• Tube stations: Notting Hill Gate, Holland Park, Ladbroke Grove
  
• Location: west of Bayswater, southeast of North Kensington, north of Kensington
  
• Borough: Kensington and Chelsea
  
• Postcode: W10, W11

Landmarks:
The Coronet Cinema has been the heart of Notting Hill culture since its opening in 1898. It was originally a theatre where stars like Sandra Bernhardt performed and royalty like Edward VII watched.

Known for:
The Julia Roberts / Hugh Grant “poor me, I’m a celebrity” romcom and the expensive antiques, clothes and food you can find at Portobello Road Market.

Who’s there?
Notting Hill has an interesting juxtaposition of residents – mega-rich celebs and professionals in the south and the working class in the north.

Making history:
The neighbourhood of Notting Hill was occupied by the Saxons during the 700s and eventually became a country village, where highwaymen would hide out to rob the rich going in and out of London. During Victorian times it built up as a blue-collar industrial area and by the ‘50s it gained a reputation as one of London’s poorer neighbourhoods. Racial tension in the community led to riots in 1958 and 1976, but the popularity of Portobello Road Market brought wealthy people and redevelopment into the area.

Pub quiz facts:
Visiting tourists will have no luck looking for the house with the blue door – it’s been replaced by a black one.

Famous faces:
A never-ending stream of celebrities fills Notting Hill on a regular basis. Current rumoured residents are Damon Albarn, Stella McCartney, Martine McCutcheon, Bjork, Robbie Williams, Claudia Schiffer and Justine Frischmann.

When it’s hot:
Portobello Road Market takes up much of the neighbourhood’s area activities. It’s also the site of the famous Notting Hill Carnival which takes place every August.

When it’s not:
Visit Notting Hill Arts Club for a combination of modern art exhibitions, electronica club nights, flamenco dance lessons and crafting group meetings.