Area Guide · Notting Hill

The Local Guide to Notting Hill

The Portobello axis, the painted crescents around it, and the doors locals actually use.

An editorial guide to living in and visiting Notting Hill — the places worth your time, the pockets worth knowing, and the practical detail when you need it.

121 hand-picked places5 pocketsRoyal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea · W11, W2, W8, W10

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Notting Hill · 121 places, selected by Andrew

Start with these three

Coffee · £

Coffee Plant

Veteran Portobello roastery, no frills, great coffee

“Flat white here is one of the best in W11. Tiny space, worth the squeeze”

Restaurant · ££££

Core by Clare Smyth

Three Michelin stars, modern British at its peak

Park

Meanwhile Gardens

Community canal-side park with London's oldest skatepark

What are you after?

Pick what you need and jump to the shortlist.

Coffee & work-from14Specialty roasts and a table to sit at Brunch11Weekend plates and long tables Cheap eats8Genuinely good, under fifteen pounds Outdoor dining15Terraces, gardens and pavement tables With kids22Family-friendly, playgrounds near Date night29The right lighting and the right noise Quick bite & takeaway11Fast food, done properly Restaurants27The full ranked list, by occasion

Explore by pocket

Notting Hill isn't one place. Each pocket is its own guide.

Westbourne Grove

31 places

The polished side of Notting Hill — brunch done seriously.

Beam · Caractere · Core by Clare Smyth

Portobello

28 places

The market mile — antiques out front, proper food behind.

GAIL's Bakery · Buns From Home · Coffee Plant

Notting Hill Gate

29 places

The neighbourhood's front door and its everyday high street.

Akub · Guillam Coffee House · Holland Park

Ladbroke Grove

17 places

Notting Hill with the edges left on, under the Trellick Tower.

Fez Mangal · Julie's Restaurant · Kensington Memorial Park

Golborne Road

16 places

The Portuguese-Moroccan stretch — custard tarts, mint tea, no crowds.

Caia · Canteen · Cockney's Pie & Mash

Where to Eat & Drink

Coffee

Beam

Middle Eastern brunch cafe with Allpress espresso

Coffee Plant

Veteran Portobello roastery, no frills, great coffee

Farm Girl

Aussie-style healthy brunch with Instagram-famous lattes

Flying Horse Coffee

Bohemian local on the multicultural Golborne Road

See all coffee →

Bakeries

GAIL's Bakery

Reliable neighbourhood bakery with 30+ daily breads

Buns From Home

Artisan cinnamon buns with creative flavours

Fabrique Bakery

Swedish stone-oven bakery with legendary cinnamon buns

Maison Puget

Award-winning French patisserie on Portobello Road

See all bakeries →

Restaurants

Akub

Modern Palestinian from one of the region's best chefs

Caia

Open-fire wine bar with vinyl DJs under Trellick Tower

Canteen

Walk-in-only Italian with daily-changing Bib Gourmand menu

Caractere

One Michelin star Franco-Italian from the Roux dynasty

See all restaurants →

Pubs

Franklin's Wine

Sommelier-led wine bar on Westbourne Grove

Naked & Famous

Late-opening agave bar beneath Zephyr

The Churchill Arms

London's most photographed pub with secret Thai kitchen

The Cow

Tom Conran's iconic Guinness and oysters gastropub

See all pubs →

Explore the full mapfor all our picks.

Parks & Green Spaces

Emslie Horniman's Pleasance

Grade II Arts and Crafts park, Carnival starting point

Holland Park

54-acre park with Japanese gardens and peacocks

Kensington Memorial Park

The W10 splash park locals call St Mark's Park

Meanwhile Gardens

Community canal-side park with London's oldest skatepark

Avondale Park

Central Notting Hill park with great playgrounds

The practical file

Living in Notting Hill

Transport, schools, healthcare and council — the reference half of the guide, for residents and anyone thinking of becoming one.

Thinking of moving here?The honest living guide: the best areas ranked, safety with live police data, commutes, and what it really costs.

Borough: Kensington and Chelsea
Council tax (Band D): £1,643.44/yr
Stations: 8 within a walk
Outstanding schools: 4 of 6 listed

Getting Around

Tube & Rail

Notting Hill Gate

Central / Circle / District · 0 min walk

Ladbroke Grove

Circle / Hammersmith & City · 8 min walk

Westbourne Park

Circle / Hammersmith & City · 10 min walk

Holland Park

Central · 5 min walk

Bayswater

Circle / District · 8 min walk

Queensway

Central · 8 min walk

Royal Oak

Circle / Hammersmith & City · 12 min walk

Latimer Road

Circle / Hammersmith & City · 12 min walk

Key Bus Routes

7East Acton to Oxford Street

23Westbourne Park to Liverpool Street

27Chalk Farm to Hammersmith

28Wandsworth to Kensal Rise

31Camden Town to White City

52Victoria to Willesden (24hr)

70South Kensington to Acton

94Piccadilly Circus to Acton Green

328Chelsea to Kensal Rise

Shopping & Lifestyle

Groceries

Jeroboams

Fine-wine and cheese merchant off Portobello

Ottolenghi

The original Ottolenghi deli, a food philosophy

Summerill & Bishop

Joyful homeware and the world's best tablecloths

The Spice Shop

Hundreds of spices with custom blending since 1995

See all groceries →

Gyms & Fitness

Body Works West

Boutique mews gym with rare 18m swimming pool

Form Studios

Boutique Lagree, HIIT, and boxing since 2014

Heartcore Pilates

Premier reformer Pilates one minute from the tube

The Life Centre

25-year yoga institution in a converted chapel

See all gyms & fitness →

Schools

Thomas Jones Primary School

Primary (State)

Outstanding

Ofsted 2023

Colville Primary School

Primary (State)

Outstanding

Ofsted 2019

Notting Hill Preparatory School

Prep (Independent)

Excellent

Ofsted 2022

Holland Park School

Secondary (Mixed)

Outstanding

Ofsted 2019

Kensington Aldridge Academy

Secondary (Mixed)

Outstanding

Ofsted 2024

Wetherby School

Pre-Prep (Independent)

Excellent

Ofsted 2020

All Ofsted reports School admissions

Healthcare

St Mary's Hospital

Praed Street, Paddington, London W2 1NY

Full A&E, 15 min from Notting Hill Gate

Find your nearest GP: NHS GP Finder for W11 2EH

For non-emergency medical advice, call 111 (NHS, 24/7)

Council: 020 7361 3000 (RBKC)

Council & Bills

RBKC council tax for 2026/27. Billed April to March, payable by monthly direct debit.

Council Tax Bands (2026/27)

Band A

£1,095.63

Band B

£1,278.23

Band C

£1,460.84

Band D

£1,643.44

Band E

£2,008.65

Band F

£2,373.85

Band G

£2,739.07

Band H

£3,286.88

Useful Links

Council tax info Discounts & exemptions Pay council tax Bin collection days Recycling guide Bulky waste collection Report a problem RBKC website

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Notting Hill a good place to live?

Notting Hill is one of London's most distinctive neighbourhoods. Portobello Road gives you the famous market and independent shops, Westbourne Grove has some of west London's best restaurants and cafes, and Holland Park is arguably London's most beautiful green space. The Victorian crescents and painted terraces still feel lived-in rather than staged, and the market keeps the area from ever going fully polished.

What are the best schools in Notting Hill?

Notting Hill has a strong school offering. Thomas Jones Primary School, Colville Primary School, Holland Park School are all rated Outstanding. Notting Hill Preparatory School is one of London's top independent preps, and Holland Park School is a well-regarded secondary. Kensington Aldridge Academy has also earned an Outstanding rating. The mix of state primaries and independent schools gives families real choice without leaving the area.

How much is council tax in Notting Hill?

Council tax in Notting Hill is set by the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. For 2026/27, a Band D property pays £1,643.44 per year. Properties in Notting Hill vary widely, from flats in bands B to D to the grand houses around Ladbroke Grove in bands G and H. Billed April to March, payable by monthly direct debit.

What tube stations are near Notting Hill?

Notting Hill is well-served by the tube. Notting Hill Gate sits on the Central, Circle, and District lines, giving you direct access to the City and West End, plus a one-change Heathrow route via Paddington. Ladbroke Grove and Westbourne Park on the Hammersmith & City line add more options, and Holland Park on the Central line is a short walk south. Most of Notting Hill is within a 10-minute walk of a station.

What are the best restaurants in Notting Hill?

Notting Hill eats better than almost anywhere in west London. Westbourne Grove and Ledbury Road have some of London's best independent restaurants, Portobello Road is packed with street food and casual dining, and the coffee shop culture is strong. We've curated our personal picks on KnowNottingHill with honest descriptions of each spot.

Is Notting Hill safe?

Notting Hill's residential streets feel safe and well-kept. The borough-level crime stats for Kensington & Chelsea are inflated by tourist-heavy areas, but the residential core of Notting Hill -- particularly the garden squares and crescents -- is genuinely quiet. Market days on Portobello Road bring crowds, but the neighbourhood itself has a strong community feel and good police presence.

Is Notting Hill good for families?

Notting Hill is increasingly popular with families. Holland Park has a brilliant adventure playground and wildlife, the garden squares offer safe green space, and Meanwhile Gardens is perfect for younger kids. The school catchments are strong with both state and independent options. Portobello Road on Saturdays is a family ritual, and there are kid-friendly cafes throughout. The Carnival is a highlight, chaos and all.