Portobello Road is a bustling outdoor market in London's West End, stretching over two miles and home to more than 1500 merchants. Here, you can find everything from vintage clothing and antique household items to electronics, jewelry, artwork, beauty products and delicious street food. In recent years, the market has become popular with fashion lovers and celebrities alike, offering a variety of vintage and avant-garde clothing that you won't find anywhere else in London. In addition, there are plenty of posters, ceramics, vinyls and more.
Visitors come to the Portobello Market not only for the bargains but also to take pictures of the beautiful Georgian architecture, eat street food, have drinks or listen to street artists. If you're looking for fruit and vegetables, head to Elgin Crescent and Talbot Road. For second-hand clothing, go between Westway and Golborne Road. Remember that the market is divided into sections by type of product, so if you can't find what you're looking for, try walking a few streets further away.
When it comes to buying items at the market, it's best to avoid the “new items” sections as they're often too expensive. It's recommended to set aside three hours for your visit but if you plan to go on a Saturday, it's best to plan for a full day. There is an ATM located along the main street but due to long lines, it's best to carry cash with you. As always when visiting crowded areas, keep an eye on your belongings as pickpocketing can be an issue.
It's also a good idea to bring a raincoat and umbrella as the market is outdoors. The Portobello Market is closed on holidays, Christmas Day and Boxing Day (December 26th), but is open on Good Friday every year. It's the biggest antique market in the UK and one of the busiest tourist spots in London. The market runs in a direction between north-northwest and south-southeast from Westbourne Grove to Golborne Road and crossing under Westway to Ladbroke Grove.
About a third of the way from its northern end, it passes under the adjacent bridges of the A40 road and the Hammersmith & City line of the London Underground. Portobello Green has a market that sells mainly vintage clothing and bric-a-brac (there is no street market in Portobello or Golborne Roads). The new product section is more typical of merchants in the London market with stalls selling cheap socks, toys, batteries, etc.
