London/Notting Hill-North Kensington

This destination covers the northern part of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, from Kensington High Street in the south to the Grand Union Canal and Wormwood Scrubs in the north.
Notting Hill is a popular destination for its lively market, gorgeous streetscapes, interesting history and diverse population. It has achieved a level of fame from the eponymously named Hugh Grant film (he actually does live here!), the world-famous Portobello Road market, and of course from the annual carnival.
The area was rural until the 19th century when it was developed as an upper-middle class suburb with quite large homes. During the early 20th century, these large homes were divided into low cost housing which often degenerated into slums. In the 1950s, many Caribbean immigrants settled in the area. In the 1960s it attracted musicans and artists and Portobello Road became the centre of English hippie culture. Portobello Road still hosts a very eclectic weekly market and is also home to a similarly off-beat set of permanent shops.
The Notting Hill carnival was first staged in 1964 as a way for the local Afro-Caribbean communities to celebrate their own cultures and traditions. After some rough times in the 1970s and 1980s when it became associated with social protest, violence and huge controversy over policing tactics, this is now Europe's largest carnival/festival event and a major event in the London calendar. It is staged every August over the Bank holiday weekend.
During the 1980s, the Notting Hill proper area of the district was largely gentrified although areas in the north west of the district at Ladbroke Grove and Westbourne Park remain deprived and run down. In local mythology, these more recent residents of Notting Hill are assumed to live from trust accounts, giving rise to the practice of classifying locals as either Rastafarians or Trustafarians.
Further west from Notting Hill providing a natural buffer between the north and south of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, is Holland Park. This is the least well known of London's Royal Parks and locals would like to keep it that way. A real gem of a park which is off the tourist trail but very much worth a visit.

By Tube

The district is serviced by the following stations, in Zones 1 and 2:

• Notting Hill Gate (Zones 1 & 2) – (Central, District and Circle lines)
• Queensway (Zone 1) – (Central line)
• Ladbroke Grove (Zone 2) – (Hammersmith & City and Circle line)
• Westbourne Park (Zone 2) – (Hammersmith & City line)
• Bayswater (Zone 1) – (District and Circle lines)

By bus

The area is best explored on foot and lends itself well to walking.

• Holland ParkHolland Park is a mixture of open spaces, woodland and formal gardens. It includes a large field dedicated to football and cricket, as well as tennis courts. It was originally the private garden of Holland House, much of which was destroyed. As you walk around the park, you can see bits of the building dotted around the place which give you some idea of how grand it used to be. In the summer this is a great place to catch outdoor opera. An ecology centre near the police station provides information about the ecology of the park and arranges various activities for children. There is a cafe nearby that sells ice creams and hot food. The park is an ideal way to walk from Notting Hill Gate to Kensington High St.

  Helen Ilus

• Design Museum

  phone: +44 20 3862 5900
  address: 224-238 Kensington High Street
  A must for anyone with an interest in modern and contemporary design. The permanent exhibition follows the change in British homes from the early 20th century until present day, which is constantly updated to include new design classics. There are temporary exhibits which run for 3-4 months. Recent exhibits have included Saul Bass, Peter Saville and Archigram. The museum also runs Designer of the Year which awards a prize to a person or organisation that has produced an impressive piece of design (past winner was Jonathan Ive, who designed the iMac and iPod). There is a small shop that has plenty of art and design books as well as designer goods to take home with you.

• Leighton House

  phone: +44 20 7602-3316
  address: 12 Holland Park Rd, W14 8LZ
  The former Victorian home of an artist Frederic (Lord) Leighton. While regarded as one of the finest examples of Victorian residential architecture, it's not a usual Neo-Gothic venue. The entrance rooms, esp. so-called the Arabic Hall, look like an eclectic cross-breed between the Alhambra and Topkapi Palace. It may sound quite terrible, but surprisingly it works quite convincing. While the rest of the building is less vividly decorated it's still designed rather good and the admirers of Pre-Raphaelite art would find there some works by Lord Leighton (PRA) himself, his fellow Pre-Raphaelites, but also a handful of works by Delacroix, Corot as well as a collection of some colourful pottery. Regular small exhibitions are hold at the extension of the house. Unfortunately the museum is unwilling to give away their photos for free, so try to turn on your imagination to see how it may look like.

• 18 Stafford Terrace

  address: 18 Stafford Terrace
  A Victorian house which is now open as a museum. The setting of the 1899 is almost intact with the furniture, art, and decorative schemes retained from its original inhabitants, Linley Sambourne and his household.

• Maharajah Duleep Singh's House

  address: 53 Holland Park, W11 3RS
  A blue plaque marks the house in which the last Maharajah of the Sikh Empire lived in the 1880s.

• Museum of Brands, Packaging and Advertising

  phone: +44 20 7908-0880
  address: 111-117 Lancaster Road, Notting Hill, W11 1QT
  A history of consumer culture arranged by decade. Over 12,000 exhibits.

• Electric Cinema

  address: 191 Portobello Rd
  A restored cinema 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! Ticket prices vary depending on how fancy your seat is. More expensive than a normal cinema but a fun experience.

• Film WalkNotting Hill's diversity and streetscapes have earned it a place in many films. Time Out magazines has put together a walk encompassing some of them.

• Gate Picturehouse

  phone: +44 20 7727-4043
  address: Notting Hill Gate, W11 3JZ
  Repertory/art house cinema with a very varied programme.

• Musical history tourTom Vague, a local music journalist and historian, has put together an excellent do-it-yourself tour of Notting Hill focusing on its rich musical history. You can download it to you mp3 player from the Council web-site.

• Notting Hill CarnivalTwo-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, attracts over a million people and is a great celebration of London's modern multi-cultural identity. What really gives it flavour is the large local Caribbean and Trinidadian population. This occurs in an almost circular route north of the Notting Hill, Westbourne Park and Ladbroke Grove areas. See Transport For London's website before you go as many tube stations are closed for the duration and bus routes diverted. Driving into the area is strongly discouraged - many streets are closed.

• Portobello Road MarketDuring the week this is the place to go to buy your fruit and veg but on Fridays and Saturdays there are hundreds of stalls selling clothes, antiques, jewellery and lots more.

• Westbourne GroveSmart boutiques, food shops and outdoor cafes.

• Travel Bookstore

  address: 13-15 Blenheim Cres
  Great place to browse. Its other point of interest is that it was the inspiration for Hugh Grant's shop in the movie Notting Hill.

There is so much food to choose from, and something to suit all budgets. If you are budgeting then there is great Malay food, bangers & mash, falafel and German sausages. For those with a bit more money to burn there is 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.

• 192

  phone: +44 20 7229-0482
  address: 192 Kensington Park Rd, W11
  Popular with locals and been around since 1982.

• E&O

  phone: +44 20 7229-5454
  address: 14 Blenheim Cres, W11 1NN
  Pan Asian food

• Fresco's

  phone: +44 20 7221-2355
  address: 25 Westbourne Gr
  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.

• Geales

  phone: +44 20 7727-7528
  address: 2 Farmer St, W8 7SN
  Fantastic, premium fish and chip restaurant, much favoured by local and out-of-town celebs.

• Kahn's

  address: 13-15 Westbourne Gr W2
  Very popular and large Indian restaurant, probably not as good as the Standard though.

• New Culture Revolution

  phone: +44 20 7313-9688
  address: 157-159 Notting Hill Gate, W11 2LF
  Part of a chain specialising in northern Chinese food and noodles and dumplings especially. Good value and popular with students and budget travellers.

• Notting Hill Brasserie

  phone: +44 20 7229-4481
  address: 92 Kensington Park Rd, W11 2PN
  Decidedly swanky restaurant (one of the few in Notting Hill serving mixed international food

• The Ledbury

  address: Ledbury Rd
  A 2

* Michelin restaurant, with exquisite dishes rustled up by talented Aussie chef Brett Graham. Features highly-by food critics, so don't expect cheap bites! Easy to drop £100 in here!

Populated by the young, hip and rich it is unsurprising that Notting Hill has so many trendy bars. Expect to pay prices that match the location though.

• The Lonsdale

  phone: +44 20 7727-4080
  address: 48 Lonsdale Rd
  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 are not a famous celebrity.

• Beach Blanket Babylon

  phone: +44 20 7229-2907
  address: 45 Ledbury Rd
  Beautiful bar with fantastical decor. Quality and service at the restaurant seem to vary wildly, but the bar is usually a safe bet.

• E&O

  phone: +44 20 7229-5454
  address: 14 Blenheim Cres
  Japanese-influenced restaurant with a stylish bar attached. Great cocktails.

• Elbow Room

  phone: +44 20 7221-5211
  address: 103 Westbourne Gr
  A bar with pool tables too, rather than the other way around. Relaxed and friendly.

• The Cow

  phone: +44 20 7221-0021
  address: 89 Westbourne Park Rd
  A small and trendy pub/bar with a focus on Guinness.

• The Electric Brasserie

  address: 191 Portobello Rd
  Attached to the Electric Cinema this trendy brasserie is a good place for a drink before or after your movie. Very busy F Sa evenings especially.

• Trailer Happiness

  phone: +44 20 7727-2700
  address: 177 Portobello Rd
  Intimate and kitsch lounge bar, den and kitchen with the feel of a low rent, mid-1960s Los Angeles valley bachelor pad.

Budget

• Blue Bells hotel

  phone: +44 20 4257-3379
  address: 14 Pembridge Sq, W2 4EH
  In a converted early Victorian building. 30 rooms on four storeys but no lift. Five minutes' walk to Notting Hill Gate and Portobello Rd.

• Notting Hill Hotel

  phone: +44 20 7727-1316
  address: 2 Pembridge Sq, W2 4EW
  Old converted Victorian building in a quiet square only 5 minutes from Notting Hill Gate. Single, double and family rooms.

• Umi Hotel

  address: 16 Leinster Square
  On a quiet garden square 5 minutes walk from Bayswater station. Single, double and family rooms with en suite bath. A few dormitory rooms.

Mid-range

• Abbey Court

  address: 20 Pembridge Gdns, W2 4FE
  Boutique hotel in a converted Victorian house and decorated in that period style. 22 rooms, no lift.

• The Gate Hotel

  phone: +44 20 7221-0707
  address: 6 Portobello Rd

• Fraser Suites Queensgate

  phone: +44 20 7969-3555
  address: 39B Queens Gate Gardens, SW7 5RR
  One of the closest serviced accomodations to Notting Hill, this hotel is known for a range of amenities and services for business guests.

Splurge