Portobello Road Market was the destination for a sunny Saturday out in Notting Hill: a bike ride, a slow wander through the stalls, coffee and a burger. I had no ambitious shopping list. Instead, I wanted to enjoy the market, revisit the area where I once traded and finish with a pint at the Churchill Arms.

From the Roberts London archive: this film was published on 26 June 2016. The cafes, shops and market scenes below describe that visit.

Cycling from Queen’s Gate to Notting Hill

I started on Queen’s Gate in South Kensington and picked up one of London’s hire bikes, still widely called Boris bikes at the time. It took a second attempt to release the bike, but soon I was pedalling past the white terraces towards Notting Hill Gate.

The ride felt mostly uphill, and I arrived ready for a drink. Along the way, the flowers outside the Churchill Arms caught my eye. That settled the plan for later: explore the market first, then return for a beer.

After docking near Notting Hill Gate, I continued on foot. I showed the walk from the station towards Portobello Road, where the Saturday crowds were already building before the main stalls began.

A Saturday walk through Portobello Road Market

There is a gradual change as you walk through the market. At the Notting Hill Gate end, I passed pastel-coloured houses before reaching the antiques, vintage pieces and collectables. Farther along came fruit and vegetables, street food, then clothing and accessories around Portobello Green.

This was familiar territory. I used to sell jewellery here with a friend, beneath the flyover near the railway tracks. We did not make much money, but we had a good laugh. Returning as a visitor gave me time to look around without a stall to mind.

I also talked about the changes I had seen. A building I remembered as an antiques arcade had become an AllSaints shop. In the film, I reflected on rising competition for retail space and the changing mix of traders, cafes and shops. Those were my observations from the market in 2016.

By lunchtime, progress through the crowds was slow. There were old cameras, clothes, souvenirs and plenty of food to distract me. I passed the Electric Cinema and its neighbouring diner, but this visit was about coffee and lunch rather than a film.

Coffee at Pedlars on Talbot Road

For coffee, I stepped off Portobello Road onto Talbot Road, next to Rough Trade Records. Pedlars combined a shop selling gifts, vintage pieces and collectables with a cafe at the back. It brought together two things I had been talking about all morning: the market’s older objects and its growing appetite for food and drink.

I ordered a black Americano and took a break from the busy street. Inside, the atmosphere was calmer, with a bicycle displayed on the wall and interesting things to browse. After finishing the coffee, I headed back into the market in search of lunch.

Boom Burger and plantain fries

Near Portobello Green, I stopped at Boom Burger, the Jamaican-inspired burger restaurant I had wanted to try. I ordered its signature burger with plantain fries and sat beside the market to eat.

The burger was delicious: cheese, fresh salad and a generous filling that called for plenty of napkins. I had expected a little more spice, but I certainly was not complaining. The plantain fries were softer than crisp potato fries, making a different accompaniment to the burger.

After lunch, I decided to turn back. The market continued farther on, but I had covered enough for one afternoon. I worked my way towards Notting Hill Gate again, looking at the stalls from the other direction.

Old cameras on the return walk

A display of vintage cameras and Polaroids stopped me for another look. Among them was a sign welcoming photography, which made a change from the usual warnings. They were tempting objects to admire, even if they could not replace the small camera I was using to make the vlog.

A pint at the Churchill Arms

Finally, I left the market for Kensington Church Street and the Churchill Arms. Its hanging baskets and plants had made an impression on the outward journey, and I returned for a pint of London Pride.

It was a relaxed finish to an afternoon of market crowds, coffee and lunch. Afterwards, I picked up another hire bike and rode back towards Kensington, ending close to where the day had begun.

Watch the full Portobello Road film

The 42-minute film follows the whole outing, including the cycle ride, the Saturday market, Pedlars, Boom Burger and the Churchill Arms. Watch it below for the street scenes and conversations from this summer day in London.