Quintessential London: Portobello Road Market in Notting Hill

Popular with the tourists and locals alike, Portobello Road Market is a bit of an institution in London. Although the market is open every day of the week aside from Sundays, the main event happens on Saturdays, rain or shine.

The market has pretty much everything you can imagine, from vintage jewellery to quirky royal memorabilia and cheesy London souvenirs. No matter what you are looking for, you are guaranteed to find it at Portobello Road Market.

But what makes the market truly unique is the juxtaposition of these incredibly diverse trinkets next to the boldly coloured townhouses that Notting Hill is so famous for. This, to me, is what makes the market to quintessentially London.

Codrington Mews

Kensington Park Gardens

Colville Terrace

Portobello Road

Ladbroke Square Garden

Once you have walked by the beautiful series of colourful homes, icons of the Notting Hill neighbourhood, you will be entering the absolute chaos that is the market on a Saturday morning. If you are not a fan of crowds, it might be best to save your visit for another day!e beauty of the market is that you can find anything and everything there. From quirky souvenirs to incredible vintage treasures to tasty treats. Further North, there is a good dozen food stalls from which you can taste the veggies of the day followed by a French crêpe and amazing wines. The perfect way to end a somewhat exhausting morning spent haggling and navigating through the crowds!

If you have the courage to go through this stack to find the perfect piece for you… I like visiting the market even when I have no intention of buying anything. It’s a very entertaining place and a photographer’s heaven!

Portobello Road Market: Good To Know

The market has been opened for almost 150 years now
The busiest day is Saturday because of the antiques market, but the shops are open every day of the week except Sunday. If you can avoid the Saturday crowds, I highly recommend it
Closest tube stations: Notting Hill Gate and Ladbroke Grove
Countless movies have been shot in or inspired by the market, starting with the famous Notting Hill with Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant
The market has two sections: the first half (the southern one) is dedicated to clothes and antiques, while the second half (closer to Ladbroke Grove) is mostly about food and cafés