During the mid 1800s, Notting Hill was a hugely desirable area in which to live. One hundred years later it plummeted in popularity and became synonymous with rioting and poor living conditions. But just a few decades later, the pendulum swung back in its favour. Today, Notting Hill is an area of west London that one would most definitely be happy to call ‘home’. Notting Hill is arguably one of the most architecturally enticing areas in London. From large, Victorian townhouses, rows of pastel coloured terraces and a vast array of quintessential mews houses, it is easy to understand its allure. Offering excellent transport connections, a tantalizing selection of foody haunts and home to some of London’s top prep and primary schools, Notting Hill attracts a diverse and vibrant population. Notting Hill has a range of excellent state and independent schools. Here are a few of the best: Fox Primary School is a well-established and highly successful primary school located in Kensington Place. It has been rated Outstanding by Ofsted. Saint Francis of Assisi Roman Catholic Primary School is located in Treadgold Street and has been rated Outstanding by Ofsted. Wetherby Pre-Preparatory School is a school for boys from Nursery to Year 3 that promotes educational excellence and is situated in Pembridge Square. It takes boys up to the age of 8; they then have the opportunity to proceed through to the Prep School located in Bryanston Square, W1. Pembridge Hall is the sister school to Wetherby Prep and takes girls from 4-11. It is also located in Pembridge Square. Southbank International School is a high achieving independent school that follows the International Baccalaureate. It takes boys and girls from 3-18 and is situated in Kensington Park Road. The Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School is a high achieving Roman Catholic voluntary aided public school for boys, formerly a grammar school. It sits in an enviable position on Addison Road, W14. Kensington Aldridge Academy is a new academy that opened its doors to students in September 2014. It is situated in the heart of North Kensington. Notting Hill provides its residents with excellent transport links: Notting Hill is served by The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea and Westminster Council, depending on your exact postcode. Council Tax in Kensington & Chelsea generally starts at around £790 for Band A and goes up to just above £2300 for Band H. Council Tax in Westminster borough generally starts at around £500 and goes up to around £1500. www.rbkc.gov.uk/counciltax.aspx www.westminster.gov.uk/council-tax Considering its central location, Notting Hill has an enviable amount of green space to offer to its residents. The area’s proximity to Kensington Gardens, Hyde Park and Holland Park leave you spoilt for choice on a balmy summer’s day. Garden Squares are the real selling point of this area; many of the handsome stucco-fronted properties are fortunate enough to have either private gardens or substantial communal gardens. However, access to these comes at a price. It is usually only the properties that are fronting the Garden Square that will gain access, and it means that these properties will be worth anywhere from 5% to 20% more than similar properties without access. Westbourne Grove, at the heart of Notting Hill, is shopping utopia. Lined with luxury brand stores including baby and children’s wear, specialist and bespoke jewellers and designer fashion boutiques, it has plenty to offer to any discerning shopper. For a wide range of fresh, seasonal, organic foods head to Planet Organic and Daylesford. New kid on the block, Basserie at Cloud Twelve, offers delicious guilt free, organic, plant based food set in a beautiful cobbled mews. Set within a one-of-a-kind lifestyle and wellness club, it is open to members and non-members alike. There is nothing not to like about this wonderful addition to Notting Hill. For an eclectic mix of fashion and antiques, the legendary Portobello Road has something for everyone. From seriously good book shops and antiques to street food, fresh fruit and veg stalls and vintage wares, it is simply a sensory delight. Just off Portobello Road, on Blenheim Crescent, you will find Books for Cooks. The shelves are crammed with all the cookery books you could ever want, and a little test kitchen at the back allows you to sit and have a delicious (and cheap) three course lunch although you need to get there early as it’s very popular and you cannot reserve tables. For parents and carers with young babies, don’t miss out on seeing current films in total comfort at Electric Scream! every Monday morning. Head to The Life Centre to encourage well being with yoga and meditation classes plus a host of natural therapies to calm your body and mind. Peruse fresh produce at Notting Hill Farmers’ market one of the area’s best-kept secrets. Located behind Waterstones every Saturday morning 9am-1pm Join the hordes at Portobello Road Market for antiques, vintage collections, sumptuous street food and much more. If you want to go a little further from the tourist trail, head to Golborne Road to the north of Portobello. Golborne Road Market comes alive on a Friday and Saturday and is a local institution. Be sure to grab a coffee and pasteis de nata custard tart from Lisboa Patisserie: truly the best. For tennis fans, Campden Hill Lawn Tennis Club is the biggest private tennis club in central London. With enviable facilities it is no wonder that there is a waiting list to join, but it will be worth the wait. Grab a seat in the sunshine outside 202 and order a tranche of divine French toast with maple syrup. Sip coffee and simply watch the world, according to Westbourne Grove, go by. For fresh platters of oysters and seafood try The Cow on Westbourne Park Road. Hugely popular with locals and offering a warm and friendly feel, this is one of the many places to be in Notting Hill.Finding Property in Notting Hill
Why move to Notting Hill?
Schools in Notting Hill
Travel and Commuting
Council Tax
Open Spaces
Out and About
Something for the weekend
Read our No Place Like Home Property Guides to find out which London area would most suit your needs. Or call Harriet Rowlands on +44 (0)782 532 1564 to discuss your property search requirements. Average property price: £1,145,000 Houses and flats surrounding Notting Hill’s 13 garden squares sell at a premium. “The Spice Shop on Blenheim Crescent is where you can buy all kinds of exotic spices, herbs etc, and you’re also right next door to the best fruit and veg stalls on Portobello (Friday is the best day to go to avoid the weekend crowds). Then head up to Ledbury Road for coffee or lunch at Ottolenghi. Their salads, tarts and cakes are truly amazing, and it must win the prize for one of the most beautiful window displays in London!” Elizabeth W2 “I love the diversity and friendliness of Notting Hill, always something new to do or look at and easy to get to so many other areas. I enjoy being able to spend Sunday afternoons pottering around the quirky shops and market stalls in and around Portobello Road and Kensington Park Road and grabbing a coffee in one of the many places. We can also be found either walking or cycling through Hyde Park with our son – great place to live, fantastic part of London with so many options – I never get bored of it.” Elayne W11Our Property Guides
Notting Hill house prices
What the locals say
If you would like to find out how No Place Like Home Property Finders can assist you in finding a property in Notting Hill, please call Harriet Rowlands on +44 (0) 782 532 1564 to discuss your property search requirements.