If you are visiting London on a Friday or Saturday, then don’t miss Portobello Road Market. It is London’s most famous and vibrant street market known for its antiques, vintage fashion and eclectic street food.
It is a fun place to people watch, browse market stalls and shop for souvenirs. Made famous by the film Notting Hill, you can visit the travel book store and walk the street like Hugh Grant.
Things to Do at Portobello Road Market
Browse Market Stalls
The market is best known for its world-famous antiques section, especially on Saturdays. You will find everything from vintage camera and jewellery to rare books and collectibles. I saw stalls selling fabulous vintage crockery, old maps and prints as well as quirky homeware items. Some of these stalls are part of a shop so make sure you have time to go inside too.
Near the start of the market (Chepstow Villas end) there are quite a few antique and vintage shops with stalls out front. Don’t miss going inside the Antique Market on the left as you walk up the road.
If you are looking for a souvenir or two, then the main touristy stalls are near the start. You will find lots of Notting Hill memorabilia such as canvas bags and the now collectable rubber ducks!
As you walk up Portobello Road there are many fresh produce stalls in the middle of the market. These stalls are also open every day except Sundays.
A few fashion and vintage clothing stalls are dotted about the market, but you will need to walk up to the A40 bypass to reach the main vintage section. Walk under the bridge to find the Portobello Green Market on your left.
If you keep walking, then the stalls thin out but independent stall holders are selling some interesting vintage and antique items.
Take photographs
Portobello Road and the surrounding streets of Notting Hill are very photogenic. Take time to walk the side streets too to see the houses and green spaces that make this area a lovely place to live. If you have time, you could walk to Holland Park which is a 15 minute walk away. It is one of the most beautiful parks in London.
Explore independent shops
Along Portobello Road itself and the side streets, there are many independent shops that are worth looking in.
The Travel Bookshop that featured in Notting Hill, well the inside at least, is to the left on Blenheim Crescent. The shopfront used in the film is towards the start of Portobello Road and is now a tourist souvenir shop. Inside the actual Travel Bookshop are actually travel books. I would recommend arriving early if you want a good look around as it is a tourist hot spot and gets very crowded.
Diagonally opposite you will find another book shop, Books for Cooks, but this one has a twist. It only sells cookbooks and if you book a table, there is a Test Kitchen in the back where the owner cooks a recipe from one of the books for you to eat. The website doesn’t have too much information on it so I would recommend popping in and talking to them or give them a call/email.
Eat!
There are so many restaurants, bakeries and café’s along the Portobello Road. Near the start of the market, on the corner of Westbourne Grove you will find Notting Hill bakery. There is a small seating area in the back of the bakery to have a quick snack before you hit the shops. Further up Portobello Road on the right hand side you will see Gail’s Bakery. This is a small chain bakery and have the most gorgeous bread and sandwiches.
If you’re after something more substantial, then you could try Poppies Fish and Chips on the corner of Colville Terrace. Along this stretch you will also find a couple of burger places and a pub or two.
On the corner of Talbot Road there is Dishoom, one of the famous Indian restaurants in London. You could eat here and then pick up a cinnamon bun from Buns at Home just along Talbot Road. They have the most delicious pastries.
If street food is more your thing, then if you don’t find what you’re after from a market stall then keep walking up Portobello Road and under the A40 bridge to find a huge selection of street food stalls all in the same place.
If you keep walking up Portobello Road then you will find less stalls but some really interesting vintage finds. Keep going past these until you hit a small parade of shops where you’ll find Cockney’s Pie and Mash shop. Simple décor and you literally get what you’re given but if you’re after a traditional Pie with mashed potato, you can’t go wrong here. Served with either beef gravy or parsley liquor, it won’t pass the Instagram test but it is delicious! (Note that they only accept cash payment)
Location
Portobello Road Market runs almost the entire road from Chepstow Villas to Chesterton Road. The stalls start thinning out just after the A40 bridge. It is the heart of Notting Hill to the North West of central London. It is quite near Holland Park and the West side of Hyde Park and Kensington Palace. If you have children with you, the Diana Memorial Playground is only a 20 minute walk from the market.
Getting to Portobello Road Market
The nearest tube station is Notting Hill Gate, just over a 5 minute walk from the start of the market. Alternatively, you could take the tube to Holland Park and have a wander through the park there before walking the 15 minutes to the start of the market at Chepstow Villas end of Portobello Road. Further up Portobello Road, near the vintage clothing market you will find Ladbroke Grove tube station, less than a five minute walk away.
The nearest train station is Paddington which took me just over 30 minutes to walk. It is a straight, flat walk past some interesting shops and residential areas.
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Portobello Road Market Opening Hours
The market is open six days a week and has a different emphasis on each day. Saturdays are the busiest and most complete market day but Fridays are a close second.
- Monday – Wednesday: 9am-6pm (limited stalls, mainly fruit and veg)
- Thursday: 9am-1pm (limited stalls)
- Friday: 9am – 7pm (fashion, food, antiques)
- Saturday: 9am – 7pm (main market day with full antiques section)
- Sunday: Closed but shops and cafes are open. In the summer months, some stalls are open too.
Tickets
No tickets required. As a street market, it is fully open to the public.
Toilets
Many cafes will allow you to use their toilet with a purchase. I couldn’t find a public toilet on Portobello Road itself. The public toilets listed on the corner of Talbot Road were locked when I visited. However, there are public toilets a few minutes away on Westbourne Grove. Use Google maps or equivalent to find them.
Eating and Drinking
There are so many cafes, restaurants and bakeries along Portobello Road as well as street food stalls available.
My favourites are:
- Cockneys Pie and Mash – cheap café with tradition beef pie and mash potatoes (cash only)
- Buns from Home – simple but delicious cinnamon buns
- Hummingbird Bakery – cupcakes, cookies and pies
- Notting Hill Bakery – savoury and sweet pastries
- Farm Girl – Very health conscious bakery and cafe
Accessibility
It can be overwhelming with the crowds but the market area is flat as you are walking on the actual road. I would avoid Saturdays as this is the busiest day and it may be difficult to walk in a straight line!
Top Tips for visiting Portobello Road Market
- Bring cash as many stalls would prefer cash rather than card payments
- Arrive early on Fridays and Saturdays to avoid the crowds
- Wear comfortable shoes
- Keep an eye on your belongings. It is a busy tourist spot and pickpockets do operate
