, at least that’s how it was for me.
Cafe Visit and Personal Tip
A nice cafe, suitable for waiting out the countless rain showers or simply for a late breakfast for those who don’t necessarily crave an English breakfast, is Sunday in Brooklyn at 98 Westbourne Grove. It serves more of an Australian-American hipster brunch and reliably good coffee.
Portobello Road Market
Portobello Road is one of the most famous streets in the London district of Notting Hill. It is also home to the famous Portobello Road Market, a historically stationed collection of street stalls that open almost daily, selling everything from clothing and antiques to fruits and vegetables. On either side of the market, you’ll find souvenir shops (like the aforementioned film bookstore), restaurants, vintage shops, and many more in and in front of the iconic colorful houses.
Electric Cinema
A sight in Notting Hill that I unfortunately missed but still want to see is the Electric Cinema at 191 Portobello Road. The cinema, which has an old-fashioned charm, is one of the oldest continuously operating cinemas in the UK and apparently invites you to watch films in the splendor of old times. So, far from wobbly seats and giant screens, but instead in the old style with red leather armchairs and tables with small retro lamps.