Day Out in Notting Hill

Kensington Palace and Gardens

Start at Queensway Tube station, walk through Kensington Gardens and kick the day off with a visit to Kensington Palace. The childhood home of Queen Victoria has been a Royal residence for over 300 years. The State Apartments including the splendid Royal ceremonial dress collection are open to the public. There are also wonderful formal gardens to enjoy in the warmer months.

Soak up the Notting Hill Lifestyle

Retrace your route through Kensington Gardens and head towards Notting Hill. Notting Hill is now home to the rich and famous and the setting for one of the most successful British films of all time. Notting Hill's big draw in the summer is, of course, Notting Hill Carnival. But with the wonderful Portobello Road market and some fabulous boutiques and restaurants, Notting Hill is worth visiting any time.

Playtime in Portobello

At Pembridge Road you have three routes that will take you to Portobello Road. Straight down Pembridge Road and Pembridge Villas then turn left onto Westbourne Grove and surrounding streets for fashion outlets (Agnès B, Laundry Industry, Ghost), contemporary galleries and other designer shops. Try Ginger for lunch, or book a table for dinner. An alternative route down Kensington Park Road offers a variety of restaurants, the Paul Smith shop and other designer outlets. Your third route goes straight down Portobello Road. If you have young children a lunch stop at the Lazy Daisy Café should keep everyone happy.

Portobello Road is full of unique clothes and antique shops. The busiest day is Saturday, when the market takes place, although some stalls are open throughout the week, mostly for food. If you've made it this far without eating, a wonderful vegetarian takeaway from the Grain Shop or hearty British food at Sausage and Mash Café should suffice.

The streets around Portobello Road also offer a number of specialist shops. Join the throng thumbing through racks of subcultural sounds at record shop Rough Trade, or for your culinary needs try Books for Cooks on Blenheim Crescent.

Choose your next holiday destination a few doors down at the Travel Bookshop, featured as Hugh Grant's shop in the film Notting Hill. Don't miss the boutiques and jewellery shops in Portobello Green just under the Westway. If you still have time, farther down Portobello Road turn right onto Golborne Road for fantastic views of the landmark Trellick Tower, superb antique shops and delicious pastries from Lisboa, a famous Portuguese delicatessen.

Stay for the evening and enjoy one of Notting Hill's many bars and restaurants. If you've spent the day hoping to see the "blue door" from the film Notting Hill, don't worry. You haven't missed it. It's not there any more.