Where was the movie Notting Hill filmed?
It’s not a trick question, though you’re totally right to speculate on such a seemingly obvious question. We can name dozens of movies that aren’t filmed where they claim to be. The Paddington movie passes off Primrose Hill as Windsor Gardens, for instance.
But Notting Hill? This fictional film was shot right in the real Notting Hill of London… mostly.
Have a wander around these Notting Hill movie locations on your next visit to London.
Need to know: The Notting Hill movie
Who is in the cast of Notting Hill?
Notting Hill stars Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts because it’s a 1999 romantic comedy set in London–of course Hugh Grant is going to be the leading man. Rhys Ifans, Emily Mortimer, Hugh Bonneville, Emma Chambers, and Gina McKee are also in supporting roles.
What is Notting Hill about?
William, played by Hugh Grant, is your average Joe who owns a bookstore in London. A famous actress named Anna Scott, played by Julia Roberts, visits the store. Later, and somewhat serendipitously, Will runs into her again and spills his orange juice over her. This meet-cute leads to a kiss, a romantic affair, and a question of whether love is enough to unite two people from entirely different walks of life.
Was Notting Hill actually filmed in Notting Hill?
Yes, Notting Hill was filmed in London’s Notting Hill neighborhood. From The Print Room and Bella and Max’s house to The Travel Book Company, Portobello Road, and Rosmead Gardens, much of Notting Hill was filmed in the real Notting Hill.
Image Credit: Getty Images, Maremagnum. Image Location: Notting Hill, London.
Where was Notting Hill filmed?
Notting Hill was filmed primarily in London, specifically, the Notting Hill neighborhood, which is near Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens. While many exterior shots were taken in Notting Hill, some of the interior shots were built on a sound stage in Surrey, England.
Where is the house in the film Notting Hill?
The house in the Notting Hill movie with the blue door is in Notting Hill. Located at 280 Westbourne Park Road—near the Westbourne Park tube station, FYI—this house that Hugh Grant’s character lived in is within the Notting Hill neighborhood.
Film locations for Notting Hill
Get to these Notting Hill filming locations via train, or subway stations and lines, serving Notting Hill:
- Notting Hill Gate – Central, Circle, and District lines
- Westbourne Park – Circle, and Hammersmith & City lines
- Latimer Road – Circle, and Hammersmith & City lines
- Shepherd’s Bush – Overground, and Central line
- Holland Park – Central line
The Travel Book Company
Portobello Road is worth the visit even if it weren’t a Notting Hill movie site, but it’s one of the most popular Notting Hill filming locations. Sadly, the bookstore which inspired the film’s version known as The Travel Book Company closed in 2011. Instead, in its place is a Notting Hill gift shop cheekily called The Travel Book Shop. The good news is that there is a movie-inspired bookstore nearby, as well as a cool Notting Hill plaque celebrating the real-life bookshop.
William Thacker’s flat
The house with the blue door from Notting Hill, aka Will’s flat, is close to the bookstore. You’ll head from Portobello Road to 280 Westbourne Park Road. This site has a story of its own: it was once owned by Notting Hill’s script writer, then auctioned off. The new owners had a different colored door, but eventually, gave it a new blue coat of paint to keep the cinephiles happy.
Image Credit: Getty Images, Alex Robinson Photography. Image Location: Notting Hill, London.
Rosmead Gardens
Rosmead Gardens can be a site of life imitating art if you choose to visit it. In Notting Hill, Will and Anna sneak into the private Rosmead Gardens. It’s also private property in real life, reserved for only resident use. So, if you drink a little too much and try to break into the gardens with a girl you bump into in the streets of London, it’s not romantic. It’s trespassing.
Kenwood House
The Kenwood House in Hampstead Heath was the filming location for one of Anna’s films in Notting Hill. Unlike other eponymous filming locations in the movie, the Kenwood House is a ways away from Notting Hill. The Overground will get you to Hampstead Heath where you’ll get wonderful views of London before meandering back to the Kenwood House manor.
Can you stay for a while? You can stay forever if you seek out more Notting Hill filming locations and enjoy the real-life charm of this village. Download the Trainline app and get to Notting Hill via the tube with easy connections using the Heathrow Express or Stansted Express.
Header Image Credit: Getty Images, Alex Robinson Photography. Image Location: Notting Hill, London.