What is it?
London's largest antiques market occupies a prime, colourful stretch of Notting Hill, an area that manages to feel diverse and surprising despite heavy gentrification (how Hugh Grant in that movie could afford a one-person flatshare while working in a bookshop is well beyond us) in the ’90s. Portobello Road Market is really five markets in one, with different sections dedicated to secondhand goods; clothing and fashion; household essentials; fruit, veg and other food; and the main event: antiques.
Why go?
To sift through thousands of one-off treasures and haggle for bargains on pieces that you’ll get compliments on for the rest of time.
Don’t miss
Under the Westway and along the walkway to Ladbroke Grove, second-hand clothes sit next to the wares of up-and-coming fashion designers. Fridays are a little less hectic here, and you’ll be able to explore fashion-focused Portobello Green Market, which comprises more than 800 stalls.
When to visit
Portobello Road is worth exploring any day of the week, but Friday and Saturday are by far the busiest.
The market itself is open Monday-Wednesday 9am-6pm; Thursday 9am-1pm; Friday-Sat 9am-7pm and closed on Sundays. The antiques stalls are open Friday and Saturday 9am-7pm.
Ticket info
No tickets needed. Just turn up and enjoy!
Time Out tip
For a sweet mid-shopping treat, walk a little further down the street to Golbourne Road, where the crowd thins out substantially. There you’ll find the no fuss, no frills Lisboa Patisserie. It sells (by far, in my opinion) the best pastel de natas in London for a fraction of the price of the pastries being sold smack bang in the middle of the market.
Recommended: London’s best markets