What you need to know about Notting Hill
Located in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, Notting Hill occupies an enviable position between Ladbroke Grove to the north, Holland Park to the south west, and Kensington to the south.
Properties in Notting Hill commanded an average price of £2,048,374 over the last year, which is marginally lower than the £2,218,116 average price across the whole of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Notting Hill is more affordable than nearby Campden Hill which commands an average price of £3,141,188, but the area is notably more expensive than Earls Court which is the most affordable area within the borough.
Most properties sold in Notting Hill recently were flats and commanded £1,047,132 on average. Terraced properties reached an average £3,743,341 during the same period, while semi-detached homes sold for an average of £9,868,750. In 2019, property in Notting Hill reached a peak of £1,982,746 however since then prices have risen by 3%.
What is living in Notting Hill like?
For most of the 20th century, Notting Hill's large properties were divided into multiple occupancy homes with slum landlords advertising cheap rents. Since then, Notting Hill has experienced an extended period of gentrification and is now regarded as a highly fashionable and affluent part of London. Despite this huge transformation, the area has retained some of its heart and vibrancy. Its multicultural and cosmopolitan atmosphere hasn't been completely erased, in part because it continues to host the annual Notting Hill Carnival which draws crowds from across the world.
Notting Hill is also known for its high-end restaurants and boutique shopping experiences. Portobello Road is one of the most iconic streets in the area, which hosts one of the Capital's most famous street markets every Saturday. Unfortunately, some independent retailers have been priced out of the area as large multi-national businesses have moved in, however, there are still myriad small businesses offering exclusive products and experiences that can't be found elsewhere.
Although Notting Hill doesn't have official boundaries, the hill reaches its summit in the heart of Ladbroke Grove where it meets Kensington Park Gardens. There is an array of attractive Victorian terraced townhouses in the Notting Hill area alongside pastel-hued homes in Blenheim, Stanley, and Lansdowne Crescents, and striking houses with pillar porches and private gardens. The streets of W11 also contain fine examples of modern architecture, which showcases the development that has occurred in the area over the decades. You'll also find attractive Mews properties in the Notting Hill area, the most notable of which include Horbury Mews and Pembridge Mews.
Living in Notting Hill pros and cons
Pro: Notting Hill is a lively and vibrant district
As well as being home to the extensive Portobello Road Market, Notting Hill also hosts the world-famous Notting Hill Carnival each year which is headed by people from the Caribbean population as many have called the area home since the early 1950s. Notting Hill's cultural importance doesn't end there, as the area has been closely associated with artists and the creative community since 1870.
Con: Lots of visiting tourists
One of the downsides of living in one of the most famous and instantly recognisable parts of London is the sheer volume of tourists that visit each year. Although this shouldn't be a deal-breaker, it is something to be mindful of because certain times of the year will be much busier than others, particularly around the Portobello Road Market area.
Pro: Good transport connections
There are five tube stations in the Notting Hill area, including Notting Hill Gate, Latimer Road and Westbourne Park. Most of these stations are served by the Hammersmith & City and Circle lines, however, Notting Hill Gate is also served by the Central and District lines. Additionally, the Kensal Green National Rail station is situated on the Bakerloo line. This means that it is easy to travel in and out of the area to destinations including Paddington, Essex, Barking, and Upminster.
The area also benefits from an extensive selection of bus routes, linking Notting Hill with boroughs to the north, south, east and west. Additionally, drivers have easy access to the M3, M4, M40, A40, and the M25.
Con: Within the ULEZ zone
All vehicles on the road in the Notting Hill area must adhere to emissions standards to avoid the £12.50 per day charge. There are, however, more than 60 electric vehicle charging points located within the area, which will benefit many.
Pro: An array of activities to enjoy
From the Electric Cinema which is renowned for its luxurious interior to the Gate Theatre, the Print Room and the Tabernacle which host an array of comedy, musical, literary, dance and theatre performances, there is always something happening in Notting Hill. Other notable locations include the Museum of Brands which contains some 12,000 items following the continued development of consumer culture, Notting Hill Bookshop, Michelin-starred restaurant the Ledbury, and the iconic Hummingbird Bakery.
Kensington Gardens, Hyde Park, and Holland Park are all within easy reach, offering a vast amount of open space, manicured gardens, sporting facilities, and children's play areas to enjoy.
Is Notting Hill a safe place to live?
In the Notting Dale area of Notting Hill, there were 1,961 offences reported between December 2019 and November 2020. Violent crimes and theft were the two most commonly reported types of crime, accounting for 599 and 429 reports respectively. Similarly, in the Colville area, 2,491 offences were reported during the same period. Theft and violent crimes were once again the most common, accounting for more than 50% of all reported incidents. The picture is similar in the Norland area, with 1,007 incidents recorded between December 2019 and November 2020. There were 222 incidents of theft and 224 violent crimes reported, accounting for approximately 45% of all reported offences.
Which celebrities live in Notting Hill?
In the mid-2000s, the term 'Notting Hill Set' was coined to refer to up-and-coming Conservative politicians residing in the area, including George Osborne and David Cameron who would go on to become the Chancellor and Prime Minister respectively.
Most notably, however, Notting Hill has retained strong creative roots throughout the decades and has been home to the likes of musicians Damon Albarn and Peter Gabriel, novelist and critic George Orwell, and actor Tom Hollander. Director Alfonso Cuaron, actor and activist Bette Bourne, and multimedia artist Anne Pigalle have resided in the area.
Additionally, Jennifer Lawrence, Harry Styles, Hugh Grant and Lindsay Lohan have all called the area home over the years, with Draycott Place and Hyde Park Gate proving particularly popular areas for famous faces.
Things to consider when moving to Notting Hill
It simply isn't possible to put together an overview of Notting Hill without mentioning the much-loved film of the same name. Since its release in 1999, it has prompted many people to visit the area in search of some of its most famous locations and although some have disappeared over the years, many still stand.
Arguably one of the most notable things about Notting Hill is its distinctive village-like atmosphere. The same can be said for many areas within the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, however, there is nowhere quite like Notting Hill. From stunning communal gardens to family-friendly groups and classes, independent butchers, bakeries and grocers, and welcoming cafés with outside seating, there are so many opportunities to take part in community life and enjoy a touch of separation from the hustle and bustle of central London.