Notting Hill Area Guide
Notting Hill, what can actually be said in so few words that accurately describes what it is like to live here. You really can't live here and not love it. It has been the home to many iconic films, such as Alfie 1966 and more obviously Notting Hill 1999, but it is still home to many famous residents such as Blur frontman Damon Albarn, designers Bella Freud and Stella McCartney, ex-Eastenders Martine McCutcheon, singer Bjork (sometimes), Robbie Williams, supermodel Claudia Schiffer as well as others. Truth be told the reason so many love to live here is because Notting Hill is very much still in a little community bubble. You get a sense that everyone knows each other, even if they don't. On a busy Portobello Market day you will see market traders calling out to one another as they probably have done since the 80's, I imagine if you sat all them down in a pub garden of an afternoon and got them chatting over a pint there probably isn't much they don't know about the goings on of West London.
But perhaps it's not the people you fall in love with straight away, one thing you can't avoid is the architecture. When you get out of the Underground on Notting Hill Gate you will be greeted with a whole range of styles. The 60's built Campden Hill Towers is probably the first building that will stand out to you as it is the tallest, and to most, not the prettiest. However, if you you have been in Notting Hill a little while you come to love the building like you love an old jumper! But keep walking, you will stumble across the White Stucco Fronted buildings on Pembridge Square, the charming little mews house on Reed Place, the Impressive Gothic buildings like Viscount Court, and a range of Civil and Industrial Buildings throughout the area.
Finally if you don't fall in love with the first two, you will fall in love with the culture, the arts, the cafes, the shopping and the green spaces. The culture is so diverse. You will mix with all people in Notting Hill and everyone has their own story as beautiful on the ears as the last one you heard. The cafes and coffee shops include everything you could wish for from Pret-a-manger, to The Dayrooms Cafes, and The Hummingbird Bakery. The restaurants are to-die for, Ottolenghi, The Ledbury, Beach Blanket Babylon, Caractère, Egg Break, The Bumpkin, the list is nearly endless. Then after your coffees, cakes, and endless exquisite fine dining you can find yourself lost in Holland Park or Hyde Park or one of the many garden squares (if you have key, or a friend with one, or you have taken a leaf out of Julie Roberts's book and hoped a gate or two).
But one thing is for sure, will be left wanting for very little when you live in Notting Hill.