With its pretty pastel houses, its busy flee-food-and-everything-inbetween market and some of the most fantastic stores and restaurants in London, Notting Hill is always a good choice for a perfect day in London.
But how to make the most of your day in West London most beautiful neighbourhood? Below are a few ideas…
10 AM: There’s only one way to start a perfect day in Notting Hill: late (ish), with a side of buttery pastries and your choice of hot drinks. There are a few places nearby offereing just that, but my favourite has to be the Swedish-inspired, tiny but perfectly formed Fabrique Bakery on Portobello Road.
With marble tables, shabby-chic decor, amazing bread and more pastries than even I can manage, it’s the perfect spot to start the day the hygge way.
11 AM: Roam the area until you find your dream house.
Because if you haven’t ‘grammed 25 billion pictures of pretty pastel houses, have you even been to Notting Hill?
12 PM: Build up an appetite with a peak at what’s available at Portobello Market.
Open Monday to Saturday, the world-famous flee market is a happy mix of antiques, collectable, vintage fashion, bric-à-brac and of course, food!
If you like mushrooms, make sure you hunt down the Mushroom guy for one of the city’s best selection (and prices!) of funghi of all sorts!
There’s also a fantastic Spanish food store down Portobello Road where you can stock on Iberic staples…
(because this + jamon = the perfect Autumn dinner!)
1 PM: I could taco ’bout where to have lunch for hours, but it’s getting quite cold these days, so I highly recommend you head straight for Taqueria for a feast of the best tacos this side of the Atlantic.
The place itself is an absolute interiors dream, but believe it or not, the food is even better!
Whatever you order, I don’t think you can go wrong, but if you’re not sure what to get, the signature guac’ and the fish tacos are a good place to start.
Plus a portion of the steak tacos with browned cheese. Or two, ’cause you might not want to share those…
3 PM: Whether you’re in the mood for window shopping, or absolutely ready to get a headstart on your Christmas shopping, Notting Hill is a fantastic place to shop!
I especially love the independant, rather niche selection on Blenheim Crescent, ranging from beautiful flowers to kids clothing & toys, speciality food store & the all-round fantastic Books for Cooks.
Crammed with thousands of tasty titles and equipped with a squashy sofa for cookbook junkies in need of a long read, it’s every foodie’s dream come true (and my bank account’s worst nightmare).
Across the street, The Spice Shop is the ultimate Aladdin’s cave stocking over 2,500 spices and ingredients from around the world.
Plus, how cute is the brand’s signature yellow tin box?!
Traditional sweets’ shop Ask Mummy & Daddy offers a wide array of treats and always have some of the sweetest windows around…
But if you’re after a more substancial sweet treat, Biscuiteers is where it’s at for the prettiest novelty iced bicuits, a spot of afternoon tea or a hands-on icing masterclass!
6PM: Time for the cinema experience of a lifetime at Electric Cinema!
Forget the usual unconfortably shaped seats & full-on air conditioning. This is something else entirely.
Sixty-five leather armchairs with footstools and side tables offer unparalleled comfort.
In addition there are also 2-seater sofas at the rear of the theatre and six double beds in the front row in case you want to get snuggly.
Oh, and there’s also individual cashmere blankets, Champagne and snacks you’ll actually want to eat…
The perfect ending to a perfect day in Notting Hill!
This blog post is my entry for this month’s ‘A perfect…<fill in the blank>’ #travellinkup hosted by Angie, Emma and Jamie. Want to share a perfect moment, a perfect destination, a perfect storm, a perfect slice of cake…? Join in the fun through the links above!
Cake and Whisky 