Top Notting Hill Activities for a Perfect Day Out

The Notting Hill area of London is just as pretty as I imagined it would be. Rows upon rows of colourful houses, eye-catching doors, and hidden mews.

Layer in the boutique shops, bookstores, antiques, and endless eateries, and you’ve just discovered the best Notting Hill activities found in this West-end London neighbourhood.

In this article, I share all the fun things to do in Notting Hill, including where to eat and shop.
I will share the places to go in Notting Hill for the prettiest streets, the most charming Hidden Mews, and other Notting Hill attractions you don’t want to miss.

Notting Hill Activities

Admire the Rows of Colourful Houses

row of colourful houses in is best notting hill activities

There’s no mistaking it. The rainbow colourful houses of Notting Hill will have you swooning.

Homes and doors are painted every colour you can imagine, and no two are alike. This Instagrammable area of London is a photo op waiting to happen.

blue house in notting hill tourist attractions

A day in Notting Hill admiring these pretty pastel homes and colourful doors is an absolute must.

Hang out in a Notting Hill Cafe

notting hill activities include admiring the pink and blue houses

Of all the things to do in Notting Hill London, most come to this neighbourhood to hang out and catch up with a friend. You won’t find any famous London landmarks here.

And, they love to do that in a cafe. Visit Notting Hill and you’ll find there’s no shortage of charming cafes.

I highly recommend the chic cafe called Farm Girl and the no-frills Coffee Emporium for your coffee supplies and fresh brew.

Support the Local Arts & Culture

Visit The Tabernacle, a reformed old church now houses cultural activities and events everything from musicals to theatre to literary events

Wondering what to do in Notting Hill, check the calendar of activities is always changing, so check out what activities might be on when you’re in this London neighbourhood.

Places to Go in Notting Hill London

Where to Find the Prettiest Streets in Notting Hill

cute car with pink house in places to go in notting hill london

There’s no denying it, this lovely neighbourhood has some of the prettiest streets in London.

And the colourful houses in Notting Hill play a big part.

2 doors on pink and green houses in places to go in notting hill london

What to see in Notting Hill are these picturesque streets. Here are my favourite streets I recommend you go for a stroll:

  • Colville Road, Colville Terrace
  • Denbigh Terrace, Denbigh Road
  • Hillgate Place, Farm Place
  • Lancaster Road
  • Lansdowne Rise, Landsdowne Road
  • Rosemead Road
  • Elgin Crescent
  • Uxbridge Street

Where to Find the Hidden Mews in Notting Hill London

archway to mews in with townhomes as places to go in notting hill london

There are hidden mews scattered all around London. But some of the best ones can be found right here.

You might be wondering what exactly a mews is. It refers to a small side street converted from stables. Although they were once the most basic accommodation for horses, now they’re hidden gems down a long alley often with pretty gardens framing their doors.

yellow building called mews as best places to go in notting hill

One of the most well-known is St Luke’s Mews, with its Instagrammable pink house, painted doors, and Love Actually film fame.

Others that stole my heart as well are Pencombe Mews and Colville Mews. Colville Mews is home to colourful shops and picture-pretty homes.

Streets like Simon Close are worth peering into, too. Powis Mews is another one to seek out, although not as charming as others.

Where to Go for Brunch in Notting Hill

egg avocado toast in notting hill London restaurant

You don’t have to look very hard to find a yummy brunch place.

Granger and Co offers some scrumptious options that are both healthy and decadent – ricotta pancakes with melting honeycomb butter, anyone? That was my choice and recommend you try it too.

I don’t know about you, but anything with Eggs in the name gets my attention. Try Eggsbreak or Eggslut, they both have a great menu and atmosphere.

Where to Go for Lunch in Notting Hill

Having every cookbook of star chef Yotam Ottolenghi, I knew I needed to try his Notting Hill location called Yum! It’s a great place for lunch or takeaway, and it is yum-my!

You can’t go wrong with the menu at Daylesford either. An organic farm-to-fork menu featuring lots of delicious vegan options. While the deli and bakery at street level sell freshly baked loaves and artisan cheeses. I tried their loaf of the day which was a banana nut – so good!

Or, head to Westbourne Grove, where there is one of the best concentrations of restaurants in this neighbourhood.

Where to Go for Dinner in Notting Hill

For fine dining quality without the stuffiness and formality go to Core by Clare Smyth, the female chef who won 3 Michelin stars.

Known as the best Greek restaurant in Notting Hill, Mazi, offers a modern take on Greek specialties.

The Best Pubs in Notting Hill

townhomes with blue door and black door with plants as places to go in Notting Hill London

Tucked away on a quiet street, seek out The Ladbroke Arms, for the best patio pub in Notting Hill, or The Hillgate located on one of the prettiest streets in this neighbourhood too.

The Portobello Star has been serving alcohol since 1740 and is known for its Gin &Tonic which is my kinda place!

The last notable pub is often thought of as Britain’s prettiest pub, The Churchill Arms.

Fun Things to Do in Notting Hill London

Scout out The Notting Hill Movie Locations

notable street in Notting Hill tourist attractions

Like most of us, I was introduced to Notting Hill through the famous Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts movie. If you’re a fan too, visiting some of the most memorable locations is something you will want to do.

William Thacker’s bookshop was inspired by The Notting Hill Bookshop at 13-15 Blenheim Crescent. The famous blue door where characters William and Spike lived can be found at 280 Westbourne Park Road.

green and blue door with ivy as fun things to do in notting hill

And, the romantic midnight stroll through the secret gardens that William and Anna Scott took can be found on Rosmead Road. The gardens are private, so you can only catch a glimpse through the fence.

Spend some time on Portobello Road

pink blue house on portobello road as fun things to do in notting hill london

Walk down Portobello Road, one of the most famous market streets in London.

There’s an endless array of antique stalls, vintage boutiques and artisan shops from bakeries to cheese to fishmongers.

I especially loved going into the vintage shops and looking at all the treasures. Alice’s was a favourite shop I recommend you check out.

red storefront selling antiques is a fun things to do in notting hill

It’s one of the largest concentrations of antique stalls with over 1,000 dealers selling their treasures. This lively street also offers some delicious street food stands. You can easily spend an entire day strolling this 3 km-long street.

blue storefront selling antiques on Portobello Road as fun things to do in notting hill

If the flea market is more to your taste, then head to the end toward Golborne Road. This area is known for finding the odd diamond in the rough, so if you’re patient and love to sift through a lot of junk you might just be lucky.

Saturdays are the busiest day to visit Portobello Street. Although it adds to the vibe, expect crowds. Notting Hill shops will be busier. Favourite restaurants might be tough to get into too, but the energy is infectious at the Portobello market.

Stop by the Museum of Brands

One might think that a museum about advertising is not worth seeing unless you’re really into media. But this is one of the most interesting and unusual museums in London.

It’s educational with a touch of nostalgia. A walk down memory lane featuring marketing materials throughout history. As well as learning the psychology behind advertising is a real eye-opener.

Peruse the Bookshops

notting hill bookstore

From Books for Cooks to The Notting Hill Bookshop and Lutyens & Rubinstein, this neighbourhood is full of little bookshops. Grab your coffee and peruse the tiny shops that are ever so quaint.

Watch a Movie

One of the top things to do on a rainy day in Notting Hill would be to go to Electric Cinema.

It’s one of England’s oldest and most romantic movie houses. Sink into the deep red velvet chairs and enjoy a glass of wine, that’s right- no pop stand at this movie theatre.

Pass through Notting Hill Gate Farmers Market

By happenstance, I lucked out! I visited Notting Hill on a Sunday and stumbled upon the neighbourhood’s lively farmers market. Mere steps from the Underground you’ll find locals coming out in droves which creates this fun community vibe.

Wondering what to do on a Saturday in Notting Hill, don’t forget to visit the Farmers Market.

Notting Hill Attractions

The Notting Hill Carnival

Visit over the August Bank Holiday weekend (toward the end of August) and be sure to join in on the multi-day party.

For 3 days, the streets shut down and celebrate Caribbean culture through food, music and costumes.

The Carnival began in the 1960s to bring diverse communities together in this immigrant neighbourhood. The tradition continues and grows with every passing year.

Take a Guided Tour

Make the most of your time here and take a guided tour. Learn from a local expert as they whisk you to some of the best places.

  • Notting Hill Walking Tour. Discover the neighbourhood with a local expert guide. Visit the Portobello Road market, see the famous blue door and music studios, and more.
  • Notting Hill Photography Session. If you are looking for unique photos of yourself with your partner or family you are in the right place. With some of London’s prettiest locations as a backdrop, enjoy a professional photo shoot as a memento of your time in London.

FAQ About Notting Hill, London

How to get to Notting Hill?

Getting to this London neighbourhood is super easy. Take the underground and exit at any of the tube stations of Notting Hill Gate in the south and Westbourne Park and Ladbroke Grove in the north. Or, walk from Hyde Park and Kensington Palace.

Is Notting Hill worth visiting?

Yes, Notting Hill is worth visiting. The village-y feel is incredibly charming. Notting Hill is considered London’s most picturesque area due to its colourful houses. Lively streets, markets, events and festivals also make this a popular reason to visit this west-end London neighbourhood.

What’s the history of Notting Hill?

The history of Notting Hill has changed over the decades. From brickmaking in the 1800s through prosperity in the Victorian era, slum housing in the mid-20th century and migration from the Caribbean. Today, it’s largely an area of pretty townhomes and private gardens and is considered one of the most expensive areas to live in London.

What is Notting Hill famous for?

Notting Hill is famous for its colourful houses, the annual Notting Hill Carnival and Portobello Road Market. It’s also famous for its bookshops, especially after the movie The Notting Hill.

As a Holidaymaker

I fell in love with Notting Hill, London. And, am so glad that while I was in Paris I decided to take the train to London for a few days.

Of all the Notting Hill things to do, I simply enjoyed gazing upon the rows and rows of colourful houses, eye-catching doors, and hidden mews. I lingered in bookstores, antique shops and cafes.

Go here and you too will spend one of the loveliest days with so many things to do in Notting Hill.

Next up, if you need help with planning your trip, be sure to head to my England Travel Guide page where you will find not only travel planning resources but also other helpful articles like:

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