Getting Your Bearings

This part of London sits between two distinct neighbourhoods: High Street Kensington, known for its elegant shopping and museums, and Notting Hill, famous for its pastel-coloured houses and market culture. Both are within easy walking distance of each other, and Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens border the area to the east.

Eat and Drink Nearby

• Portobello Road Market runs most days and is packed with food stalls, vintage finds, and antiques — best visited on a Saturday when it's in full swing
• The Electric Bar and Brasserie on Portobello Road serves a lively, cosmopolitan menu in one of Notting Hill's most iconic buildings
• Black and Blue on Kensington Church Street is a great choice for a proper steak
• Notting Hill Bookshop, made famous by the film of the same name, is worth a browse even if you're not buying
• Planet Organic, the UK's largest fully certified organic supermarket, is handy for fresh produce and groceries

Culture and Sights

• Kensington Palace, the former home of Princess Diana and current residence of the Prince and Princess of Wales, offers a rare glimpse into royal history, set within beautiful gardens
• Kensington Gardens, once the private grounds of Kensington Palace, inspired J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan — look out for the bronze Peter Pan statue
• The Design Museum is a short walk away and always worth a visit for its rotating exhibitions
• The Electric Cinema, built in 1910, is one of London's oldest working cinemas and a lovely spot to catch a film in style
• Holland Park, a quieter, leafier alternative to Hyde Park, is a lovely spot for a walk

Getting Around

Both High Street Kensington and Notting Hill Gate underground stations (District, Circle & Central lines) are around a ten-minute walk, giving fast, direct access across the city.

From the airports:

• Heathrow: Piccadilly line direct to Notting Hill Gate
• Gatwick: Gatwick Express to Victoria, then the District line direct to High Street Kensington or Notting Hill Gate
• Stansted: Stansted Express to Liverpool Street, then the Central line direct to Notting Hill Gate
• Luton: Thameslink to Farringdon, then the Elizabeth line to Paddington, then the Circle line to Notting Hill Gate or High Street Kensington
• London City Airport: DLR to Bank, then the Central line direct to Notting Hill Gate

Eurostar (King's Cross St Pancras) connects via the Circle line direct to Notting Hill Gate or High Street Kensington.

Good to Know

If you're planning a stay between Kensington and Notting Hill, our own apartment sits right in the middle of everything in this guide — a basement flat on a quiet street, with its own private patio and easy walking access to both neighbourhoods.