Now let’s go down to the quiet neighbourhood known has Notting Hill, west of Hyde Park.
Notting Hill is rather trendy and chic with the big and old Victorian houses. Some of these houses are coloured. Most of the time pastel colours, but not always. It’s nice, and feels very much different than other neighbourhood where white is the norm.
The most famous street is Portobello Road with its antic market every Saturday. The market stretch down on the street from Chepstow Villas, all the way to Elgin Crescent. About 900 yards (800metres)… But as antique dealers know how to cram things, don’t worry, you’ll be finding a lot of stuff!
Unfortunately we were not in London on a Saturday, but we still came to visit. During the week, some shops are open, it’s of course much quieter than Saturdays, and it’s way less crowded. The boutiques are mostly sell antics, but you may find arcade or restaurants. Antic shops truly are Ali Baba’s caves abounding with treasures. Personally I love all these old things, old pieces of furniture, ancient signs, etc. We didn’t look the prices but I believe this is best (anyway, I didn’t have anymore space in my luggage… Self-persuasion!)
For a few years now, more and more tourists are coming to visit the neighbourhood. All this is thanks to the movie ‘Notting Hill’ which I’m sure every fan of GREAT movies knows by heart! (!?!). Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant act in this flick.
Notting Hill is also London’s Jamaican neighbourhood. Few evident signs of it though (well, at least we didn’t find them!) besides some shops here and there with yellow-red-green coloured storefronts and a restaurant named Yeah Man!
Every year, in August, Notting Hill Carnival has the Jamaican culture (and this of the Caribbean’s) in the streets. The latest edition welcomed 2 million people for the 2 days of the festival.
This Carnival was created to help smooth the tensions between communities in the neighbourhood. The year preceding the first edition, racial riots took place in the streets of Notting Hill.
Since then hostility has dropped, and the quietness came back in this bohemian chic neighbourhood.
