Paris Again: London, Day 6

Portobello Road Sign

Today we went to two different "markets." We started by going to Portobello Road in Notting Hill Gate, one of the greatest of the London street markets. Here you can find anything you want. The display of fruit, flowers and vegetables runs for well over two blocks and there are other sections devoted to clothing and antiques.

Stalls at the Portobello Market


Fruit and Vegetables at the Market

Clothing Sales at Portobello Market

We stopped for a coffee and watched the ebb and flow of people before once again throwing ourselves into the crowd. In the end, it was all too much and we decided to move on. One sees interesting and funny things in the area. One peculiar sight was a fully wrapped bicycle parked by the curbside.

A gift for someone?

After returning to the hotel to get rid of our coats, the weather had turned quite warm, we headed for Kensington and the Kensington High Street.

Once we got to Kensington we had lunch at one of the pleasant and ubuquitous pubs that dot the area. The Prince of Wales offered a nice meal at a reasonable price.

Our Lunch Pub

Then we walked down to the High Street. One can't help but be aware that London is a city made up of many different and distinct villages. Each seems to have its own character and ambience. Some are quite small and truly they are villages. Others are larger, rather like small cities. Kensington falls into the latter category with a High Street larger than the main street in many towns. It is easily the size of Collins Street in Melbourne, if not bigger.

Yet even in the midst of the hustle and bustle that makes up Kensington High Street, there are places of quiet and stillness. One of these is the lovely St Mary Abbots Church of England with its peaceful gardens just off the High Street.