Notting Hill Market

Portobello Road Facts:

In 1739 Admiral Vernon captured the city of Puerto Bello in the Caribbean and Portobello Road was named as a tribute.

Portobello Road is famous for its market (started around 1860).

There are as many shops as market stalls.

Portobello Road plays host to the first UK electric cinema which opened it doors first in 1910.

The road hosts many music festivals not just the carnival.

History of Portobello Road Market

Portobello Road Market

Portobello Road (previously thought to have been called Green Lanes) appears to have been born from a small footpath that linked Notting Hill Gate to an area two miles North West of Notting Hill, namely, Kensal Green. The exact date the footpath was created is likely to remain unknown (possibly around the 1400's) but it became a much more popular thoroughfare with the advent of Porto Bello Farm being built half way down the lane around 1740. The farm itself was named to commemorate Admiral Vernon capturing the coastal city of Puerto Bello in Panama in 1739 (a town favoured by the Spanish for Silver and other treasure trading) and to follow suit the lane itself was renamed Porto Bello Lane which in turn became Portobello Road during the 1850's as roads, homes and businesses were developed along its route.

Portobello Road Market itself started in the late 1860's to early 1870's when many houses down the road were still under construction. Market traders were primarily selling food (known locally as "costermongers") and were being driven by the ever expanding neighbourhood, inturn attracting many other traders to start selling medicines and general "bric-a-brac" goods. Side shows and street perfomers were also reported to have been getting in on the act setting up opposite the food stalls themselves. Up until the end the of 1920's traders were only operating on Saturday's, mainly due to the restrictions levied upon them by the local council, but after a lengthy battle they finally managed to approve opening on many other days and the market flourished.

By the end of the Second World War, around 1945, many "Rag and Bone" men started setting up stalls and selling second hand household items and antiques. The men were renown for selling high quality items for low prices and word started to spread, leading to more knowledgable buyers quickly moving in to profit from the deals. This led to the start of the Antiques section of the market postioned near the top end of Portobello Road between Lonsdale Road & Chepstow Villas. Later, during the late 1960's fashion traders started to appear on the market and Portobello Market became what ist is today.

Portobello Market (on Portobello Road) is unique, vibrant and the hub of Notting Hill and it's close neighbouring districts. It's distinctive feel owes something not only to the buildings and street-scape, but also to the three sections of the market (antiques stalls, food stalls & general item stalls) together with the shops lining the road and of course the wide variety of communities and individuals who choose to frequent the area. All of these elements combine to give Portobello Road Market (sometimes called Notting Hill Market) the international reputation it deserves which in turn also adds to it's overwhelming commercial success.

If you rather go to the cyber version of the market, It's only a click away...

The main market day for Portobello Road is Saturday, however the full opening times are:

Mon-Wed & Fri: 8:00am- 6.30pm

Thu is a half day closing at 1.00pm

Sat 8:00am- 6:30pm