Notting Hill property guide
Notting Hill’s charm and appeal rests on a wonderful mixture of atmosphere,
architecture, demographics and hype.
Its beautifully manicured communal gardens, parks, boutiques, restaurants and the
sights and delights of Portobello market combine to make the area a prime central
London location where bohemian meets cool.
Why live here in Notting Hill
Along with its world renowned stunning communal gardens and highly prized London
squares, Notting Hill enjoys close proximity to Hyde Park and Holland Park.
Notting Hill is home to:
History
Saxon origins
When the Saxons arrived around AD700, the ‘sons of Cynesige’ founding
Cheniston (Kensington) while the ‘sons of Cnotta’ or Cnotingas moved
further up the hill (Notting Hill). For centuries, the area was known only for its
roadside inns, which attracted highwaymen, and gravel pits at the top of Kensington
Church Street.
Racing from Notting Hill
In 1836, ‘a racing emporium more extensive than Ascot or Epsom’ was
created, with Portobello Lane forming its eastern boundary. Spectators would walk
across the fields to a hill used as a vantage point, which is now the site of St
John’s Church. However, the racecourse only lasted until 1842.
Pots and pigs
In the early 1840s, the hamlet of Notting Hill had turned into a village. At that
time, it was known as ‘The Potteries and Piggeries’ because the first
people who moved into the area were brick and pottery makers, closely followed by
pig keepers. An old kiln still stands on Walmer Road, and the village water pump
is now Waterstone’s.
Today’s vista
With the arrival of a railway line in 1864, the last remaining fields soon became
covered by shops and homes.
Types of property for sale
Property ranges from large stucco fronted family houses, sweeping crescents and
terraces surrounding communal gardens to smaller, bohemian pied a terres.
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Places of Interest
- Markets:
Portobello Road and the market on Fridays and Saturdays
- Cinemas:
The Coronet cinema at Notting Hill Gate and Electric cinema on Portobello Road
- Shops:
The boutiques and shops and café culture of Westbourne Grove
- Fame
The Travel bookshop and ‘blue door’ made famous by Richard Curtis’s
1999 film Notting Hill starring Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts
- Events:
Communal gardens open day in summer
The world famous Notting Hill carnival over the August bank holiday weekend.
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Getting to Notting Hill
Tube:
Central, District and Circle tube lines, all about 20 minutes from the heart of
the West End.
Nearby Ladbroke Grove station is on the Hammersmith & City line.
Rail:
Paddington Station is just over a mile away, providing direct mainline trains to
the west, south west, Wales, and Cotswolds.
Airport:
Heathrow is 15 minutes away using the Heathrow Express service from London Paddington.
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