Rooms

The 20 rooms are all different, with a mix of delicate antiques, elegant swathes of curtain and retro button-back chairs. There are delicious Green & Spring spa products and Nespresso machines in each room.

Good Rooms are the smallest, but they still have a feeling of space compared to other city hotels, and amazing wall-to-wall murals. Larger rooms (Great, Marvellous etc) have gilded mirrors and roll-top Victorian baths with heavy gold taps; several face onto Stanley Gardens.

Our room (an Outstanding) had a vast four-poster bed originally from Hampton Court Palace. There were 3 easy chairs and a sofa (we spent a lot of time sitting, bliss when you normally have small children in tow), and our bathroom was like a Tardis, with thick robes and hidden cupboards. Another Outstanding Room has an incredible round bed, romantically wrapped in gauze curtains.

Features include:

• Bathrobes
• Hairdryer
• In room treatments available
• Minibar
• WiFi

Eating

Breakfast is a small continental selection of buttery croissants, fresh juice and delicious local breads, served on pretty vintage china. They have a few hot options for an extra charge (try the scrambled eggs and smoked salmon). No other meals are served, though there's a limited snack menu available 24 hours (club sandwiches, olives, that sort of thing).

Start your evening with a drink from the honesty bar in the lounge, then head to one of the excellent restaurants nearby: Beach Blanket Babylon (chic modern European), The Electric Diner (American classics), The Ledbury (sensational gastronomy) and Granger & Co. We managed to bag a table at Granger (it doesn’t take reservations so can be hard to get into) and can heartily recommend it for healthy Sydney-style food that makes you feel good. The hotel reception team are available 24 hours to help guests find what they want.

Features include:

• Breakfast
• Coffee / tea making
• Family friendly
• Restaurants nearby
• Room service

Activities

• Portobello Market is a few minutes' walk away, with stalls stretching over 2 miles. As well as incredible antiques there are vintage clothes, ceramics, music, even fruit and veg. The main market days are Friday and Saturday
  
• Westbourne Grove is a mecca for Parisian chic boutiques and organic food shops
  
• The hotel has created a guided walking tour of the area so you can learn where Hendrix penned 'Purple Haze', where Hugh Grant's bookshop was in Notting Hill; basically, who did what where!
  
• Borrow a Boris bike at Notting Hill Gate and cycle around the neighbourhood like a local
  
• The hotel has mates' rates at the nearby Bodyworks West gym and pool (first visit free), and can arrange treatments at local spa, Cowshed
  
• Stay over Carnival: the annual world-famous event takes place on August Bank Holiday weekend and draws huge crowds and flamboyant processions

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Cycling
• Historical sites
• Language courses
• Museums / galleries
• Nightlife
• Plantlife / flora
• Private guided tours
• Shopping / markets
• Wine tasting

Kids

Children are welcome, but as the hotel is filled with priceless antiques, it's not a great option for toddlers / active little ones.

Best for:

Babies (0-1 years), Children (4-12 years), Teens (over 12)

Family friendly accommodation:

Baby cots can be added to Great, Marvellous and Outstanding Rooms free of charge. A sofabed (double) is available in some of the Marvellous rooms at a (steep) extra charge - enquire with the hotel for availability.

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

The Portobello Hotel is in the heart of Notting Hill, west London.

By Air:
Most scheduled airlines fly into London Heathrow (24km) or London Gatwick (56km). London Stansted and London Luton are also well serviced. You could take a taxi from the airport, but it's expensive and London has excellent public transport links from all airports.

By Train:
International Eurostar trains arrive at St Pancras station; national rail services tend to arrive at London Paddington station; both are a short tube ride from the hotel. The Portobello Hotel is an easy walk from Notting Hill Gate tube station (on the Central and Circle/District Lines).

By Car:
Driving around London is generally best avoided, however, car hire is possible. There are car parks/metered parking near the hotel but they are expensive and you may be affected by the London congestion charge.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.

More on getting to the UK and getting around