Portobello Road Market
See my weekly visits and videos
It all began in the late 1970s when my parents had a Saturday record stall at the junction of Portobello Road & Golborne Road. I remember the cold dark mornings and the weight of lifting those records in and out of the van.. once the stall was ready and the record player in place.. off I went looking for adventure.. can you imagine. after being in a classroom all week in Hertfordshire.. the characters.. the music.. it was bohemian, it was loud.. it was exciting. I loved trying on shoes.. looking at the antiques, picking out posters.. the jewellery.. all these years later….. I’m still doing it
The Platinum Jubilee
May / June 2022 and the flags are out to celebrate her Majesty’s Platinum celebrations. Special stalls dedicated to all things royal dominate the middle section of Portobello road. From tea towels to cups or slippers to socks there is something for everybody.
She reigns supreme.
Many stalls are dedicated to antique royal souvenirs while others are decorated for social media. The UK will be holding street parties and Portobello is going to be hard to beat.
Spring 2022
Walking in the London sunshine and the market returns to its pre pandemic bustle. The flags fly and the increased prices in the supermarkets are driving the customer toward the great value food stalls.
I’m pictured below, midway down the market on Good Friday. Plenty of tourists mingle around and it’s only 10am.
Early starts
On a Friday I like to arrive around 8.30 am. Most stallholders are just setting up, it’s great for street banter and seeing what’s hot off the vans. The top-end deals mainly in antique esp silver.
Winter 2021
Christmas arrives
The trees.
November introduces a wide range of fresh cut fern’s. All sizes from £25 upwards, freshly made up wreaths add an ambient and fragrant festive visit.
Gifts.
Records.
How great to hear and see the old records on stalls especially the Christmas albums so much nostalgia.
September
Friday vintage
The energy has returned, the thumping rhythm vibrates under the bridge and finally life has returned to normal. All social distancing removed and mask covered faces are replaced with smiles of relief and the hopefulness of Autumn trade.
Happy shopping
The empty pitches are now filled and so many old faces have returned. Friday is my favourite because I love my vintage but today an overflow of delights pictured below on the way up to Golborne Road
Summer 2021
Friday Golborne Rd
The bric a brac at the top of Portobello returns in full swing, music pumping and Portuguese tarts all round. Household items the cheapest stalls are here.
Boxes
Never the same it’s unpredictable goods unloaded in boxes and placed under stalls. Jewellery, records, china from £1 great stall holders get there early.
June sunshine
Hooray, a full market and our overseas friends arrive. The feeling of freedom sitting outside pubs again at last breakfast inside the cinema the joy of normality returns.
Food and drink
Breakfast
start the morning inside or out at the Electric Cinema just look at my French toast a great substantial meal before you shop.
Beers
The Distillery to cool down, lunch served after 12 and the best guacamole I’ve ever tasted.
Let’s start again
Spring 21
April 24th restrictions lifted
£10 rails
Finally the whole market comes alive and due to stock an abundance of very cheap clothing
£5 rails
The weather turns up and so do the regulars an emotional rollercoaster of a Covit year at last gives way to a new normal
Staying safe
All stallholders in masks 😷 above, social distance in the food market and the relief evident in the guy below
April 16 2021
Restrictions lifted
April sunshine and the first Friday after restrictions are lifted and the joys of normal shopping
Cheers
First beer this year from a pub it’s outside and we had to bring our own chips.
March 2021
finally coming out of lockdown slowly the reemergence of life returning to normal
Cinema
The chicest cinema in London delish food and more than comfy chairs counting the days
Rebuilding
Determined to get business back new windows arrive and a call for donations
Call to action
Portobello market with no stalls perishes the thought. Thankfully a few stayed open but a walk from the top at Notting Hill Gate down past Goldboune Road was a bleak start to the year.
Restrictions are in place and will remain through to June. The area depends on tourism to survive it will be essential for the future of the area.
watch this space I will update every couple of weeks
https://visitportobello.com
https://www.portobelloroad.co.uk
keep in touch enjoy these fabulous websites for opening times
For the love of vintage
Hopefully you have seen my Instagram page (and why not !,) but if you haven’t ..I am always in Portobello filming or shopping or just chilling I have friends and it’s on my doorstep
Notting Hill
The top of Portobello Road is an area called Notting Hill this end of the market is mainly antiques especially on a Saturday morning after 11 it’s almost impossible to walk anywhere but down the middle of the road
vintage
I fell in love with the bag on a stall at the top of Portobello it was stunning….the price was £800 I had to leave it
Vintage
I purchased some beautiful jewellery be prepared to find original items among lots of copies
Portobello style
Film locations
Used in so many films from The Lavender Hill Mob to Notting Hill and of cause Paddington enjoys his cocoa and buns with Mr Gruber
images trip advisor
The book shop
Sitting outside with Cody
One of the highlights of living in central London is the diversity of a major city. I have no car. I really don’t need one, the trains and buses run 24 hours from the end of the road and Uber are on the end of the arm. I love to walk everywhere, even in the rain. heading straight down Knightsbridge and turning on to Sloane street, an amble along the King’s Road.. or continuing through to Hyde Park Corner and either Park Lane or towards Piccadilly; the choice is endless but given the choice on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday morning, you’ll find me carrying a coffee or an ice cream along Portobello Road, my ear pods in, usually The Stones.. soaking up the atmosphere. there really is no place like it.
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Under the bridge Portobello Friday
My favourite market day …is Friday
It’s not as crowded as Saturday and under the bridge it’s all Vintage.. this is my kind of shopping.. one-offs.. standing in the cold while somebody holds a mirror or a make shift curtain..
Blogging videos
Here I am shooting a video.. this was during London Fashion Week.. it’s a great atmosphere.. I have friends who have started with their own homemade clothes here.. and lots of contacts are made.. people travel from all around the world to visit
Vintage & handmade
Vintage heaven
My favourite area under the bridge you cannot be uninspired by the huge amount of vintage clothing, shoes and bags. I have purchased vintage scarves and one desperately cold morning a coat .
Trying on
Wear leggings and a vest everyone strips off
Jewellery sunglasses books
Records & vintage
Anything goes
Be prepared
Tina’s top tips
Wear layers it’s all outside
Take cash
It’s very crowded hold on to your valuables
Dogs ..may need to be carried
Talk to stallholders about vintage ..ask questions
If it’s not priced ask nicely
Vintage items
Zips in clothes and bags
stains esp sweat stains in vintage
moth holes
shoes are essential to try on
coats check lining
designer logo/fake? Is it worth the risk
Keep your man happy
Lots of food
If I shop with my husband it’s best to visit the Portobello food market or a pub
Vintage shopping
Fashion and jewellery
Fashion
Nearly everything is vintage with some copies or similar lines to current catwalk styles. There are stalls full of coats, hats, cashmere, amazing shoes; my favourite stall is the scarf stall.. packed with all colours, shapes & sizes.. very cheap, all mixed.. great for digging around and a fabulous way to dress up the wardrobe
Jewellery
Some stalls will have what the seller has made.. beautiful rare designs ..which you can ask for the ideas or designs that’s inspired the collection.. others will have vintage and costume jewellery. There are many stalls which will display copies of large fashion brands.. the quality will be exactly what you paid for it
When the trees arrive in Portobello you know Christmas is here …and the smell of mince pies …my favourite time of the year
