Antiques at the Southern End
Portobello Road Market is best known for its antiques, and the southern section near Notting Hill Gate tube station is where you will find them. On Saturdays, dozens of dealers set up stalls selling silverware, jewellery, ceramics, prints, maps, coins, medals, vintage watches, old books and all manner of collectables.
The permanent antiques shops and arcades along this section of the road are open throughout the week and contain some serious dealers with specialist knowledge. The indoor arcades are particularly worth exploring, as they shelter more delicate items and often hold pieces of real quality. Whether you are looking for Georgian silver, Art Deco jewellery or Victorian curiosities, this section of Portobello Road has been the place to come for decades.
Fashion and New Goods in the Middle
As you walk north past the Elgin Crescent junction, the market's character shifts. The antiques give way to fashion stalls selling new clothing, accessories, bags and jewellery. This middle section has a younger, more contemporary feel, with independent designers and small brands selling alongside more generic market goods.
Vintage clothing shops and stalls are scattered through this section, offering everything from 1960s dresses to 1990s sportswear. The quality varies considerably, so it pays to look carefully and try things on where possible. Some stalls specialise in particular eras or styles, and the best of them are genuinely knowledgeable about the clothes they sell.
Street Food
Food stalls are concentrated in the middle and northern sections of the market, offering a wide range of cuisines. You will find everything from Caribbean jerk chicken to Spanish paella, German sausages to Japanese gyoza. The quality is generally good, and eating your way along the market is one of the pleasures of a Saturday visit.
The permanent cafes, restaurants and pubs along Portobello Road also benefit from the market atmosphere, and many have tables outside where you can sit and watch the crowds pass. Some of the side streets have their own food offerings, so it is worth wandering off the main route occasionally.
Second-Hand and Vintage Under the Westway
The northern end of the market, where Portobello Road passes under the Westway flyover, has a completely different character. This section is rougher around the edges and deals in second-hand goods, vintage clothing, records, books and miscellaneous items. The stalls here tend to have lower prices than those at the southern end, and the browsing is more unpredictable.
This is where you might find a box of old postcards, a vintage leather jacket, a stack of vinyl records or a piece of furniture that needs some work but has real potential. The thrill of the northern end is the possibility of an unexpected find, and the dealers here are generally more relaxed about haggling than those in the antiques section.
Permanent Shops Along the Route
The market stretches for about a mile end to end, and the walk takes you through all of these distinct sections. Our guide to how long Portobello Road Market is covers the full layout.
Beyond the market stalls themselves, Portobello Road is lined with independent shops that are open throughout the week. These include specialist antiques dealers, vintage clothing boutiques, record shops, bookshops and design stores. Many of these shops are destinations in their own right and offer a more curated experience than the market stalls. If you visit on a weekday when the market is quiet, these permanent shops provide plenty of reason to walk the length of the road.
