Why go
The Portobello farming area covered the land which is now St. Charles Hospital. Before about 1850, it was little more than a country lane connecting Portobello Farm with Kensal Green in the north and what is today Notting Hill in the south.
What to look for
- The Portobello Road was included in the 1958 collection of stories The Go-away Bird and Other Stories.
- In 2008, Ruth Rendell published a novel set in the area entitled, Portobello.
- In 1987, Tortora come back in television with Portobello.
The full story
On Saturdays it is home to Portobello Road Market, one of London's notable street markets, known for its second-hand clothes and antiques. Every August since 1996, the Portobello Film Festival has been held in locations around Portobello Road. The farm got its name from a popular victory during the War of Jenkins' Ear, when Admiral Edward Vernon captured the Spanish-ruled town of Puerto Bello. Vernon Yard, which runs off Portobello Road, still honours the Admiral's name. They built St Joseph's Convent for the Dominican Order, or the Black Friars as they were known in England. Portobello Road is a construction of the Victorian era. Much of it consisted of hayfields, orchards and other open land. The street now runs through the heart of Notting Hill.
Your next visit
Estimated · Declared scenario and planning estimates; no live opening, weather, queue or booking service.
Outdoor visit · 45–90 min
World planning estimate; admission, opening, visit duration and access need checking.