Portobello Road Market

Portobello Road Market in Notting Hill is one of the most famous street markets in the world. The Saturday antiques market is the most popular but there is a street market six days a week. Portobello Road itself is a long, narrow street which stretches over two miles.

Portobello Road is lined with well-established shops and is not the average 'High Street' as most are independent stores. There has been a market on this street since around 1870. As well as the antique stalls there are a whole host of arcades, galleries, shops and cafes.

Notting Hill Movie Location Walk
While in the area, you might like to try this self-guided Notting Hill Film Location Walk.

1. Antiques Market
At the top of Portobello Road, nearest to Notting Hill tube station, is the antiques market. Walk down past the wonderful Mews houses till you reach where Chepstow Villas crosses Portobello Road. This is the start of the antiques section. It carries on down Portobello Road for about half a mile to Elgin Crescent. This may not seem far but it can take ages to walk with the Saturday crowds. And with hundreds of market stalls, shops and arcades to see you could spend a fair few hours here alone. There are also cafes and restaurants so do stop and enjoy your day. Expect to see a variety of antiques and collectables from all around the world and dating from Roman times to the 1960s.

Quick tip: Do be careful of your bags and valuables as crowds attract pickpockets. Don't leave your shopping unattended under your chair at a café – make sure you can see all your bags at all times.

2. Fruit and Vegetable Market
If you continue down Portobello Road (it is a hill) you'll come to the fruit and vegetable market stalls. These mostly serve the local community but it can be lovely to buy some fresh fruit for a picnic on a sunny day. These market stalls finish where Talbot Road crosses Portobello Road.

The section around Westbourne Park Road and Talbot Road was made famous in the film Notting Hill which starred Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts.

Between Talbot Road and The Westway you'll find more market stalls selling things like batteries and socks. The Westway is the area under a highway (A40). It can be a bit cold there, even on sunny days, as it in the shade.

3. Secondhand / Flea Market
Under the Westway you'll find secondhand clothes, jewelry, plus books and music. It can seem a bit run-down at this end of the road but it's worth checking out if you like a bargain. Friday is vintage clothing and homewares, Saturday is vintage, young designer and arts & crafts and Sunday is a general flea market. Continue on to Golborne Road for a slightly less up-market section where there are more bargains to be found on Fridays and Saturdays.

Portobello Road Market Opening Hours

• Monday: 8am – 6.30pm
• Tuesday: 8am – 6.30pm
• Wednesday: 8am – 6.30pm
• Thursday 8am – 1pm
• Friday: 8am – 6.30pm
• Saturday: 8am – 6.30pm
• Sunday: 11am-4pm

(Times can vary with the weather as stall holders may pack up early if it's rained all day.)

• Friday and Saturday are the main market days
• No fruit and veg market on Thursday and Sundays
• Saturday: The famous antiques market, plus fruit and veg market and flea market.
• Sunday: Many of the independent and boutique shops in and around Portobello Road are also open.

The Market is closed on UK Bank Holidays, Christmas Day and Boxing Day (26 December).

Doesn't the Antiques Market Start Early?

You may read that the antiques market opens at 5.30am – the official guide to Portobello Road Market states this – but in reality the market doesn't really start till around 8am. The tubes aren't running at 5.30am so don't worry about getting there so early. Plan to have breakfast in the area so you're ready to start looking around between 8am and 9am. The antiques market is usually crowded by 11.30am.

What Times Does It Really Close?

The antiques market officially closes at 5pm on Saturdays but expect market stallholders to start packing up around 4pm.

Top tip: PADA run an Information Booth at the junction of Portobello Road and Westbourne Grove to direct enquirers to specialist dealers and to provide general information.

Getting To Portobello Road Market

Official website: Getting There information

Nearest Tube Stations:

• Notting Hill Gate
• Ladbroke Grove

The Saturday antiques market is nearer to Noting Hill tube station. It's a five minute walk from the station - just follow the crowds.

There is limited parking in the area so do use public transport. You can use Journey Planner to plan your route.

Look for the PADA symbol on shops and market stalls to buy with confidence.

The Portobello Antiques dealers Association was founded over twenty years ago to ensure you can buy antiques here with confidence. All traders follow a code of conduct to ensure goods are not falsely described and that the price is clearly displayed or recorded. If it is not displayed ask to see the price guide so you can be sure you are being charged the same price as everyone else. Traders are open to a little bargaining but be respectful that this is not a middle Easter souk and these traders are reputable specialists.

Top Tip: You can request a free copy of the official Guide to Portobello Road Antiques Market from the PADA website. Their website is available in English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Russian, and Japanese, and has a great advanced search facility for sourcing antiques and dealers.

You may also enjoy seeing the list of Where to Buy Antiques in London and you can add your recommendations too.

Useful Resources

• Portobello & Golborne Road Market (official site)
• Portobello Road Antiques Market (official site)
• Street Sensation Portobello Road / Notting Hill. See photos of the local streets showing all the shops, cafes and restaurants with details.
• www.portobellomarket.org – written by an antiques trader who has a stall at the antiques market. Good for insider tips.