London, England: A Walk Around Notting Hill

A couple of weekends ago we headed over to Notting Hill to stroll around in a beautiful Saturday. We hadn't made it over there in a quite some time so it was nice to be able to wander around new spots and rediscover some old favorites. The neighborhood is best known for its famous Portobello Road Market but has much more to offer than just that. For me, its main attraction is its stunning homes and streets. Every time we make our way there, we find new little gems that remind us why London is such a great city to be in. Notting Hill is a key neighborhood that really makes me feel like we are actually in London. It had the famous London look you see in movies and television.
We started our day at Farm Girl, a healthy spot tucked away on Portobello Road. We both grabbed the berry pancakes to fill us up for the day. From there we began our journey down Portobello Road. We didn't spend much time at the market since it wasn't a main day for it. I think that may just be for another time and post! We've enjoyed strolling through the antiques and prints many times before with a crepe in hand. So without diving too much into it, let's just say we'll be back!
Notting Hill's streets are covered with colorful houses. I love the risks and individuality they give off. It is much different from our neighborhood where you will find all the buildings similar (but still beautiful) where they make their home's their own by painting the doors different colors. Besides the colorful painted homes, you an find beautiful murals and artwork scattered throughout the neighborhood as well. Two of my favorites are the painted Buscuiteers shop and the large mural that covers XL Recordings.
There are plenty of Mews to stroll through in London and Notting Hill has some of the most beautiful. Some good stops are Cordington, Colville, and my favorite—St Lukes. St Lukes Mews is one you will constantly see on any London lover's Instagram feed. While mew houses alone are highly sought after places to live—if I had millions of dollars, that's where I'd be—St Lukes Mews are particularly dreamy because of the leafy greens and vines covered the homes.
Mews are old stable streets that you can find all over London. Some have been converted and have taken away the old feel of past London but streets like St Lukes Mews take you right back to those days. You can definitely see why they are so popular. Stepping outside of the gorgeous London Mews there are plenty of other streets to drool and gawk over. We love wandering around and finding fun little murals and artwork. As I said, Notting Hill has some wonderful street art surprisingly enough even though East London is most known for the Street Art title. You can find large murals on the sides of buildings or small little decorative elements.
Our final stop before hoping on the tube back to our neck of the woods was The Churchill Arms. Built back in 1750, this pub is one of London's most famous. It's history and flower covered exterior, put all questioning of why it is so loved aside. It stands out proudly and beautifully as you make the walk from Notting Hill down to Kensington. It is definitely not something you can walk by without staring.
There is so much to see in every single neighborhood of London. Each spot feels unique and really carries itself in its own individual way. When friends and family come to London, one of my top recommendations is to get away from the tourist spots (though they are quite wonderful) and pick a few of London's neighborhoods to get lost in. You will learn so much about the city.
We will be sure to make our way back to Notting Hill to cover more hot spots like the Portobello Road Market and some more of our favorite streets!
