A Week in Notting Hill

Tim enjoying a sunny moment with coffee outside the iconic blue door in Notting Hill.

Saturday - The Notting Hill Carnival was on so our taxi from the EuroStar at Paddington could only get us to the street corner of Portobello Road where our Air BnB is situated. Tina and John turn up at the same time and we had a hilarious time trying to find our place as the front has been boarded up in preparation for the carnival tomorrow. We eventually get in and then set off to the Duke of Wellington on the corner for a few drinks. We grabbed some stuff and Tim rustled up a stir fry which was quite a feat in the small kitchen.

A serene moment captured in the colorful, charming alleyway near Portobello Road, featuring vibrant facades and quaint cobblestone streets.

Sunday - We got up early and had a walk around Notting Hill which is really very special and getting busy as people started to set up and turn up for carnival. Our first stop of the day was to Borough Markets as Tina and John haven’t been there before. Then we head to Tottingham Court Road for the Outernet display and then Flat Iron for lunch where there is a delay as they have had a fire in the kitchen!! It was very nice when it came. Then we had an interesting trip back to our accommodation through the throngs enjoying carnival. We got to the Duke of Wellington and watched in amazement as people paid and queued for the toilets – the pub knew how to make money! As we had had a nice lunch we all fancied tapas for dinner and went to a very nice one in  Hammersmith. It was a bit tough getting there and back as no tubes were running into or out of Notting Hill because of the carnival however we made it!

Tina, John, and Tim immerse themselves in vibrant visuals at Outernet.

Vibrant costumes and exuberant revelers fill the streets at the Notting Hill Carnival, showcasing a kaleidoscope of colors and Caribbean culture.

Monday so we set off to visit Kew Gardens which was magnificent – the huge greenhouses featuring plants from all over the world, the wonderful sculptures by Marc Quinn (Light into Life) and the actual gardens themselves were magnificent. We did the Tree Walk which swayed a bit and was a wee bit scary for John and I with our lack of fondness of heights. We had a lovely lunch in the Orangerie in Kew and greatly enjoyed the enormous lily pads. We then walked to the original Maid of Honour pub in Kew which sadly was not a pub but a high tea house (disappointing) so we headed back to Notting Hill where the carnival was in full swing. The sights and sounds were amazing and so colourful. We got changed into our smart clothes and headed to the Nest rooftop bar in Fitzrovia with great views across the city and then for our birthday dinner celebration at Amazonico in Mayfair. I had actually booked for the wrong night but luckily the restaurant could not have been more helpful and it was a lovely (and pricey) evening with wonderful South American food and live singing celebrating my and Tina’s 60th!!

Sculpture "Light into Life" by Marc Quinn at Kew Gardens, capturing the interplay of light and form beneath a dynamic sky.

Intricate metal sculpture against the backdrop of lush greenery at Kew Gardens.

Reflective sculpture showcased at Kew Gardens, highlighting the theme "The Evolution of Form," set against the backdrop of the iconic glasshouse.

Giant water lilies create a stunning display in the tranquil waters of Kew Gardens.

Celebrating 60 with joy and elegance at Amazonia.

Tuesday - We went to Coal Drops Yard behind Kings Cross for breakfast – an Iranian restaurant and very unusual. Then Tina and I did a bit of shopping before heading back to Notting Hill for Tina and John to pack up and head to Gatwick for their flight home. Tim and I set out to walk to Knightsbridge through Campden and Kensington Palace Gardens. We had a wee look around Harrods and then a glass of wine in the champagne bar there. We caught the tube back and had a quieter night just the two of us.

Cozy morning vibes at Dishoom in Coal Drop Yard, featuring an inviting Iranian-style breakfast setting.

Enjoying a sunny day, Tim stands in front of the majestic Albert Memorial in Kensington Gardens.

Wednesday - We got our coffee from our now favourite coffee shop on Portobello Road Coffee Plant and went looking for the famous front door from the movie. Then we headed to St Pauls to meet up with Megan and Magnus for the day. St Pauls was so beautiful and Tim made it all the way to the very top, the Golden Gallery however I stopped at the Stone Gallery. Then we hopped on the tube to Camden Market Lock and got on the boat to take us down to Little Venice and back. We passed many sights – a boat owned by one of the Rolling Stones, a floating Chinese restaurant, London Zoo and the second biggest home to Buckingham Palace in London. Magnus seemed to really enjoy his boat trip looking at everything and the buggy rode on the roof of the barge. It was a great experience going up and down on the lock too. Afterwards we walked down the canal to Coal Drop Yards and had a late lunch in Hardens which was very unusual for us and great to see Magnus eat all kinds of food. Then we set off to meet Jack after work in one of the oldest pubs in bank called the Counting House. Disappointingly they would not let us take Magnus into the Sky Garden bar so Jack, Tim and I went for a drink and Megan headed home. The views were amazing but the service not so great! Then we headed back to our place in Notting Hill and went to a really lovely little Italian – Saporitalia - on Portobello Road and had a great chat with Jack.

Panoramic view of London’s skyline, capturing modern skyscrapers and the iconic Thames River from the historic vantage point of St Paul's Cathedral.

Magnus beams with joy while Megan keeps a watchful eye during their delightful trip along Regents Canal.

A charming canal boat named "Muddy Waters" floats serenely on the canal, potentially linked to Ronnie Wood of the Rolling Stones, adding a touch of musical legacy to the waterway.

A street art piece attributed to Banksy depicts a girl in a boat fishing, accompanied by a dog. Hearts float around them, adding a whimsical touch. Nearby, graffiti reads "The Banksy made me do it," suggesting playful vandalism or fan tribute.

Jack and Tim enjoy a relaxing evening with drinks at Sky Gardens, surrounded by a stunning sunset view.

Visitors at Sky Gardens enjoy a stunning sunset through the expansive glass walls, with vibrant orange and yellow hues illuminating the evening sky.

Thursday - We all got up together and walked with Jack to the tube station. Then Tim and I picked up Lime bikes hired through Uber and cycled to Primrose Hill – a wee bit hairy as no helmets and there was a cricket game on at Lords so it was really busy through St Johns Wood. The views from Primrose Hill were amazing as it was another gorgeous day weather wise. Then we left the bikes and wandered down through Primrose Hill village itself and had a sandwich lunch before heading back to Regents Street to shop for jeans for Tim and to have a look in Selfridges. Tim didn’t find his jeans but I got a pair, a cardigan from Scotch and Soda and a new dress! We found an organic wine bar on Carnaby Street and had a glass of wine before heading back to get changed for our evening. First stop was the Cheese Bar which Josh had visited with Joey and co a year of so back – a sushi train style cheese bar which was a fantastic experience in Seven Dials. We tried Dazel Ash, Wigmore, Smoked Gubbeen, Cornish Gouda, Cenarth Brie and Devon Blue all paired with things to bring out the flavours like clotted cream fudge or red onion and port marmalade! Then to the Prince Edward Theatre to see MJ The Musical – fabulous show and such a great night.

A tantalizing array of cheeses, elegantly displayed under glass domes, glides along the conveyor at The Amazing Cheese Bar in Seven Dials, inviting guests to indulge in a unique tasting experience.

Friday - We set off for the Natural History Museum – Tim had never been and it was such a great visit if a little busy!! Amazing that it is all free and such a great catalogue of all that is amazing in our world. My favourite exhibition is hundreds of tiny hummingbirds put together in the 1800’s. Then we went to the very beautiful restaurant in the Victoria and Albert Museum for lunch before picking up Lime bikes again and cycling all the way to Richmond to visit haunts from the Ted Lasso show. We had a drink in his pub, The Princes Head,before wandering through Richmond to get the tube back for our last night in Notting Hill. For our last evening we went to a Palestinian restaurant called Akub in Notting Hill which was lovely. Unfortunately I left my sunglasses somewhere on this trip!

Visitors explore the grand hall of the Natural History Museum, marveling at the iconic blue whale skeleton suspended from the ceiling.

Enjoying a scenic break with Lime Bikes by the Thames, capturing the riverside charm.

Enjoying a sunny day outside the iconic pub from "Ted Lasso" in Richmond, surrounded by vibrant flowers and a lively atmosphere.

Saturday - A final walk around our adopted hood and then after an easy pack up we walked our bags to Westbourne Park tube station and then after an tube trip to Paddington got on the Heathrow Express which in a fast 15 minutes propelled us to Heathrow terminal 5.

Hampstead Road Lock on Regent's Canal, capturing a sunny day in this historic London location.