Welcome to Notting Hill

Congratulations, if you are house hunting in Notting Hill, you have already won. A home in this great area with all it offers, automatically makes you the envy of many. Now in order to make your transition as smooth and hassle free as possible Hamptons have put together this great guide which will help you choose the best schools, learn a little about planning and building control, read tips on where to shop, eat and lot’s more, all packed into one little guide with clickable links. Perhaps most importantly we have researched some of the leading local professionals and experts who can help you add value and personalise your soon to be new home. A big WELCOME and enjoy.

In the early 19th century, the area was known as the Piggeries and Potteries due to the production of bricks in local kilns and an influx of pig farmers. The prominent Ladbroke family began the development of the area in the 1820s, with many streets bearing their name to this day, which was facilitated by the arrival of rail connections.

Notting Hill has survived some of its more chequered history, including bombings during WW2 and the race riots of the 1950s, to emerge as the cosmopolitan hub we know today. Since the mid-1960s, the vibrant Notting Hill Carnival has occurred annually across the August bank holiday, drawing visitors from across the world for a joyful celebration of Caribbean culture.

People come to experience the excitement of the carnival or a bustling market day, but stay for the fantastic schools, host of amenities, abundant green space and characterful properties on offer in this multicultural bohemian hotspot.

Notting Hill is a leafy area with attractive garden squares clustering around the main thoroughfare of Ladbroke Grove, however if this does not suffice then residents can take a short stroll to the pretty formal gardens of Holland Park or the glorious 265-acre Royal Park of Kensington Gardens, home to historic Kensington Palace and the Serpentine art gallery, which along with neighbouring Hyde Park offers a vast expanse of sweeping lawns and treelined avenues.

Notting Hill has a bustling multicultural food scene, with an exceptional range of restaurants, bars and stylish artisan cafes, from delicious North African inspired dishes at Ottolenghi to contemporary Italian at Chucs and American classics at the Electric Diner. There is no shortage of fine dining options, with The Ledbury and Core boasting two Michelin stars apiece.

Notting Hill is one of London’s best known neighborhoods, thanks in no small part to its starring role in the romantic comedy of the same name. Influenced by Caribbean music and culture, the neighborhood was famous for being an artistic haven for musicians, painters, sculptors, actors, students, and performers of all kinds. Its bohemian vibe, bright colors, music venues, iconic cinemas, and treasure trove of boutiques make it one of the most unforgettable locations in the city.

Gentrification has made this neighborhood quieter (and much more expensive) than it used to be and today it’s home to celebrities and wealthy families. A lot of these newcomers are international, with a large number coming from from Brazil and Portugal. For housing, you’ll find a mix of colorful homes, elegant terraces, and apartments. Many of the terraced properties share private communal gardens.

Notting Hill has a lot of shopping options and you’ll find boutiques, bookstores, and independent shops selling unique handmade wares that you won’t find anywhere else. Each weekend the main thoroughfare, Portobello Road, hosts a street market.

Restaurants and bars here are some of the best in London. Food options range from pub fare to ethnic cuisine to Michelin-starred restaurants. As an added bonus, you won’t find better gelato anywhere else in London.

Each August the neighborhood hosts the Notting Hill Carnival, a raucous two-day party that attracts a million attendees and drives away residents for the weekend.

Notting Hill is bordered on the north by North Kensington, on the east by Bayswater, on the south by Holland Park, and on the west by Shepherd’s Bush.

www.goodmigrations.com

Notting Hill and the surrounding area has been a home to rockstars, celebrities, athletes, academics, artists and common or garden members of the upper-crust for generations. Here are a few notable names you may or may not know..

Michael Gove,

Peter Gabriel,

Damon Albarn, Musician Elizabeth Clark, Story writer and Teller Bette Bourne, Actor George Orwell, Author David Cameron, Politician George Osborne, Politician Tallulah, DJ Duncan Fallowell, Novelist Mark White, Singer Tom Hollander, Actor Roche Lynch, Scientist Michael Moorcock, Writer Philip Sayer, Actor Steve Strange, Singer Anne Pigalle (Originally from Paris, France), Singer Alfonso Cuarón, Film Director