Made famous in film and by its world-renowned carnival, Notting Hill is that rare mix of the affluent and eclectic, ideally placed for the centre of London.
Located in the north-west area of Central London, close to Hyde Park and within the Borough of Kensington & Chelsea, Notting Hill serviced apartments place the corporate traveller within one of London’s more affluent, yet also cosmopolitan, districts. Geographically though, Notting Hill is tough to identify. Its boundaries are essentially unofficial. Many credit much of the area though to the route of the Notting Hill Carnival. It begins along Great Western Road and finishes at the top of Kensal Road. Notting Hill is also commonly considered to be an ‘affluent neighbourhood’, intersected by the renowned streets of Ladbroke Grove and Portobello Road. Both run parallel to each other almost the entire length of the Notting Hill area. They are both home to one of London’s best-known markets and shopping experiences.
Those staying in Notting Hill short term accommodation will also find themselves well served by London Underground stations. Westbourne Park, Ladbroke Grove, Latimer Road, Holland Park and Notting Hill Gate are all easily reached, giving access to the Central, Circle, District and Hammersmith & City lines. These transportation options, and many more gives Notting Hill the edge as a convenient location for London commuters.
It was only around half a century ago that Notting Hill began to look the way it does today. Only in the earliest decades of the twentieth century was, now one of London’s most fashionable destinations, slum-like and had very little to offer its people.
From such a small identity, Notting Hill began to rise, adopting the white terraces we commonly associate with West London today. The area also became wound up in a racial tension period. It was a home for a large Afro-Caribbean immigrant population after World War II. It was the introduction of the Notting Hill Carnival though which effectively silenced the tensions. Since its emergence in 1965, it has continued to annually take to the streets.
Ultimately, although a run-down area until the 1980s, where the grand Victorian houses were most often split into multiple occupancies, Notting Hill was one of the first areas to experience the type of gentrification which has affected many of London’s formerly ‘poorer’ areas. Now wealthy and fashionable, and at one time home to the future Prime Minister and Chancellor, David Cameron and George Osborne, Notting Hill still retains more variety and social diversity than many London places. Those staying in Notting Hill aparthotels can see first-hand the area's unique character and identity.
Despite the supposed massive price tag which clouds over Notting Hill, the area still retains a village-like feel. It is brimming with a united community feel and a distinctive identity. The area is also easily recognisable because of its iconic rows of colourful houses. They range from the rainbow along Lancaster Road to the pastels on Chepstow Villas. One of these unique properties could be your own Notting Hill corporate accommodation.
However, perhaps the two biggest identifiers of the area are the Portobello Road Market and the Notting Hill Carnival. The Portobello Road Market is the world’s largest antique market, selling food, fashionable clothes and other trendy items. It seems as much a social place as a commercial one, where people meet and soak up the atmosphere.
Another people, tourist and local business favourite is the annual Notting Hill Carnival, one of the world’s largest street festivals. The celebration of Caribbean culture contributes nearly £100 million to the London and UK economy each year. Businesses prepare to cash-in on the three-day influx over the August Bank Holiday. Companies here typically focus on food and drink, property and professional services. They aim to cater especially for the huge number of tourists which visit the area for the carnival.
Therefore, it is around this time of year that corporate travel to Notting Hill is popular. Those looking to take advantage of the area’s economic prominence for a longer time, or just have a generally lengthier business trip to the neighbourhood can appreciate the convenience of Situ’s Notting Hill extended stay apartments.
Easily the closest airport to Notting Hill, especially by car, is London Heathrow. It can either be accessed by car (approximately 35 minutes from Notting Hill’s centre) or by via the underground through Heathrow Terminal stations.
Alternatively, visitors to Notting Hill could also fly to-and-from London City Airport (LCY), which is no further than an hour’s car journey away.
Throughout the Notting Hill area, there are several London Underground stations. Within the supposed ‘boundaries’ of Notting Hill, there are Latimer Road, Ladbroke Grove, Notting Hill Gate and Holland Park underground stations.
Staying in Notting Hill city apartments could mean guests are also close to other London Underground stations just outside the Notting Hill area, such as Shepherd’s Bush, Wood Lane, White City, Bayswater and Queensway.
In comparison to the number of available underground stations in the area, there are a lot less overground railway stations. The closest are Shepherd’s Bush in Holland’s Park, Kensal Green and Paddington Stations.
Considering Notting Hill’s size, the area has a large number of bus stops which facilitate travel for at least nine different London routes. Most of the bus stops are based in and closely around Notting Hill Gate station and enable travel to surrounding areas such as Ladbroke Grove, Willesden, Camden Town, West End, South Kensington, Fulham and Hammersmith.
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