Notting Hill Gate

Portobello Road Market is open Monday to Saturday, 9am to 6pm. The best day for antiques is Saturday. Entry is FREE.

Most famous for it’s antique stalls, but also housing fruit and vegetable traders, second hand stalls and new designer shops; Portobello Road Market has a quirky character and a vibrant, busy trading life unlike any other in London.

It began in the late 1800s, and originally trading stalls only came out into the streets on Saturdays. However, after much protesting from local shop-keepers, the stall owners got their way in the 1920s, and Portobello Road Market became a 6 day feature. There are essentially three parts to the market. If you start at Westbourne Grove and walk north you’ll come across antiques first; fruit, vegetables and other foods next, and finally the second hand clothing stalls at the north. It’s only a 2 mile stretch but on a busy day packed with people even this short walk can take a while!

Portobello Road’s Market is rich in character and has a life of its own. There are no big high street names – and the colours of the shops that line the streets and the sounds of traders create a unique Portobello world. Yet far from being a tourist gimmick, the market also serves a real local need. Residents of the area bypass the supermarkets and use the stalls for their food shopping during the week. The food section of the market is the oldest part – having been there for around 300 years! Wheel-barrows overflow with produce and traders shout out their prices. Late Saturday afternoon is the best time to get food bargains, as traders knock down their prices to shift their fresh produce before the next week begins.

Yet it is the antique stalls at Portobello Road Market that really have international renown. Almost anything in the antique trading business is sold – and experts come from all around to find some real collectable pieces. Watch out though – if you’re not an expert be warned that sometimes new pieces have mysteriously slipped in with the old and are being sold as antiques. If you’re unsure, the Portobello Road Antique Dealers Association have a stand by the taxi rank on the corner of Westbourne Grove, where you can check authenticity. The street stalls only operate on Saturdays, but some of the antique shops are open during the week.

There is also the second hand clothing part of the market. Some young designers trade here too, fueled by the trendy Notting Hill population and trying to get their designs out there. If you’ve got an eye for fashion, you can get some real bargains! Portobello Road Market is in the top ten attractions most visited by tourists in London, and its popularity is a testament to its wonderfully vibrant trading life.

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