World-famous street in the UK to get huge £4.4million upgrade
ONE of the UK’s most famous streets is getting a massive glow-up.
Portobello Road Market in London, which is well-known for its thriving market with curiosity shops, attracts millions of visitors a year.
And now it will be undergoing a £4.4million makeover.
As part of the upgrade, there area will be getting wider pavements, new lights, better accessibility, more greenery and parking bays.
There will even be a new draining system to prevent flooding, which the area is prone to.
Portobello Road’s concrete anti-terror barriers will also be replaced with sliding bollards.
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Work is expected to begin in January 2027.
Portobello Road Market, found in the Notting Hill area, features a lot of antique shops, restaurants and independent boutiques.
And the market is one of the most famous and historic in the world, dating back over 160 years.
Visitors can explore hundreds of stalls, full of different curiosities, bric-a-brac, jewellery, antiques, clothing and more.
On Fridays and Saturdays – which tend to be the busiest days – the market stalls actually stretch over a mile long from start to finish.
And then on Sundays, there are less stalls, but still plenty to explore and the shops remain open as well.
One recent visitor said: “Lots of interesting stuff, the vintage market section was the best, but the main road itself was insane with people even early in the morning.
“Worth a visit at least once.”
Another added: “Portobello Road and its market is fun to experience.
“It is located in the charming residential neighborhood of Notting Hill.
“Interesting mix of touristy and local shops, eateries, and temporary booths/stalls. Highly recommended!”
A third said: “The market is full of life, colours, and unique finds.
“I especially enjoyed browsing the small stalls with handmade and vintage jewellery — I found some truly beautiful and one-of-a-kind pieces.
“A must-visit spot in London if you enjoy local art, antiques, and something different from the usual shops.”
Portobello has also featured in a number of films, perhaps most notably Notting Hill, starring Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts.
And you can actually visit the bookshop that inspired the bookshop in the film.
Called the Notting Hill Bookshop in real life, the store features the same façade and interiors today that the original shop did which was used in Notting Hill as The Travel Book Co.
There is a lot to do in the surrounding area as well.
For example, you could head to the Museum of Brands to see how household products have changed their look over the years.
It costs £11.50 per person to visit.
Or perhaps wander to Kensington, where you can explore Kensington Palace and Gardens, which costs from £20.60 per person to visit.
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