must-visit in LondonShopping

Portobello Road

📍 Portobello Road, London, United Kingdom

1 photos

4.6/ 5.0

★★★★★

Quick Facts

Location: UK, London
Category: Shopping
Duration: 2-4 hours
Opening Hours: Monday Produce & everyday shops open; most antiques dealers closed · Tuesday Produce & everyday shops open; most antiques dealers closed · Wednesday Produce & everyday shops open; most antiques dealers closed · Thursday Vintage & antiques concentrated, from 10:00 to 18:00 · Friday Vintage & antiques concentrated, from 10:00 to 18:00 · Saturday Main antiques market day, 09:00-18:00 · Sunday Largely closed except a few cafés · Saturday is the full antiques market; Mon–Fri mainly food market and street shops
Ticket Price: Free Admission: Free to browse; shopping and food extra
Address: Portobello Road, London, United Kingdom
Coordinates: 51.5170, -0.2050

Introduction

Portobello Road runs for about 940 metres through Notting Hill in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, west London, and is the city's most recognisable market street. Its name commemorates the British capture of Portobelo, Panama, in 1739. The road is not one market but five overlapping ones with different sections trading on different days: the southern antiques stretch, from Notting Hill Gate to Elgin Crescent, runs on Saturdays only and is reckoned the world's largest antiques market, with dealers on site from about 07:00. The central section is a workaday fruit, vegetable and household market, open Monday to Saturday. The stretch north to the Westway flyover is the vintage clothing and jewellery district, busiest on Friday and Saturday. Under the flyover and along Golborne Road the market turns Caribbean, Moroccan and Mexican, with Lisboa Patisserie's custard tarts anchoring the north end. A dozen indoor antique arcades, among them Admiral Vernon and Harris Arcade, hold much of the specialist trade. The pastel terraced houses date from the mid-19th century, though their colours came in the 1980s and 1990s, and are Notting Hill's most photographed streetscape, best early in the morning.

✨ Highlights

The World's Largest Antiques Market (Saturdays Only)

The southern stretch from Notting Hill Gate to Elgin Crescent trades on Saturdays only, with dealers on site from about 07:00 and the best pieces often gone by noon.

Five Markets in One Street

Antiques, produce, vintage clothing, street food under the flyover and Golborne Road each run on different days; Saturday is the only day all sections open together.

Indoor Antique Arcades

A dozen arcades hide the specialist trade, with Admiral Vernon and Harris Arcade the best known and much of interest on upper floors and side lanes.

Pastel Terraced Houses

The houses date from the mid-19th century but their colours from the 1980s and 1990s; Lancaster Road and St Luke's Mews are the most photogenic, best early.

Notting Hill Film Locations

The 1999 film Notting Hill was shot around here; the original blue door now hangs in the Coronet Theatre and the film bookshop closed in 2011.

Notting Hill Carnival

Held every August Bank Holiday weekend since 1966, drawing about two million people; Europe's largest street festival, free to attend.

🛈 Practical Info

→Duration：2-4 hours; about 1.5 hours for the Saturday antiques alone, or half a day with the pastel streets and arcades.

→Facilities：Cafes, bakeries and street food stalls line the road; public toilets are limited, mostly in arcades and around the stations.

→Best Time：Saturday 09:00-11:00 for freshest antiques; pastel houses 08:00-10:00 for soft light and few people; avoid Carnival weekend unless you want the crowds.

→Worth it?：Yes. The world's largest antiques market plus the most photogenic pastel streets, and free. Even without buying, the arcades and photos are worth it. Friday is far calmer than Saturday.

→Watch out：Saturday midday is very crowded, so mind your belongings; many small stalls are cash only. The painted houses are private homes, so keep out of gardens and quiet. Judge antiques' authenticity and shipping yourself.

→Transportation：West London's Notting Hill; Notting Hill Gate (Central, Circle, District) is the southern entrance, Ladbroke Grove to the north, Westbourne Park to the east

Opening Hours

Opening Hours
Monday	Produce & everyday shops open; most antiques dealers closed
Tuesday	Produce & everyday shops open; most antiques dealers closed
Wednesday	Produce & everyday shops open; most antiques dealers closed
Thursday	Vintage & antiques concentrated, from 10:00 to 18:00
Friday	Vintage & antiques concentrated, from 10:00 to 18:00
Saturday	Main antiques market day, 09:00-18:00
Sunday	Largely closed except a few cafés

Saturday is the full antiques market; Mon–Fri mainly food market and street shops

Ticket Information

Ticket Information
Free Admission	Free to browse; shopping and food extra

💡 Tips

• Saturday 09:00-11:00 has the freshest antiques; by early afternoon trade buyers have taken the best pieces.

• Choose Friday for a calmer visit; the vintage district and Golborne Road are already open.

• Do not skip the arcades; Admiral Vernon and Harris Arcade hide specialist dealers on upper floors.

• Carry some cash; many small stalls and old arcade shops still take cash only.

• The pastel houses are best early between 08:00 and 10:00, and are private homes.

• Lisboa Patisserie's custard tarts at the north end are a local landmark snack.

FAQ

What are the opening hours of Portobello Road?

Monday: Produce & everyday shops open; most antiques dealers closed; Tuesday: Produce & everyday shops open; most antiques dealers closed; Wednesday: Produce & everyday shops open; most antiques dealers closed; Thursday: Vintage & antiques concentrated, from 10:00 to 18:00; Friday: Vintage & antiques concentrated, from 10:00 to 18:00; Saturday: Main antiques market day, 09:00-18:00; Sunday: Largely closed except a few cafés; Saturday is the full antiques market; Mon–Fri mainly food market and street shops

How much is the admission for Portobello Road?

Free Admission: Free to browse; shopping and food extra

Any practical tips for visiting Portobello Road?

Saturday 09:00-11:00 has the freshest antiques; by early afternoon trade buyers have taken the best pieces. Choose Friday for a calmer visit; the vintage district and Golborne Road are already open.