In the 1970s it was at its Bohemian best and Jimi Hendrix wrote Purple Haze in Westbourne Grove...
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What to know about Notting Hill
Located in the West London Borough of Kensington & Chelsea, Notting Hill is an affluent and fashionable area covering Notting Hill Gate, Ladbroke Grove, Westbourne Grove, North Kensington, Bayswater and the famous Portobello Road, that was eternalised by the film, Notting Hill, starring Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant.
Notting Hill is one of the most diverse districts of London with a rich variety of things to see and do. Renowned throughout the world for its Caribbean carnival, it is a magnet for artists, writers and fashion designers, but it is also home to a growing number of wealthy bankers, drawn by its edgy atmosphere. From browsing the infamous Portobello Road Street Market for everything from fruit and veg to antiques and vintage clothing, to perusing travel locations in The Travel Bookshop, from the film Notting Hill , or just grabbing a quick bite to eat in one of the many, delicious eateries, you’ll never want to leave Notting Hill. In the 1970s it was at its Bohemian best and Jimi Hendrix wrote Purple Haze in Westbourne Grove, then a run-down and deprived area, but in the early 1990's it became established as one of the trendiest places in town.
August Bank Holiday weekend is one of the most exciting and enjoyable times to be in Notting Hill, as the world famous Notting Hill Carnival hits the streets. Beginning life as a street festival held by the local West Indian community, the Carnival now boasts the title of Europe’s biggest street festival. With twenty miles of exquisite and vibrant costumes, over forty static sound systems and more than a million carnival goers revelling in the array of Caribbean music and food, this is a sight not to be missed!
Famous residents include Jeremy Paxman, Patsy Kensit, Claudia Schiffer, Elle McPherson, Clare Danes and Van Morrison. Schools in the area are excellent and among the most popular are: Basset House, Pembridge Hall, Wetherby, Ashbourne, Thomas's, Collingham, Our Lady of Victories and Francis Holland.
As one of Notting Hill's most popular and longest established estate agents, Marsh & Parsons sell not only to celebrities but also to the army of young City types looking for London's brightest night life. The Notting Hill branch of Marsh & Parsons is run by Director, Keith Gorny and covers not only Notting Hill but also nearby Bayswater, where JM Barrie's creation Peter Pan was born.
Property types in Notting Hill
Its property is equally varied, with Trellick Tower, a futuristic 1970s' tower block designed by Erno Goldfinger, who inspired the James Bond character, to the iconic Grade II listed Tabernacle building which, with a gallery, bar, theatre and courtyard, hosts a multitude of arts and theatre events. Notting Hill has something for everyone. In the 18th century, Notting Hill was home to the Hippodrome race track and the church of St John the Evangelist now stands on the site of the old grandstand. Much of the area was redeveloped in the middle of the 19th century, leaving many Victorian homes, some of which have since been converted to flats.
From contemporary, new apartments to large Victorian houses, with a multitude of period conversion flats in between, the architecture of Notting Hill is as eclectic and colourful as its character!
So what will you get for your money in Notting Hill W11 and Bayswater W2?
Despite recent fluctuations in property prices, transactions remain brisk throughout the area. Marsh & Parsons sells studio flats for between £250,000 and £400,000 and one-bedroom flats for between £350,000 and £1,500,000. However, flats surrounding any of Notting Hill's 13 garden squares sell for far more. In prime parts of Notting Hill, prices go even higher and the very best sell for up to £2,500 per square foot.
Mews houses are a common feature of Notting Hill and prices start from around £750,000 in W11 and can go up to £5 million. Prices don't stop there and houses for sale in Notting Hill can achieve in excess of £20 million.
What else can you expect from Notting Hill W11 and Bayswater W2?
The best bars include The Lonsdale, renowned for its cocktails, The Notting Hill Arts Club where you can relax on the sofas or loose yourself on the dance floor, and Beach Blanket Babylon, famed for its chaotic décor. There are too many restaurants to mention, but the Ledbury is one of Notting Hill's best with a clutch of awards even though it hasn't been open long.
There are numerous delis and cafes, including the delightful Mr Christian's, where Annie Lennox used to work behind the counter, and which sells 15 varieties of olive and home-made brownies and flapjacks.There is plenty to do in Notting Hill, beside the annual carnival. The Electric Cinema is the oldest surviving built picture house that has the comfiest sofas you'll ever watch a film in; there's also The Gate another cult venue for movie goers and packed during the Notting Hill Film Festival. And there is another festival – The Tavistock – which runs in September to promote local arts and creativity.
Bayswater is a slightly different market: its prices are somewhat lower and the type of property can be slightly more modern as Bayswater was heavily bombed during the Second World War. One of the few buildings to escape the Luftwaffe was Whiteleys, the department store, which Hitler wanted to use as his London headquarters and ordered pilots not to destroy it. It was once the biggest department store in Britain and had a theatre and a golf course on the roof.
Before the bombs came, the Victorians had built wide avenues to make it like Knightsbridge and Queensway was the Bond Street of this part of London. Then the railway came and the area became a grimy, sooty and less desirable address. Today, with the redevelopment of Paddington Basin, the area is definitely on the up.
Green spaces in Notting Hill
Notting Hill is home to numerous, sought after garden squares and boasts the largest, private, garden square in London, Ladbroke Garden Square. Moreover, the beautiful and vast open spaces of Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park are just a short walk away.
Transport in Notting Hill
There are excellent transport links in Notting Hill including London Underground services from the following stations:
Holland Park (Central Line, Zone 2)
Ladbroke Grove (Central Line, Zone 2)
Latimer Road (Central and Hammersmith & City Lines, Zone 2)
Notting Hill Gate (Circle and District Lines, Zone 1)
Westbourne Park (Central and Hammersmith & City Lines, Zone 2)
Click here for an Underground Map
For more information about the bus routes in the Notting Hill area, click here.
For more information about the bus routes in the Bayswater and Queensway area, click here.
Which London Borough is Notting Hill in?
Notting Hill is in the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea (RBKC). Click here for more information about council tax bands, parking permits and healthcare services in Notting Hill.
How can I find out about schools in the Notting Hill area?
For a comprehensive list of schools in the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea please click here.
Which London Borough is Bayswater in?
Bayswater is in the City of Westminster. Click here for more information about council tax bands, parking permits and healthcare services in Bayswater.
How can I find out about schools in the Bayswater area?
For a comprehensive list of schools in the City of Westminster Borough please click here.
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