| There are three dimensions to Notting Hill. First | | | | from Spain by Admiral Vernon in 1739, and a |
| the area of shops and streets around Notting Hill | | | | farm in the countryside north of here was |
| Gate, with a fair amount of buzz and interest, and | | | | patriotically named after it. This road once led to |
| some quaint artisan housing all madly fashionable | | | | that farm. |
| today: second, Portobello Road market, to be | | | | Nothing much happens to start with, but after |
| seen any day, but in full flood only on Saturdays | | | | crossing Chepstow Villas with big Victorian |
| and third, for the housing enthusiast, the | | | | detached houses, as you would expect from the |
| extravagances of the Ladbroke Grove Estate. | | | | name, you reach very respectable antique shops |
| This route covers all three aspects consecutively, | | | | and rather less respectable antique stalls, where |
| but it makes quite a long walk. Be aware that the | | | | there is plenty to explore. Keep going, over |
| Notting Hill Carnival takes place in the last | | | | Westbourne Grove. At the crossing of Elgin |
| weekend of August. | | | | Crescent and Colville Terrace, the street market |
| Start at Notting Gate station (Central and Circle | | | | becomes more conventional selling fruit and |
| Lines). First briefly explore the now attractive | | | | vegetables but just as vivid. |
| streets on the south side of the main road | | | | There has been a market here since 1871, |
| Litigate Street or Farmer Street, for example, | | | | starting with gypsies buying and selling horses for |
| Hillgate Place running east west provides a frame. | | | | the Hippodrome (see below). It brought down the |
| These densely packed terraces date from 1851 | | | | standard of the neighbourhood, as at Covent |
| and were designed to house artisans providing | | | | Garden, but the overspill of antiques from the |
| services for the wealthy all around. It was a | | | | closed Caledonian market after the Second World |
| hopeless cause, and they soon had multiple | | | | War, restored the tone somewhat. |
| occupants and turned into serious slums. There is | | | | After Blenheim Crescent you are in the historic |
| little evidence of that now in the painted facades | | | | part of Portobello Road. On the left is the Electric |
| window boxes and fast cars in the street. 20C | | | | Cinema, purpose-built and one of the earliest |
| gentrification has had some benefits. | | | | opened in 1911. |
| Note the Coronet Cinema (1898), converted for | | | | There are also some excellent bookshops, |
| cinema use in 1916. Cross back at the station to | | | | including the Travel Bookshop and Books for |
| go up Pembridge Road, forking right: shops have | | | | Cooks. To the right down Talbot Road there is an |
| been added to the fronts of the houses. Then go | | | | unusual church, All Saints by William White, built in |
| left to begin the long journey up Portobello Road. | | | | the 1850s to be the centre of a new religious |
| Porto Bello, in the Gulf of Mexico, was captured | | | | community here, which never materialised. |