The Perfect 1-day London Itinerary for Families (That Actually Works): Notting Hill Edition

Escaping the hustle and bustle of more touristy areas of London for a different kind of crowds, we love exploring Notting Hill. Its colourful houses are well know around the world and some homeowners actually started painting them dull colours to avoid people posing in front of their homes day in and day out. Millennials will know the area if not for its colourful festival in August, then for the famous blue door and a travel bookshop featuring in the film Notting Hill. And yes, that blue door (at 280 Westbourne Park Road) is still there if you want to snap a photo, although it is a little but underwhelming without the presence of Hugh Grant and quirkiness of Spike portrayed by Rhys Ifans.

Start the Day

There are multiple options to start your day depending on how much you want to walk and what you want to do, but Westbourne Park Station is a good start serving both Circle and Hammersmith & City Lines. Our first stop here, especially if we’re breakfast or snack ready is to head towards Elkstone road and then veer left to Golborne Road filled with cafes. The walk from the station to Golborne Road is not the prettiest of starts, but the pastries at Golborne Road Deli are worth it. Then head down Portobello Road and take time looking at the art on the Portobello Wall, our kids love it and always ask a lot of questions. You will also pass Graffik Gallery, London’s leading street art destination hosting not only exhibitions but also interactive graffiti workshops. Nearby there’s Portobello and Golborne market a mix of vintage and street food stalls. You can continue along the market until Ladbroke Grove (another option to start your day) and head to the Museum of Brands.

Plan One Big Activity

Museum of Brands is home to a fascinating display of how we lived that goes back all the way to Victorian times. It explores how consumer society has evolved throughout the decades and showcases famous brands in historical context. The museum also offers family friendly fun and hands-on activities, especially in the school holidays. If you need home activities , there’s a number available on the museum website too. Or maybe download a treasure hunt for when you’re visiting the Museum of the Brands. Tickets are £14 per adult and £8 for children over 7. There’s concession and family tickets available, but it’s worth checking the website for discount codes, especially in the school holidays. February half-term (2026) sees children go free with a paying adult when you use the code KIDSGOFREE.

If you’re not keen on museums, our big activity in the Notting Hill area is usually a long walk exploring the colourful streets and visiting the Portobello Road Market. It’s known for being the world’s largest antiques market. The street itself is a perfect backdrop for colourful photos and fans of Paddington Bear will enjoy wandering through Alice’s, the antiques shop that was used as the inspiration for Mr Gruber’s shop.

Stress Free Lunch

In Notting Hill you’re spoiled for choice when it comes to choosing where and what to eat. For cozy Italian food head to Kensington Park Road, Fish and Bubbles serves a platter of fried seafood that even the children will enjoy. Alternatively, pop into any of the other Italian restaurants offering delicious pasta. Just around the corner on Blenheim Crescent you will spot the famous bookshop from the film Notting Hill.

On surrounding streets you will find everything from burgers to Thai and Indian.

Weather permitting we love combining the lunch and spending time in a park. We often pick up items from various bakeries and cafes in the area (or even just grocery shops), grab a picnic blanket and head to Holland Park to wind down and have an easy meal.

Outdoor Areas to Wind Down

Holland Park is one of our favourite parks in London. It’s beautiful, the Kyoto gardens offer a sense of calm and with two playgrounds to choose from the children are spoilt for choice. We usually end up at Holland Park Adventure Playground, a stone’s throw from Kyoto Gardens, which offers a number of climbing frames, slides and swings as well as benches for tired parents. There’s also a toilet on site. Nearby there’s a café where you can stock up on refreshments. There’s a smaller, toddler friendly and sandy playground next to the Orangery.