Notting Hill By Day
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Like the film or not, Notting Hill is absolutely made for dates. Whatever your taste, whatever your budget, there will be something for you here.
Meet at Ladbroke Grove tube station in the morning and start the day by strolling down the legendary Portobello Road. At this point, we probably ought to warn you that you won't be on your own. If you go on market days (Friday and particularly Saturday), the place will be heaving. Having said that, it's the throngs of people that create the wonderful bustling market atmosphere, so we don't see this as a negative.
Portobello Road runs parallel to Ladbroke Grove (south of the Westway), so on leaving the station, take one of the streets perpendicular to Ladbroke Grove heading east. As you wander down Portobello Road, you'll pass a myriad of market stalls and shops selling everything from fruit & veg at the north to antiques at the south - with anything and everything in between!
As you pass, don't forget to pop down Blenheim Crescent (heading east of Portobello Road) where you'll find the now infamous Travel Bookshop. We've haven't spotted Hugh and Julia there recently, but you never know...
Clearly all this walking and shopping will be thirsty work, so we suggest an early stop in one of the many fabulous cafes in the area. One of the best for brunch is Dayelsford Organic on Westbourne Grove. It's somewhere between a cafe, a deli and a homeware shop, and although this sounds bizarre, it somehow fits perfectly with Notting Hill's eclectic vibe.
The increasingly stylish Westbourne Grove is definitely worth a look, but unless you're ready to part with some serious cash, it might be best to stick to window shopping! You'll find Heidi Klein, Ralph Lauren, Joseph and siblings Savannah and Sienna Miller's store Twenty8Twelve, to name but a few. You may even get the chance to do some celebrity spotting along the way...
Continue down to the end of Portobello road, through the hordes of silver and antique goodies and you'll find yourselves a stone's throw from Notting Hill Gate tube station. From here, the options are endless, but given that you'll have had a pretty active morning, we suggest you spend the afternoon in Kensington Place Gardens. Come rain or shine, the Palace and it's gardens have something for everyone, with a fascinating history, fabulous exhibitions, immaculate lawns and a beautiful sunken garden.
NB - Kensington Palace is currently undergoing major renovations. Much of the palace and gardens are still open, but if you're after an alternative option try the 350 acres of Hyde Park next door!
Still not done?! Check out 'Notting Hill by night' for more fabulous Notting Hill locations.
Tags
london west W11 romance early days weekend date notting hill portobello road westbourne grove travel bookshop daylesford organic kensington palace gardens portobello ladbroke groveContact information
| Portobello Market | |||
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| Dayelsford Organic | |||||||
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| Kensington Palace | |||
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Reviews
| Love it There's something about the vibe of Notting Hill that I just love, and this date really gets you immersed in it… highly recommended Reviewer : Marissa Submitted : 2011-01-12 13:40:20 |
