VIBRANT, LIVELY & THE PLACE TO BE! (PORTOBELLO MARKET) (Portobello Road & Market)

Member Name: Parsley

Product:	Portobello Road & Market
Date:	06/09/00 (510 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Large market with lots of interesting clothes, easy to get to

Disadvantages: large crowds on a Saturday

Portobello Market is a vibrant, interesting market, selling a wide variety of things. It's not as large or lively as Camden Market, but it's certainly worth looking at. It is best on a Saturday when all the stall holders come out in force (much smaller, far less interesting fruit & veg markets are held there in the week.)

At the weekend there are a very large selection of clothing stalls near Ladbroke Grove under the Westway, selling a wide variety of very interesting, unusual and alternative clothes as well as some other more usual stuff. If you want something unusual to wear, then this is the place to come!

Some of the clothing is new and some is second hand depending on the stall, most of it is reasonably priced, but some stalls can be a bit pricey. It can pays to shop around the stalls before making a purchase as there is so much to choose from and you may find a bargain. I bought two lovely skirts recently £15 for 2, they had been designed and home-made by the stall holder which I always think is nice and it means that you have something unique that isn’t in the shops. There are many people selling home-made and designed clothes and jewellery.

Onto the jewellery, there is lots of alternative style things on sale - rings, necklaces, earrings, piercing ornaments etc. something for most tastes.
Then there are also home made and designed ornaments, mirrors and home decorations which are always worth a look if you are doing up your flat and looking for inspiration. What is on sale depends on what the stall holders have made.

Still under the Westway end there are some bric-a-brac stalls that sell almost anything from retro style objects to records. They may be worth a look for collectors as they sell all sorts of objects some of which may be highly desirable to add to someone’s collection!

As well as all the interesting clothing, further on to Portobello Road itself, there are also stalls selling t
he usual more mainstream type of clothing, socks, tights, underwear, materials etc. so there is something here for everyone's taste. The materials stalls can be extremely good value - I bought some material for only £1 a metre which I went on to use and make my living room curtains. If you are into making clothes, bedding or furnishings then have a look as you could pick up a real bargain.

At the top end of the Market nearer to Notting Hill Gate, there are a large number of Antique & Second hand stalls selling a wide variety of unusual things. All sorts of antiques are available, again these vary from week to week, but if you are into Antiques and old goods, then this part of the market should be a treasure trove for you. You could get the antique object you’ve been searching for. It’s definitely well worth a look if that’s what you are into.

As well as the market, Portobello Road itself has many shops, green/vegetarian type, a small Tesco, Woolworths, small cheap household product shops, more alternative clothes and shoe shops, several pubs, coffee shops, a couple of chip shops etc. So you shouldn’t find it hard to get a bite to eat after all that shopping!

If you run out of cash there is also a Midland bank and Abbey National cash point (nearer to the Antique end), but be prepared for a very long queue on a Saturday!

Portobello Road although famous in it’s own right was made even more famous by the film Notting Hill. You'll see the area and shops from the film, but there were some very clever camera shots going on to make the bookshop actually appear on the Portobello Road itself, but it isn't, it’s actually round the corner! - so don't get confused if you can't work it out! You won't find the blue door either, it's now black with lots of fetching graffiti round it! (The graffiti reads "RIP blue door" etc.!)

HOW DO YOU GET THERE?
Portobello M
arket is situated on the Portobello Road, London W10 & W11 (long road!) The nearest tube station is Ladbroke Grove on the Hammersmith & City Line, but you can also walk from Notting Hill Gate on the Central line (I would personally recommend going to Ladbroke Grove as it's much simpler.) You can also get to Ladbroke Grove via the number 52, 7, 70, 23 or 295 buses (all 70's are low floor buses for those with prams or wheelchairs).

The market is very busy on a Saturday, so be prepared for very large crowds and a bit of a crush, taking a buggy there is a bit of a no-no especially around the bit under the Westway, so use a baby carrier if you can.


It’s a bright, lively, vibrant place, there is something there for everyone and it’s well worth a visit!

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