I’m definitely not alone when I say that watching the 1999 film Notting Hill made me want to visit this charming London neighborhood in real life. Twenty-six years later, I finally checked it off my bucket list, and it did not disappoint!
Notting Hill is just as dreamy as it appears on screen, with stately row houses, manicured parks, and cozy bookstores and cafés tucked along picturesque streets.
It’s the perfect place to spend an afternoon wandering around, but there’s also plenty to do in the area to fill an entire day. Keep reading to discover the best things to do in and around Notting Hill in just one day!
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What to Do Around Notting Hill: A One Day London Guide
Table of Contents
- Shop at Portobello Road Market
- Visit Notting Hill Filming Locations
- Walk Down Landsdowne Crescent & Lancaster Road
- Take a Boat Tour at Little Venice
- Tour Kensington Palace
- Stroll Through Hyde Park
- Final Thoughts
Shop at Portobello Road Market
Portobello Road Market is one of London’s most famous street markets and has been in operation for more than 160 years.
The market stretches over one mile along Portobello Road with hundreds of vendors selling everything from vintage clothing, handcrafted home decor, used books, original artwork, international foods, and everything in between!
The market is open daily, but you’ll find more vendors on the weekend. The vendors usually begin setting up around 8:30 am and start closing shop around 6 pm.
Visit Notting Hill Filming Locations
The most iconic Notting Hill movie filming location is the famous blue door where Hugh Grant’s character lived.
While the interior scenes were filmed in a studio and the original blue door was auctioned off for charity, visitors still flock to 280 Westbourne Park Road to snap a photo and imagine Hugh Grant standing in the doorway.
The home was once owned by the film’s writer, Richard Curtis, and is now a private residence. Just be respectful and avoid standing on the doorstep when taking photos.
The gift shop at 142 Portobello Road served as the filming location for the Travel Bookshop in the movie. It was inspired by the real-life Notting Hill Bookshop, located just around the corner at 13 Blenheim Crescent.
You’ll also find Rosmead Gardens in the heart of Notting Hill. This is the private garden that Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant snuck into at night. Although the gardens are still off-limits to the public, you can spot the fence they climbed over in the film.
A few other filming locations include the Coronet, which is the movie theater where Grant’s character watched Anna Scott’s movie. Nobu Restaurant in Mayfair is where Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant are dining when she confronts the obnoxious men.
For a more in-depth and behind-the-scenes experience, consider booking a Notting Hill Filming Location Walking Tour.
Walk Down Landsdowne Crescent & Lancaster Road
Landsdowne Crescent and Lancaster Road are two of the prettiest streets in Notting Hill.
Lansdowne Crescent is my personal favorite, with the crescent-shaped road lined with elegant white Georgian and Victorian townhouses.
If you visit in the spring, you’ll see the houses draped in vibrant purple wisteria. It’s such a beautiful contrast against the crisp white homes.
Music lovers may recognize this street as the former home of Jimi Hendrix, who lived in a basement flat at 22 Lansdowne Crescent with his girlfriend. In 1970, he tragically died of an overdose in his home.
Lancaster Road offers a completely different vibe. This colorful street is lined with Victorian homes painted in nearly every shade of the rainbow, making it one of the most photographed spots in Notting Hill.
This street has also been featured in several different movies, like A Hard Day’s Night. As always, be mindful of residents and avoid stepping onto doorsteps for photos.
London is also known for its historic mews. These mews are charming cobblestone alleys tucked behind grand 18th and 19th-century homes that once housed horse stables and coach houses.
A few of the more popular mews in Notting Hill include St Luke’s Mews and Colville Mews. Look for the pink house in St. Luke’s Mews, which was featured in the movie Love Actually.
Take a Boat Tour at Little Venice
Little Venice is one of London’s most charming and underrated neighborhoods. The main highlight is the picturesque 19th-century canal that winds through the area.
The Regent’s Canal was originally built to transport goods between the Thames and North London.
Today, visitors can take a boat ride through the canal, where they can spot popular landmarks, glide past waterside homes, and even pass through a working lock.
After the boat tour, stop for lunch at Cafe Laville, where you can enjoy your meal overlooking the canal.
Tour Kensington Palace
Visiting Kensington Palace is a must when you’re in London! You can even explore the iconic palace with a self-guided audio tour through the State Apartments.
There is so much history within these walls. The original mansion was built in 1605, and it became a royal residence in 1689.
Princess Diana famously lived here, and today it is the London residence of Prince Will & Kate and their family.
Some of the highlights of the tour include the King’s State Apartments, the Queen’s State Apartments, the Grand Staircase, Queen Victoria’s childhood bedroom, and the Jewel Room.
The audioguide is fantastic, and we learned so much about the history of the palace and the royals who have resided here.
After the tour, stop by the Orangery, the palace’s onsite cafe, and enjoy a pastry and hot tea.
Admission to the palace can be purchased in advance or at the door. It is also included with the London Pass. Photos are allowed on the tour, but no videos.
Stroll Through Hyde Park
Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens are located beside Kensington Palace and are part of London’s seven Royal Parks.
This 350-acre park is the perfect nature escape where you can rent a boat on Serpentine Lake, enjoy a picnic, visit the Diana Memorial Fountain, stroll through the Kensington Gardens, and admire the colorful leaves along the Broad Walk in autumn.
This is one of our favorite places to go during the fall. For more recommendations, see our guide The Best Places to Go in London This Fall.
Just south of the park, you’ll find two world-class museums, the Natural History Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum. If you have time, grab lunch at the V&A Café inside the museum, which is worth visiting for its stunning architecture alone.
Final Thoughts
Notting Hill is such a lovely area in London, you’re going to love spending a day wandering around and visiting these spots!
All of these locations are within a few miles of each other if you want to explore on foot, or they can easily be reached by the Tube.
Here are a few more London guides that you might like:
- The Best Things to Do in London’s West End
- 5 Foods You Have to Try at Borough Market
- The Best Things to Do Around Tower Bridge
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