Short read: This is reconnaissance on the razzle – the search-party that syncopates.
Short listen: Meet your guide, let him tell you a little bit about this tour – about Notting Hill and Portobello Road! It’s Tom’s podcast about the walk. It’s a good listen. Tom’s a barrister (a “recovering lawyer”) and ace Blue Badge guide. He’s fun, witty, engaging, friendly, whip-smart, charming – what’s not to like.
Long read: Because Notting Hill on a Saturday morning – market morning! – is curious and colourful, offbeat and yeasty. Here you walk with a ticket of freedom – a pass to scintillating escarpments. Just consider what’s squeezed out onto the palette this hillside: swells and scruffs; market stalls and scandal; Jimi Hendrix and Carnival; Cut-Throat Alley and Victorian Gothic; Madonna and Hugh Grant (let alone Julia Roberts and that bookshop); cottages, potteries and piggeries; colour washed mews and cab shelters and a racecourse and the gout route to Bath and butchers in straw hats and an invisible boundary between the present and the past… Magic!Guided by Tom, Brian or Richard III. N.B. the Notting Hill & Portobello Market Walk ends in Portobello Market, very near Notting Hill Gate Tube Stop.
Hugh Grant read: “…the world I live in. Which is here – Notting Hill – not a bad place to be. There’s the market on weekdays, selling every fruit and vegetable known to man. The tattoo parlour – with a guy outside who got drunk and now can’t remember why he chose ‘I love Ken.’ The radical hair-dressers where everyone comes out looking like the Cookie Monster, whether they like it or not. Then suddenly it’s the weekend, and from break of day, hundreds of stalls appear out of nowhere, filling Portobello Road right up to Notting Hill Gate and thousands of people buy millions of antiques, some genuine and some not so genuine. So this is where I spend my days and years – in this small village in the middle of a city…”
NOTTING HILL & PORTOBELLO MARKET – THE PRACTICALS
The Notting Hill & Portobello Market walk takes place every Saturday at 10.45 am. Meet Tom MBE, Brian or Richard III just outside the exit of Holland Park Tube.
IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THE GUIDING
Don’t just take it from us…
LONDON WALKS PRIVATE WALKS
If you can’t make one of the regularly scheduled, just-turn-up, Notting Hill & Portobello Market it can always be booked as a private tour. If you go private you can have the Notting Hill & Portobello Market walk – or any other London Walk – on a day and at a time that suits your convenience. We’ll tailor it to your requirements. Ring Fiona or Mary on 020 7624 3978 or email us at [email protected] and we’ll set it up and make it happen for you. A private London Walk – they’re good value for an individual or couple and sensational value for a group – makes an ideal group or educational or birthday party or office (team-building) or club outing.
GIVE THE GIFT OF LONDON WALKS
A private London Walk makes a fab gift – be it a birthday or anniversary or Christmas present or whatever. Merchandise schmerchandise (gift wrapped or not) – but giving someone an experience, now that’s special. Memories make us rich.
A non-expected tour through Notting HIll. An area that has only become popular and famous in the last 20 years. Our tourguide Richard (III) was a well informed guide who especially gave very interesting insights into the buildings around Holland Park. Richard also knew a lot about film locations in Notting Hill.
Compared to other guides, we honestly have to say, that he couldn‘t completely keep up with them. But nevertheless, Richard gave us an interesting morning. Ending – or course – at the famous Notting Hill Bookshop from the movie.
Rated 5 out of 5
Kate –
Richard III is a cracker. Quietly spoken and sensibly using a mic and speaker. Would be great if all guides did this.
Very witty and informative. Thank you once again
Rated 5 out of 5
Kerry –
We loved this walk around beautiful Holland Park and Nottinghill! Richard III is knowledgeable and informative.
Rated 5 out of 5
Janice Horner –
Richard III was a charming tour guide. It was a hot day and he was respectful and tried to keep participants as comfortable as possible by limiting the time in the sun. I enjoyed his stories about the Notting Hill/Holland Park/Portobello Market area and he gave good recommendations of places to visit or eat after the tour ended. I would take another tour with him on future visits to the city.
Rated 5 out of 5
Katrina Law –
Fascinating walk around stunning Holland Park and Notting Hill. Richard III is a fabulous guide: extremely knowledgable, a terrific orator and keeps a perfect pace throughout. Highly recommended!
Rated 5 out of 5
Belinda Manley –
These walks are always a treat. Tidbits of history, architecture, culture presented in charming fashion. Richard III is excellent presenter and I appreciated he wore a mic. HollandPark, Notting Hill and the Portobello Rd market in one great walk!
Rated 5 out of 5
Angela –
Another fascinating, fact-filled amble with Richard III. If you are curious about the history, buildings and current day links around Portobello, you will really enjoy this tour
Rated 5 out of 5
Karen Pettigrew –
Despite the heat, Richard III did a great job of bringing this fascinating area to life. Tales of squalor, wealth, murder and potteries come vividly to life. Architectural gems and places for the common man. Ending in a bustling Portobello Road market. Great fun and well worth the morning.
Rated 5 out of 5
Carol Aguilar –
Amazing tour. Brian did a great job and was a wealth of knowledge. Always had a bit of intrigue as we moved onto the next stop. Highly recommended.
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Anna –
One of the most interesting walks I have been on.
Thim van der Laan –
A non-expected tour through Notting HIll. An area that has only become popular and famous in the last 20 years. Our tourguide Richard (III) was a well informed guide who especially gave very interesting insights into the buildings around Holland Park. Richard also knew a lot about film locations in Notting Hill.
Compared to other guides, we honestly have to say, that he couldn‘t completely keep up with them. But nevertheless, Richard gave us an interesting morning. Ending – or course – at the famous Notting Hill Bookshop from the movie.
Kate –
Richard III is a cracker. Quietly spoken and sensibly using a mic and speaker. Would be great if all guides did this.
Very witty and informative. Thank you once again
Kerry –
We loved this walk around beautiful Holland Park and Nottinghill! Richard III is knowledgeable and informative.
Janice Horner –
Richard III was a charming tour guide. It was a hot day and he was respectful and tried to keep participants as comfortable as possible by limiting the time in the sun. I enjoyed his stories about the Notting Hill/Holland Park/Portobello Market area and he gave good recommendations of places to visit or eat after the tour ended. I would take another tour with him on future visits to the city.
Katrina Law –
Fascinating walk around stunning Holland Park and Notting Hill. Richard III is a fabulous guide: extremely knowledgable, a terrific orator and keeps a perfect pace throughout. Highly recommended!
Belinda Manley –
These walks are always a treat. Tidbits of history, architecture, culture presented in charming fashion. Richard III is excellent presenter and I appreciated he wore a mic. HollandPark, Notting Hill and the Portobello Rd market in one great walk!
Angela –
Another fascinating, fact-filled amble with Richard III. If you are curious about the history, buildings and current day links around Portobello, you will really enjoy this tour
Karen Pettigrew –
Despite the heat, Richard III did a great job of bringing this fascinating area to life. Tales of squalor, wealth, murder and potteries come vividly to life. Architectural gems and places for the common man. Ending in a bustling Portobello Road market. Great fun and well worth the morning.
Carol Aguilar –
Amazing tour. Brian did a great job and was a wealth of knowledge. Always had a bit of intrigue as we moved onto the next stop. Highly recommended.