I finally visited Portobello Market in Notting Hill, somewhere I’d wanted to go for a long time.
Many people would have come to know this place through the movie Notting Hill. I was one of them.
But for me, Notting Hill is not just a place in a movie.
I chose to watch movies repeatedly to study English, and Notting Hill is one that I've watched over 50 times.
A movie I became so familiar with that I could memorize the lines without subtitles.
I’d always wanted to walk around the bookshop and Portobello Market that appear in the film.
Finally, I chose a beautiful day and headed there.
The movie Notting Hill in which William Thacker (Hugh Grant) walks through Portobello Market and says:
"The street market here in Notting Hill sells every fruit and vegetable known to man, the tattoo parlour, the antique shops...”
Portobello Market is London's representative street market, held every weekend.
Here, you can find a variety of items, from vintage goods and artworks to fresh food.
What particularly caught my eye were
telescopes and old cameras
When on earth were these items used?
From telephones
to LP records, the variety is immense.
And finally, Notting Hill Bookshop I found.
This is the exact spot where Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant first met in the movie.
"I’m just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her."
As the famous line from the movie came to mind, I suddenly felt as if I had stepped into a scene from the film.
I walked around the bookstore, imagining the scenes from the movie.
Walking out of the bookstore and along the street, colorful pastel-toned buildings caught my eye.
Houses with soft colors lined up, blending with the clear sky, making them look even more beautiful.
Notting Hill's unique warm and emotional atmosphere could be felt everywhere.
What kind of place is Notting Hill for British people?
The movie Notting Hill gained worldwide popularity, making this place a symbol of 'romantic London' for many tourists. However, Notting Hill is a neighborhood with more meaning than that.
Notting Hill is one of London’s wealthier areas, with Victorian buildings and pastel-coloured townhouses lining the streets. It’s a lovely place to walk even without the film connection. On weekends, Portobello Market fills the area with both locals and visitors.
A day in Notting Hill remained memorable, just like a scene from a movie.
Walking through the movie scenes myself and feeling the market's atmosphere,
the clear weather made the streets look even more beautiful.
I'll probably be coming here often. 😊