Thanks to Roger Mitchell’s 1999 romantic comedy, Notting Hill, the West London suburb’s iconic painted houses are known across the world. Famous too for the trendy Portobello Road Market and the vibrant Notting Hill Carnival, the area started life as a rural hamlet in Middlesex and was incorporated into the city of London only in the latter part of the nineteenth century. The neighbourhood as it looks now was originally developed by the Ladbroke family, who owned a lot of the land around Notting Hill. Ladbroke planned for houses set around large communal garden spaces. Ladbroke’s houses were spacious and mostly attracted the upper middle classes to the area, as they could live in the style of the ultra-wealthy in Belgravia and Mayfair for much lower prices.
During and after the Second World War, many of the houses were divided into flats, and in the post-war period the once reputable neighbourhood fell into disrepair and disrepute. However, much of Notting Hill’s reputation for being a vibrant, bohemian, and multicultural place was built between the 1950s and the 1980s, with an influx of African Caribbean, Indian, Arab, and South American immigrants moving to the area. Nowadays, the neighbourhood has a reputation for luxury, with many of the houses occupied by single families. However, its bohemian charm lives on in the carnival and, of course, in the brightly painted frontages lining its streets. Below is a guide for those visiting to find the best of these beautiful houses on some of the most photographed streets in the world.
Portobello Road
Home to Notting Hill’s celebrated market, this street is one of the busiest in the area. If you are going to photograph the houses, try to avoid Fridays and Saturdays to ensure you get the best view. Even without the market, Portobello Road is well-stocked with independent shops and cafés that provide excellent resting points on your sight-seeing journey. Portobello Road is also the perfect place to rent accommodation so you can experience Notting Hill in all its glory, perhaps staying for market and non-market days to make the most of the lovely housing and the vibrant shopping. The road itself has plenty of great sight-seeing on offer, but try venturing down side streets and the mews to find more hidden gems.
Lancaster Road
While Notting Hill is most well known for its shades of pastel, this street is home to some of the area’s boldest and brightest buildings. Incredibly popular with Instagrammers, the section of Lancaster Road that intersects with Portobello Road features deep purples and blues, while the other side of the street carries on the softer colour scheme found in other parts of Notting Hill. Look out for traffic while building-watching as this street is quite busy with both cars and buses.
St. Lukes Mews
For those fans of romantic comedies, this mews features in the 2003 film, Love Actually! A mews is a side street, usually made up of houses that were previously stables for horses and coaches. They are quiet and private compared to other parts of a busy city like London, and as such they are sought after real estate. Also a popular location for Instagrammers, St. Luke’s Mews is made up of some of Notting Hill’s loveliest homes, painted in the area’s trademark pastel shades of pink and yellow. These homes also feature roof terraces, adding to the already quirky charm of the famous location. On a sunny day you can imagine sitting out and soaking up the rays and the rainbow colours of the surrounding houses. Be sure to check out this delightful location and see if you recognise it from the film. Perhaps you can re-enact a scene or two for your Instagram followers.
Elgin Crescent
For those who keep tabs on British politics, this gorgeous street was formerly home to ex-prime minister Boris Johnson. This street is connected with both Portobello Road and Clarendon Road, so there are plenty of places to stop for a drink and bite to eat along the way as you explore some of the more quaint and unusual architecture of Elgin Crescent. The homes here date back to the mid-nineteenth century and are larger than some of the others in the area. They have tall facades and bright bay windows. For a taste of luxury, Elgin Crescent is worth a visit.
Colville Terrace
These tall, narrow homes are playfully painted in shades of red and blue with delightful white trim. Located just off Portobello Road, Colville Terrace is conveniently placed for excellent sight-seeing and for exquisite brunch spots, like Ottolenghi Notting Hill and Granger and Co on nearby Ledbury Road.
Farm Place
For those keen to avoid the hustle and bustle of Notting Hill’s main thoroughfares, Farm Place is the perfect spot to catch the area’s famous style without the heaving crowds. Set away from the main streets of Notting Hill, Farm Place showcases the sweet pastel tones of the neighbourhood on a narrow, peaceful street. Consider hiring a bicycle and taking it for a jaunt down Farm Place – this might help you work up an appetite for when you venture back towards the busier parts of Notting Hill with all their excellent eating and drinking spots.
Westbourne Park Road
For something of an artistic view, try out Westbourne Park Road, where the houses are painted in a variety of bold and vibrant colours. The houses on this street also feature charming basement flat gardens that add greenery to the already colourful schema. On Westbourne Park Road you really get a sense of the long and varied history that gives Notting Hill its unique character.
Notting Hill is simply a must-visit for those calling on London during their travels. Soak up the culture, the art, and the history as you walk these delightful streets. Call in on the market, where you can pick up a trinket or two and something tasty to eat, and then, when the streets get quieter, venture into the secluded mews and tranquil side streets to experience a visual feast you’ll not find anywhere else in London.
