Portobello Weekends
2:22:00 pm
I’m about to
leave England soon and I’m taking time trying to catch up with all the places I’ve
never visited within the time I was here. Last weekend, I visited the world
famous Portobello road where you can find Notting Hill well known for the romantic
film from the 90’s (you know that Julia Roberts mushy flick with Hugh Grant). It
was a Sunday, so there’s not much to see but there’s a lot to explore still. We
started following the trail heading to Portobello Road were we are greeted by
numerous souvenir items, book stores, leather and vintage shops which
Portobello is known for.
London is a city that’s just
crying out to be walked around and, unless I have to be somewhere at a
particular time, I try and do exactly that as much as possible. It’s what I do when I travel somewhere new
and, as you know, I’m all about using those habits you developed while you were
travelling even when you’re not travelling. So I take my time and let the
moment pass by whilst appreciating the things the place has to offer. There is
much to see, and there is a lot to feed your curiosity but then again it would
depend on what’s your purpose of getting there. Some just fancy taking a stroll
out of London’s iconic places; some are die-hard fans of the film, some are locals
spending their weekend break and some vouching for rare finds (Portobello
wouldn’t be tagged as the place where the richest of ages are stowed for
nothing). Whatever it is, whatever you’re reasons maybe there would be a place
for you to spend in Portobello even if it concerns finding your soul mate just
like the film, the place I believe can offer you that as well.
How to get there:
Portobello Road is 3 kilometres
west of Marble Arch and easy to reach by road or underground from anywhere in
London.
Train
There’s a choice of two
underground stations: Ladbroke Grove (Hammersmith & City Lines) or Notting
Hill Gate, which is on the Central, Circle and District lines.
Buses
The following buses stop in or
near the market: 7,12, 23, 27, 28, 31, 52, 70, 94, 328 & 452.
Heathrow Airport Terminals 1, 2,
3 and 4 have taxi and car hire facilities
Gatwick Airport North and South
Terminals have a good train service, the Gatwick Express, which leaves for
London Victoria every 15 minutes,as well as taxi and car hire facilities. as
well as buses and underground trains to the centre of London. There is also an
Express train service to London Paddington which takes less than 15 minutes.
Portobello Market Opening Hours
& Days
Street Market Opening Times
Trading hours vary between stalls
and by weather and time of year, but as a guide:
Summer: Most stalls set up from
8am-9am; finish 5pm-6pm
Winter/bad weather: Most stalls
set up 9am-10am; finish 4pm-5pm
See below for what’s on sale day
by day and hours for the antique arcades, shops and cafes. You might also find
our map and transport information useful.
Friday
The second busiest day, with
•Southern Portobello Road – antiques
•Middle of the market – food, new fashion, accessories, and household
goods
•Portobello Green, North Portobello – vintage clothing & accessories,
collectables, bric-a-brac
•Golborne Road – bric-a-brac, furniture, food
Saturday
The big day – there’s a full
street market (like Friday, listed above), plus;
•Antiques Arcades open – see below
•Westbourne Grove – antiques stalls between Portobello Road and
Kensington Park Road
•Portobello Green – more new fashion and less vintage than Friday
The market is packed with stalls
from Westbourne Grove all the way up to and along Golborne Road, and across
under the Westway out to Ladbroke Grove. Come early to discover the best finds
and avoid the crowds!
Sunday
Portobello Green has a market
selling mostly vintage clothing and bric-a-brac, but there’s no street market
in Portobello or Golborne Roads.
Most cafes and many shops are
open, and there may be forecourt traders at the southern end of Portobello Road.
Monday-Tuesday-Wednesday
•Portobello Road between Elgin Crescent and
the Westway – fruit and veg, household goods, a few clothing stalls, sometimes
casual stalls of vintage clothing or bric-a-brac
•Golborne Road – fruit and veg,
hot food
Thursday
Portobello market and Golborne market is
half-day on Thursdays, with stalls closing by 1pm.
Bank Holidays
The street market is open on Good
Friday, but closed on other bank holidays.
Antiques Arcades
The antiques arcades off
Portobello Road between Chepstow Villas and Westbourne Grove only open on
Saturdays, most from 7am till about 4pm.
Shops & Cafes
In Portobello Road from Notting
Hill to the Westway, most shops and cafes open seven days a week. Shops
normally open at around 10am Monday to Saturday, later on Sundays. Coffee shops
usually open earlier, many at around 7am for breakfast.
North of the Westway and in
Golborne Road, most cafes open every day, but not many of the shops open on
Sundays, so if you have a particular shop to visit, it’s a good idea to check
with them first.
"happiness isn't happiness without a violin-playing goat. "
-Anna (Julia Roberts) Notting hill 1999
"happiness isn't happiness without a violin-playing goat. "
-Anna (Julia Roberts) Notting hill 1999
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