The Empire History
There is a wealth of pubs, antique arcades and streets with exotic names, the area is called after Puerto Bello in the Caribbean in memory of Admiral Vernon who captured the town in 1739. Since then the area has become built up with houses, shops and the street market, however pub names such as the Portobello Gold and the Portobello Star are references to those heady seafaring days.
In more recent history, the film Notting Hill has given Portobello a new lease of life and now people want to visit the market because it was the central location in the film.
Second-hand Central
Saturday is the main market day, but the shops and arcades are open every day. Get there by 10am and it usually starts winding up by 4pm. Antiques are probably what Portobello Road is most famous for but you can also buy vintage and new clothes, Music, shoes and jewellery. The locals come for fresh fruit and vegetables which are great value and fresh every morning.
I’m using the words fruit and veg loosely, as there are a smattering of other food people slipping in – a couple of bread stalls, a fish monger, a French cheese stall and fresh cake stalls.
For old fashioned market characters look no further, these stalls are what you think of as proper market stalls – wheel-barrows overflowing with boxes of produce, their owners calling out their prices in time honoured fashion, their shouts are somehow warm and comforting, whatever else happens this little corner will be for ever England.
What to buy there
If you are looking for cheap socks, multi-packs of batteries, laundry bags and all kinds of other bric-a-brac then you can find it here too. Probably due to the influx of the young and beautiful and the sometimes not so young or beautiful but filthy rich into the Notting Hill area, the whole fashion scene at Portobello has exploded.
There are lots of stalls selling hot dogs, burgers, noodles and if eating on your feet suits you -great. There are also a wealth of pubs which serve tasty and hearty ‘pub grub’ for you to experience. Overall Portobello gives a real feel of contemporary Britain with a diverse and exciting vibe.
How to get there
You will find it in the North West of London in the Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. By Tube, the best way of all … go to Notting Hill Gate Station and follow the crowd – yes really, you can’t go wrong! The market starts about a five minute walk from the tube station.
By Bus, many buses from Victoria, Oxford Street, Hyde Park Corner and Kensington High Street come close to Portobello, buses include: 7, 12, 23, 27, 28, 31, 52, 70 & 328, the driver should let you know the right stop to take.