Thrift - Market - Antique

Especially with the low exchange rate now, London is a shopping heaven for designer items.

From Sloane Street to Oxford Street, I see Malaysians carrying their designer purchases and I see loaded Chinese queueing to pay at Selfridges. Oh, don't get me started on the wealthy Arabs taking out cash to pay for Chanel bags. Yes, big cold cash. Some even have their own parking space at Harrods. Crazy indeed !!

Sadly but true, we students can't afford to shop at high-street stores, let alone designer boutiques. So where do we go to, then?

Here! Portobello Road.

Source : Londonmarkets.co.uk

It's very famous for its Saturday market which stretches for about two miles from Notting Hill to Westbourne Grove, and filled with numerous stalls selling from fresh fruits and vegetables to antique collectors' items. There's also a small section at the end of the street for second-hand items.

Back in 1999, Portobello Market was made known to the world through a popular romantic film, Notting Hill. I'm sure everyone knows this, right?

It was the place where Hugh Grant accidentally spilled his drink onto Julia Robert's shirt. It was also the very market he strolled along heartbroken, with Ain't No Sunshine music on the background - this one. One of the sweetest movies I've ever watched :) But pride and prejudice would always remain the best.

Most people come to the market to look for the Travel Bookshop and The Blue Door which were both majorly featured in the film. However, from the stories I heard, the blue door has been taken somewhere else and replaced by a door of different colour, whilst the bookshop's never existed.

I certainly can't verify the stories, though. Hehe.

If you're planning to come here one day, the nearest underground station would be Notting Hill Gate on one end where the market starts with antiques. Or, if you prefer to start the long day with second hand items or fish & chip, get off at Ladbroke Grove instead.

It isn't really a long stretch, but on a crowded and busy saturday, it'd take a bit longer of course.

soo colourful ..

Also, we saw this Bentley. Look at the registration number, oh wait, it's a word !! How cool is that? 

Btw, I bet your day won't be complete without a big plate of english breakfast prior to shopping and hunting in the market. 

And that's exactly what we had, at my workplace. And yes again, I work at the famous Portobello Road. Weeheeeee ... 


And just today, two Brazilian men came asking about the bookshop and door. I could see the frustration in their eyes when I explained that both are no longer there. They gave good tips, though. Hehe.