I have lived in Notting Hill for nearly 30 years. I have been blessed to travel the world, but never have I come across a place as cosmopolitan as Notting Hill.
I love its history, specifically the post-war period and the arrival of the majority black population via HM Windrush. I love the variation in housing, from the colourful Victorian houses to the brutalist architecture that has come to represent the legacy of social housing in London and even the world.
When my dad arrived in London in the Sixties, he lived in Queen’s Park but my aunt lived off Golborne Road. I would always come down for Carnival. I have always felt connected to this area so when the opportunity arose to move here I grabbed it with two hands. Community ties run deep in the face of the glitz and glamour that the area is typically known for.
Best eating and drinking
Dorian’s on Talbot Road is a fantastic addition to the ever growing Notting Hill restaurant scene. I love the ambience. It has a French bistro feel to it with a long dining counter. Honest cooking with professional service makes it a great spot to visit.
Layla on Portobello Road makes my favourite croissants or laminated dough pastries in London. It does not help that they are located literally opposite my salon. It is where I tell all my clients to go. Their pastries are divine, their aesthetic is pleasing and they are genuinely some of the nicest people about. A stone’s throw away, Adil and Jane have created a paradise for vegetarians and vegans at 345. They are my immediate neighbours and even better friends. The food is delicious and there is a great atmosphere. You will also find gastro books, furniture and souvenirs to buy. It is a perfect end to a long Portobello market walk.
George’s is a family run fish and chip shop I have been going to for years. The food is always on point, prices are perfect and the staff very friendly.
Some people go to Hakkasan for seafood but us locals go to Hassan’s van on Golborne Road. His street food rivals some of the best eateries in the city. People come from far and wide, to try Hassan’s wonderfully cooked and varied seafood. I have never not seen it busy. I have also never seen any restaurant as busy as Hassan’s after Friday prayers at the mosque. A local staple that not only serves amazing food but highlights the richness of the area and Moroccan culture. My go-to is the sole and calamari on a bed of rice and salad.
Another new addition that I am certain will be a mainstay is Strakers. I have had many good times there in such a short period. It has a communal vibe that fits in seamlessly. It is also head chef Thomas Straker’s first restaurant and that is shown in the love and care with which he creates.
Lisboa is an amazing place that has been serving the local community for more than 60 years. Their Pastel de Nata is possibly the best I’ve had so far, especially with the flaky base.
Where I work out
I have tried several pilates studios around London but X Pilates on Westbourne Grove is by far my favourite. Their classes are challenging but in a good way. The team are all very friendly and helpful and the studio itself is a really inviting space. Portobello Fitness Club has been here for yonks and I love it. I have been using it on and off for over 20 years. It is affordable, clean and a great place to meet people. I recently started the Wednesday night Zumba class. I cannot be bothered with gym machines. I just want to sweat, de-stress and move my body.
As a parent most of my favourite places are where I also see my kids get the most joy so I adore Kensington Memorial Park & Westway Sports Centre. My son spent his whole youth playing for Kensington Dragons, an amazing family football club that ran out of the park. When he was not playing football, he spent his summers rock climbing or playing tennis at Westway. They are two stalwarts of the area.
For a culture fix
The Tabernacle is the heart of the community. It is the meeting ground for many young black people in the area turned into a cultural hub from which amazing things take place.
It is also home to the Notting Hill Carnival Trust. What is Notting Hill without the carnival? We have had everything from birthday celebrations to my daughter’s ballet classes there. My son and his friends even did Karate there for a while. It is home to the Portobello Panto, a very different take on pantomimes that I have had the pleasure of contributing to.
The Notting Hill Bookshop, popularised by the film, is actually great. I love reading and I draw inspiration for a lot of my work from photography books. But avoid it on market days when droves of tourists stop by to take pictures.
Where to shop independent and vintage
I love independent businesses. There is something to be said about going out on your own and offering a best-in-class experience. That is what I have tried to achieve with my products and salon. And this is what I see Taylor Morris doing with sunglasses. Suave in both style and location on Golborne Road, it fits in perfectly in the hood.
Lovers Lane is the most amazing vintage shop with beautiful and unique runway pieces. My daughter’s friend’s mum, Kim, is the owner. They have a gorgeous selection of vintage clothes from countless brands. I could spend hours in there. Found and Vision is the best for designer vintage finds. Every piece is a dream. It is owned by my friend Karen Clarkson, who is an incredible stylist too.
Swanky Nails is the best nail bar in London. The staff, alongside owner Donia, are lovely, skilful and friendly. They have been with the business for years which is a good sign of a happy workplace. If you want perfect soft feet I recommend the triple callous triple scrub pedicure.
I have been ordering bouquets from Absolute Flowers for years and everyone there is amazing, especially Craig. They go above and beyond to accommodate you, always with a smile.
Grocery shopping
Devlin’s greengrocers stall is a staple. There is no Portobello without this stall. The Devlin family predate almost every relic of the area and beyond that they offer the freshest fruit and veg. My kids went to the same school as the current crop of Devlin’s so it feels like my wider ecosystem plays out in where I shop. A great example of the circular economy.
I have been shopping in Cash & Carry on Golborne Road for more than 30 years for quality international and hard to find products. You can bulk buy a lot of dry foodstuffs such as grains and a wide range of seasonings which I use a lot in my favourite dishes. They have five kilogram bags of Epsom salts which is very helpful.
I am powered by nuts. Cashews, peanuts and almonds, to be precise. Where better to get them than Portobello Wholefoods with their very own dispensaries? A mainstay in the area for the last 20 or so years.
You cannot beat a local supermarket. They stay open late and have all the critical things you need. I bake my famous nutmeg pound cake, which I serve in my salon, most evenings so I am constantly on the hunt for eggs. Sainsbury’s Local on Portobello Road has never let me down.
Getting around
I am blessed and privileged enough to work a stone’s throw away from where I live. With everything on my doorstep, I walk everywhere; to work, to pilates, to get my nails done and to buy food. It can be a chore in the winter but my god is it a gift in the spring and the summer. I have not driven in ages but I am actually thinking about getting a car for everything else.
Dream street
All Saints Road is the epicentre of Notting Hill. Without doubt the most historical road in the area, it is the centre of Black London. This is where activist Frank Crichlow opened The Mangrove, from which a new Afro-Caribbean community could thrive and build an entirely new face to Notting Hill. The frontline, as it was then known, is a piece of British history. Steve McQueen has done an amazing job of bringing it to life in his recent Small Axe mini-series.
I also like Powis Terrace because it is where new meets old. It is home to the vibrancy of the new generation of people who have moved here, whilst already occupying a place in recent history. You have to see its blossoms in the spring. The same can be said for Oxford Gardens but what sets it apart is the massive tree-lined street. It is somehow both colossal and quaint at the same time.
Something you only see in Notting Hill
Robert Pattison buying flowers with nobody even acknowledging his presence. Another example closer to home was at my salon. I was in the middle of a treatment the other day and Owen Wilson popped in asking if he could get a haircut. That was a Notting Hill moment.
We have the pleasure of welcoming a universal global clientele and people from all walks of life at my salon. Everybody is treated the same, no matter where you are in society. It has cultivated a sense of community. London can be big and lonely, people come to my salon to look good but also to find connection.
What’s the catch?
It is by no means a cheap area. Also every weekend sees droves of tourists flock here, having their mini photoshoots. It is great that people love it but it gets densely populated and that makes things difficult to manage for us local folk, especially when you are in a rush.
In three words
Heart of London.
What it costs
Buying in Notting Hill
- Average flat price: £1,183,480
- Average house price: £5,287,080
Renting in Notting Hill
- Average flat rent: £3,310 pcm
- Average house rent: £8,730 pcm
Source: Hamptons & Land Registry
Schools
Notting Hill has several primary schools rated good or outstanding by Ofsted including Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Primary School and Thomas Jones Primary School. For secondary education, Kensington Aldridge Academy is deemed outstanding.
