There’s nothing like summer in London. It’s the time for free outdoor events, musical Proms, festivals and theatrical plays in the park. Londoners get a two-month break from umbrellas and all the tourists flock to Oxford Street for—well, no one quite knows why.
Since something is sure to be happening in any part of the city on any given day of the season, let a New York Habitat vacation rental put you where the action is.
Notting Hill London
One such area that teems with activity when the weather turns warm is Notting Hill. If you groaned just now, it means you’re not such a huge fan of romantic comedies. No worries! The real Notting Hill isn’t much like its movie counterpart. It’s diverse, multi-faceted and much more fun, especially in the summertime.
The big draw on weekends, of course, is Portobello Market. Outdoor markets are synonymous with London in the summer and even if crowds and shopping aren’t your scenes, there are three reasons you still have to see it: 1) the sheer size and scope of the thing; 2) the excellent pubs with outdoor gardens that line the way; 3) the farm fresh, £1-a-bag fruit and produce stands clustered at one end (go especially for the ripe peaches and authentic Cockney accents).
The streets surrounding Portobello are particularly good walking routes. Westbourne Grove boasts small boutiques and stately homes; Ladbroke Grove leads to Lisboa for Portuguese pastries and other multiethnic eateries; Kensington Church Street is home to Kandy’s (the best place for afternoon tea), as well as countless antiquarian bookshops, and will take you toward Hyde Park and High Street Kensington.
Late in the season, this same area hosts the Notting Hill carnage—oops, Carnival, a spirited and sprawling Caribbean festival that packs revelers shoulder to shoulder, street after street. It’s a London institution—and a great way to meet the locals—so it should be experienced at least once in your lifetime.
If all you’ve got are sunny afternoons to spend in London, New York Habitat has the perfect places for you to stay. Consider these convenient accommodations:
London Accommodation 2-bedroom Notting Hill (LN-38)
A 2-bedroom furnished vacation rental in Notting Hill, Kensington-Chelsea (LN-342) just off Ladbroke Grove. It’s on the ground floor of a period townhouse and comes with a garden terrace.
A 1-bedroom furnished vacation rental in Notting Hill, Kensington-Chelsea (LN-258) between Westbourne Park Road and Westbourne Grove. This renovated, airy apartment with archways is on the lower ground floor of a building from 1840. A customer who recently stayed here wrote: “I want to thank you for your excellent service.”
A 2-bedroom furnished vacation rental in Notting Hill, Kensington-Chelsea (LN-38) between Ladbroke Grove and Clarendon Road. This apartment is on the third and top floors of a period townhouse walk-up. It has its own private staircase, a balcony off the living room and bedroom windows overlooking a park.
New York may have Sex and the City, but nowhere tops London for Summer in the City!
Next week, New York Habitat will bring you another London “hot” spot for summer fun. In the meantime, if you’ve ever visited—or hoped to visit—Notting Hill, please leave us your comments below.
Related apartment rental posts from New York Habitat:
- List of Top Five Cinematic London—#2: Notting Hill
- London Hidden Gem: East London Two-Bedroom Apartment
- London Hidden Gem: Kensington – Chelsea Two-Bedroom Apartment in West Brompton
- Rainy Day Rentals–#5 High Street Kensington, London
