Hello all, apologies that post number 2 has taken so long.
Turns out my life as a London-dwelling young professional is more busy and
exciting than I originally thought… This week we are swinging by the world’s
largest antiques market on Notting Hill’s Portobello Road.
One of London’s most iconic locations, Portobello Market is
about 2 miles long and hosts over 1000 dealers from all over the world, selling
fruit and veg, second-hand goods, vintage clothing, and antiques. If you ever
want a prime example of “gentrification”, look no further than Portobello Road.
From a winding country path called Green Lane and a smallholding known as Porto
Bello Farm, it became a “massive slum”, full of cramped terraces built for
domestic servants and labourers in the late 18th century, and later
a shopping hub for wealthy folks living in Chelsea or Paddington. Nowadays, it
attracts a crowd my parents might describe as “hip” and lively pubs and
restaurants (and not a few expensive shops) have sprung up to accommodate them.
Saturday is market day. While you may find other vendors
open during the week, the hardcore antique hawkers for which the market is
famous are strictly Saturday people. It normally gets going around 9am and
winds up towards 5pm, but most people suggest you head over early. And they are
right… Safe to say we didn’t quite plan this as we could have – we definitely
headed over too late in the day (around 4:30) when everything was closing. This
certainly helped avoid some of the embarrassing incidents which were present in
last week’s post…but not all of them. Case in point, this photo with an
enthusiastic gentleman tourist.
Seriously though, learn from our example and go early on in
the day. Unless you would like a quieter background for your blog photoshoot,
in which case – that was definitely my idea first, copycat… We decided to
trundle around some of Notting Hill’s residential streets after the market wound
down, covetously studying the terraced houses. Flatographer (that’s
“Flatmate/Photographer” for the uninitiated) Number 2 has decided she must
marry rich in order to live in such a dream. (No progress was made on this
particular occasion, but we’re working on it. Will publish all successes in HowtoFindAndDateaRichManinLondon@blogspot.co.uk.
You’ll be gobsmacked to know that’s not a thing yet…)
Due to Portobello Road’s fame as an antiques’ market, and
its burgeoning fame as a hotspot for vintage clothing, I went for a very
specific theme for this week’s outfit: things you might find in your
grandmother’s attic. (Everyone’s granny has an attic full of jewels, right?) I
thought this was a fairly standard outfit, actually, but the
appraising/disapproving glances I drew on the Tube would seem to suggest otherwise.
What’s wrong London? Never seen a person wear colour before?!
In any case, I went well with the pastel houses and that’s
all that matters to me and my sparkly, coordinated life. If you have been to
Portobello Market – or are planning to – let me know! What are your favourite
stalls? What gems are you hoping to find? Do you have a public toilet of
preference? Get in touch, and I will see the rest of you next week!
Portobello Market details
Opening times = Saturdays 9am-5pm
Admission = Free!
Closest Tube stations = Notting Hill Gate or Ladbroke Grove
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| Skirt - ASOS Top - ASOS Cardigan - Monsoon Shoes - Nine West from Shoeaholics (Get them HERE!) Necklace - H&M Earrings - New Look Sunglasses - Marks & Spencer |
I tend to find nice brooches there
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