Notting Hill Pastel Houses

Notting Hill in west London is known for rows of pastel-coloured Victorian terraced houses, with the best-known streets being Lancaster Road, Westbourne Grove, Ledbury Road and Hillgate Place, and the most photographed colourful terraces lie around Elgin Crescent and Colville Terrace. The houses date from the 1840s to 1860s and were built for the middle classes, then fell into decline in the twentieth century and were later renovated. The cream, pink, blue and mint facades are now among the most photographed in London, helped by the 1999 film Notting Hill. The area is a residential neighbourhood, so all viewing is from the pavement, and visitors are asked to respect residents' privacy. A walk through the area takes one to two hours, often combined with Portobello Road Market, which runs daily and is busiest on Saturdays with antique stalls, food and street fashion. Nearby streets include Lancaster Road and the Travel Bookshop on Blenheim Crescent, which inspired the film. Good photographic angles include the long vistas along Lancaster Road and Hillgate Place, and the curved corner streets toward Elgin Crescent, ideally on a weekday morning when light is soft and streets are quiet. Crowds gather in the afternoon and at weekends, particularly on Portobello Road. The Notting Hill Carnival is held on the August bank holiday weekend and fills the area with processions and music, so arranging a house visit on those days is not practical. Nearest Underground stations are Notting Hill Gate on the Central, District and Circle lines, and Ladbroke Grove. The terraces are free to view at any time, and cafes in the area provide a break.