As many of you probably know, when I'm in London, I love to spend Saturdays at Portobello Market in Notting Hill. In my books, this is Gemma and Duncan's home patch, so I need to keep up to date!
Yesterday was a gorgeous day--clear, crisp, and very cold. The market was buzzing. Here's a little visual tour, starting from the Notting Hill Gate end of the road and walking down. This is the famous sign where Portobello Road meets Chepstow Villas.
Here's one of my favorite colorful houses at the top end of the road.
Here's the much photographed Alice's Antiques.
Looking down the hill.
Mr. Christian's deli, where I like to get an energy boost with a coffee and a croisant.
Some of the multitude of market stalls.
And food, of course.
The Notting Hill Bookshop, made famous in the movie Notting Hill (although it's actually around the corner from where it's shown in the film.)
My friend Steve Ullathorne's photo stall, always my ultimate Saturday destination, just under the Westway towards the north end of the road.
My (very late) lunch, from one of the new food stalls beyond the Westway.
And last, walking back up, the landmark Electric Cinema at dusk (sunset is just after four o'clock.)
By this time I'd been walking about five hours and was absolutely frozen. I had to go in the pub partway back up the road and warm up before walking to the top and taking the bus back to my hotel.
Photos don't begin to convey the hustle and bustle and color and energy of the market. I've left out so much! Stalls with books and hats and jewelry and furs and cameras, the arcades, flower stalls and fruit and veg stalls, cafes and pubs and buskers and every kind of food you can imagine.
But I hope you enjoyed the snippets, and will be tempted to visit yourselves. What would tempt you?
(And yes, I did buy a few things, but will only admit to tea...)
