What?
Looking for Antiques along Portobello Road.
Bedknobs and broomsticks was one of my most watched films as a child. In my favourite scene David Tomlinson’s character Mr Browne takes Miss Price, played by Angela Lansbury, and the Rawlins children (evacuated from London during the Battle of Britain) to Portobello road. They search the stalls for a book with the spell “Substitutiary Locomotion”, and sing the Portobello road song thats been captured in my memory ever since.
Since first watching Bedknobs and Broomosticks I’ve wanted to visit the famous Portobello Road. Now an adult living in London I could fulfil my childhood wish! As often done, I’d built up an image of what Portobello Road would be like based on the movies and, as often the case, reality didn’t quite meet my probably unrealistic expectations!
Though most of the market was a busy and crowded place and the stalls weren’t quite filled with antiques, there were parts of our visit that felt like we were in the movies. Stepping into Alice’s shop felt like stepping into Alice’s actual wonderland, or into Mr Gruber’s antique shop from my one of my all time favourite films Paddington. Watching the 3-piece band play the banjo and the double bass with the backdrop of the brightly coloured terrace houses was special. For real antique shopping you could descend into the Admiral Vernon Market to find some treasures.
How?
Portobello Road is in the equally famous Notting Hill district. The Notting Hill Gate tube stop is on the Central line.
How long?
1-2 hours.
How much?
Can window shop, haggle for a bargain or purchase an expensive antique – can spend as little or as much as you’d like!
