8 reasons Notting Hill is London’s most charming neighborhood

Notting Hill | Photo by Compass + Twine

Colorful townhouses and quaint boutiques line the streets of one of London’s most iconic neighborhood. Even when Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant aren’t filming in the gardens, London‘s Notting Hill resembles a picture-perfect movie set. On most evenings, you can find tourists poking their heads in and out of the vintage shops on Portobello Road and residents—ranging from young professionals to A-list celebrities—carrying grocery bags home from the market along the quiet, cobblestone side streets.

While the neighborhood exudes proper English charm for about 363 days out of the year, there are 2 days in August where full-on partying takes center stage. The Notting Hill Carnival is second only to Rio de Janeiro’s Carnival, attracting more than two million visitors each year. The cultural celebration takes place around the neighborhood and over the years has turned into one of the best outdoor festivals in the world. Whether you visit on a quiet spring day or during lively Carnival in August, here are 8 reasons Notting Hill will surely charm your London-loving socks off:

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Painted facades around the neighborhood | Photo by Compass + Twine

1. Pastel-painted facades

Lavender, sherbet orange, mint green, periwinkle… so go the colors of a typical Notting Hill road. Spend an afternoon strolling through streets like Hillgate Place to admire the facades. The cheery pastel shades will leave you daydreaming about with which colored flat you would pick to move in to.

The HillGate Pub | Photo by Compass + Twine

2. Storybook pubs

It’s pretty easy to argue that some of the best pubs in London are located in Notting Hill. Quaintly situated on lamp-lit corners or tucked in among the colorful flats, these neighborhood watering-holes offer a top-notch pub experience. On a warm summer evening, snag a sidewalk seat outside the Hillgate or a gardentable in the back of Windsor Castle. The former is known for its outstanding pub food (believe it!), while the latter offers a solid array of specialty drinks and craft beers. When it’s a brisk winter’s eve and you want a cozy locals’ spot, check out Uxbridge Arms for your final pint of the night.

Daylesford Organic | Flickr CC: Herry Lawford

3. Farm to table fresh at Daylesford Market

This beloved organic shop, market and café sources fresh ingredients daily from its award-winning farm in Gloucestershire. Stay for lunch, pick up fresh seasonal groceries, or grab a warm cup of coffee to go. The chic white, rustic-inspired space is a one-stop shop for all things tasty and organic.

Wisteria-draped flat in Notting Hill | Photo by Compass + Twine

4. Wisteria Hysteria

For a couple of glorious weeks in spring, usually early May, a wave of purple foliage blankets the neighborhood in what’s affectionately known as “Wisteria Hysteria.” Hysteria most likely describes the feeling an Instagrammer feels when they see, inperson, all the NottingHill facades draped in purple, beckoning to be captured by a ready iPhone. Whether an avid photographer or simply an admirer of pretty things, there’s no better place in England to experience the purple bloom in full effect.

Portobello Road Market | Photo by Compass + Twine

5. Portobello Road Market 

Perhaps the most famed stretch in Notting Hill, Portobello Market is chock full of shops and cafés. Vintage stores rule the scene here, providing some of the best antique shopping in all of London. You could easily spend an afternoon poking in and out of all the eclectic stores. When you want to stop for a bite to eat, pop into Farm Girl for some delicious sandwiches and fresh juices.

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Electric Cinema | Photo by Flickr CC: Matt Brown

6. The Electric Cinema

One of the oldest cinemas in London, the Electric Cinema has longbeen a staple of the neighborhood. When the SoHo House group restored it a few years back, they spared no expense, outfitting it with luxurious velvet seating and waiter service. There are 65 armchairs with footstools and side-tables, six double beds in the front row, and plenty of cashmere blankets to go around. With a chic, vintage vibe, this is one cool place to catch a flick.

Biscuiteers café | Photo by Compass + Twine

7. Boutique everything

The charm of Notting Hill really lies in the boutique atmosphere. Everything from the clothing stores to the cafés are intimate, well-curated businesses bursting with character. Spend the afternoon shopping the high-end boutiques on Westbourne Grove and then stroll to find the Travel Book Shop where Hugh Grant’s character, William Thacker, worked in the movie Notting Hill. Finally, swing by the picturesque Biscuiteers café for some proper tea and snacks.

Mews back streets | Photo by Compass + Twine

8. Mewsings

The little back allies of London have become somewhat of a craze as of late. Mews refer to the small, side-streets typically found behind a rowof houses, where horse-drawn carriages used to maneuver and park back in the day. Now, peeping into these quiet side inlets to admire charming back entrances and flower box-lined windows has an inspired a trend called “mewsings.”

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