You won’t find many people that haven’t heard about this famous London street market. Maybe because you watched the famous film Notting Hill or because you love authentic and traditional… Street Markets, Portobello Road Market is one of those places that you must visit.
Along an endless street, shops and stalls sell and display all kinds of products. From fruits, vegetables and bread to antiques, posters, vintage clothes, musical instruments and some surprises. The market is well-known for its antiques. Coins, watches, furniture, stamps, jewellery and objects from the world wars are just a few examples.
Portobello Road Market will make for an exciting day out of your stay in London. We think it’s one of the best markets in London.
Where is Portobello Road Market and how do you get there?
Portobello Road Market is located to the west of the city centre, in the Notting Hill district (Portobello Road, London W11 1LA, United Kingdom).
The market is packed with different stalls from Westbourne Grove all the way up to Golborne Road, and across under the Westway out to Ladbroke Grove.
- Underground: Notting Hill Gate on the Central, Circle and District lines is best if you want to start with the antiques end. Ladbroke Grove on the Circle and Hammersmith & City lines is useful if you want to begin near the northern end and walk in the opposite direction.
- On foot: From Notting Hill Gate, walk towards Pembridge Road and continue north along Portobello Road. You can combine the market with our Notting Hill walking route and film locations.
What days is Portobello Road Market open?
Portobello Market could be defined as a mix of different markets in one and each one of those markets have different opening times. Saturday is the “big day” at Portobello Market as it is the day that most of the stalls open.
If you visit Portobello Market on a Saturday, then you will experience a mile of hustle, haggle, colour and energy. The feature of Saturdays is the opening of hundreds of antique and specialist shops and stalls. You will also meet some talented and creative street performers.
The street market has different sections and not every trader opens every day. The full market is on Saturday, when the antiques, fashion, food and general stalls are all at their liveliest. Friday is also a good day for antiques and Portobello Green fashion, but it is quieter than Saturday.
- Monday to Wednesday: 9 am–6 pm; some general and food stalls trade.
- Thursday: 9 am–1 pm; limited trading.
- Friday: 9 am–7 pm; antiques and most market sections.
- Saturday: 9 am–7 pm; the main market day.
- Sunday: the main street market is normally closed, although individual shops, cafés and occasional special markets may open.
Opening times vary between individual traders, and stalls may pack away earlier in poor weather. For the atmosphere and the widest choice, we recommend arriving on Saturday morning before the busiest part of the day. You can check the Portobello Road Market website for current traders and special events.
What is Portobello Road famous for?
Antiques & Miscellaneous objects
This is the main attraction of Portobello Road Market with hundreds of market stalls. Located near Notting Hill tube station; in this part of the market you will find vintage teacups and small vases, compositions of feathers or wax flowers under glass domes, porcelain figurines, old paintings or even old photographs of London (and random people) in stand-up frames, and so on.
Where: Chepstow Villas – Elgin Crescent
When: Saturday is the main antiques trading day and trading generally starts around 8:30-9:00am. We would recommend arriving before 11:30am to avoid the crowds.
Fruits & Vegetables
Where: From Elgin Crescent to Talbot Road
In this part of Portobello Road Market you will find a few bread stalls, cakes, fresh fish and a cheese stall. But, the most iconic stalls are the ones selling fresh fruits and vegetables. Originally all the products came from different regions in the UK but now you can also find some exotic fruits.
On Friday and Saturday – you can also find baked products, oils, olives, gourmet cheeses, meat, seafood and other delicatessen items.
Cheap things & Electronics
Where: From Talbot Road to Westway
We think that this is not the most exciting part of the market, but it’s convenient if you need some batteries or a new charger for your phone or camera!
Fashion Market
Where: Westway Area
Vintage bags, lace and fur coats, some cool t-shirts, shoes… This is what Londoners know as the “Fashion Market”. There are some really cool clothes here. From second hand clothes to some small stalls where young new designers sell their new creations.
Used & Vintage Goods
Where: From Westway to Golborne Road
Although we wouldn’t recommend buying a vintage desk or a chair while you visit London… unless you have a plan to bring it home with you… here you will find used and vintage furniture and different objects to decorate your home.
Street Food
Friday and Saturday have the widest choice of hot-food stalls, with everything from fish and chips and sausages to paella and Caribbean dishes. There are also fruit, vegetable and herb stalls along Portobello Road and Golborne Road from Monday to Saturday, although the selection varies by day.
Hi, we are Alberto and Amy, the London locals behind PlanTrip London. We’ve lived in London since 2010 and have spent every year since exploring the city, from its famous landmarks to the markets, pubs, parks and hidden corners most visitors never find. Over the years we became the go-to trip planners for friends and family visiting London, so we created this site to share the same first-hand, tried-and-tested advice with you. Every itinerary, tip and recommendation here comes from our own experience with our two children, so you can plan a London trip that’s easier, better value and far more memorable.