PORTOBELLO
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Portobello for the Masses: Introduction to Portobello
“If the tourists are let down, they came at the wrong time,” One of Portobello’s many vendors, Jerry, bundled in patterned, cozy layers, explained to us as we looked down the lanes of the massive market. In the way of antiques, Portobello Market fulfills nearly all desires. Ornate, delicate glass vases were displayed around her table, along with a beautiful miniature hurricane lamp and a few other odds and ends. Portobello has a quirky feel to it, which Jerry describes as a “bohemian edge… [with] an addictive element.” She admitted that even she herself shops at the market, and urged us to further explore.
Portobello brings a large crowd of people to it daily. It’s open from Monday- Wednesday, and Friday-Saturday 8:00-18:30 (or 6:30 pm), and Thursday’s from 8:00-13:00 (or 1:00 pm). Antique-lovers will want to come on either Friday or Saturday when the entire antique section is packed. Early Friday guarantees the best selection, but late Saturday may offer the opportunity for discounts. If your wallet happens to only have a few pounds in it, worry not; many of the antique dealers will accept cards. We took full advantage of Jerry’s advice and scoured the market, but because of the massive size of Portobello, we split apart from our trio and braved the lanes on our own, hunting for the true treasures it had to offer.
Endless Antiques, Endless Opportunities - Will
As for the antiques to pick from, there’s a vast and ever-changing variety to browse. Wooden boxes with varying designs on them, one even shaped like a turtle, and other knick-knacks are scattered throughout the market. Compasses, paintings, jewelry, records, clothing and more await to be found. Larger items like chairs, tables, footstools, and more are also available in certain sections of the market, but these offerings aren’t as common as the smaller items. Portobello is among the largest antique markets in the world and considered to be one of the oldest as well, so over time, it’s gained a famous reputation.
The prices are widely varied. Jerry’s booth sold items from £5 to £40, depending on size and quality. There were other merchants like Raymond who sold wooden, biblical figures for fairly low prices, though right next to them was a slender vase covered in crosses that went for about £50. This inconsistency is true to most antique markets as items are grouped together by the vendor who found them, not by price. Taking a right out of Portobello’s food area will lead to a cheaper section of antiques, but there are still some pricey collectibles here. I recommend acknowledging the vast size and range of the market and knowing that not everything can be bought. Fear that I would find something else later was one of the main things that kept me from buying everything I saw because each piece truly seemed better than the last.
Entirely cosmopolitan in nature, the stock of antiques comes from around the world and provides new experiences every day. One man literally gets new antiques from around the world during the week then puts them out that very same Friday and Saturday. Other vendors proudly display signage stating where their treasures originated from. Being surrounded by all these wonders - cheap and pricey alike - can be overwhelming, but I would say just breathe and let yourself have fun as you explore. Despite its size, it’s surprisingly easy to navigate Portobello, so you can always come back if that old French-to-English dictionary is still calling out to you.
Music Among Us - Avery
No matter where in the market I explored, there was always some type of music playing. If I took a few steps out of one area and into another, The Beatles would start to fade into The Beach Boys. A few booths down I could hear Frank Sinatra playing over shouts of prices and deals from various vendors. The vast majority of the music came from the many records shops that have booths scattered across the market. Almost all of these booths sold music in the form of vinyl records, which aids in making Portobello a fantastic market for collectors.
Although the market is enormous, someone seemed to be selling some form of music in nearly every location, even in the food sections. In the antique section, there was one booth selling old keyboards and other various antique instruments for those who prefer to make their own music. In the tented flea market area, there were also loose leaf sheet music and unbounded music books that could be bought for just £2 or £3.
Clothing the Crowds - Avery
With the variety of music playing in the background I continued to explore the market. I happened to take particular notice of the clothing, easy enough to do given the fact that a significant portion of the clothing was brightly colored or patterned. I came across a collection of button-up shirts that seemed to have come right out of the 1990’s; one was baby blue with a Pokemon print, another had a Donald Duck pattern, and one had a multi-colored Mickey-Mouse pattern. Just a few booths down a man was selling rasta hats and in between the two, there was a table overflowing with scarves. They came in every color imaginable, and in even more patterns.
A bit further down the path, someone was selling suit jackets. Others were selling hats and scarves one might wear for a nicer evening out. It seemed an odd yet somehow unsurprising contrast to have such a variety at a single market. At one point I stepped inside one of the shops that lined the streets, a clothing shop that also benefited from the masses that descended on Portobello despite not being officially associated.
Shimmer and Shine, Patina Layered with Time – Caity
Another fashionable option offered at Portobello Market are the jewelry pieces ranging in price, age, and craft. Modern artisans sell simplistic designs featuring rose gold, .925 silver, and gold. Vintage dealers display a variety of rings, necklaces, cufflinks, earrings, bracelets, and more that have gained patina over time. Souvenir sections offer pocket watches featuring the Union Jack or telephone booth etchings along with pins adorned with similar designs. If authenticity is important to you, several vendors proudly trace back their pieces. But if the general appearance draws you in, many shopkeepers are also artisans and crafters themselves, personally adding bits of modern to treasures from the past. There’s an eclectic mix of all sorts to pick from no matter what your preference or price range may be, however, Portobello is a massive market to explore so budget accordingly.
True to Portobello’s antique and vintage identity, many shopkeepers display old pocket watches, pearl sets, patina-coated chains, and rings of all sizes and styles for everyone. As you move through the lengthy market, one of a kind finds call out from the vintage stalls. Towards the end near Notting Hill are numerous antique stalls that pride themselves on authenticity; the jewelry booths integrated here toot that same authenticity. With that though, higher prices can be expected. Don’t be afraid to haggle, but don’t be overly aggressive either or else you’ll risk outright offending the shopkeeper and getting no sale at all.
Heading towards Ladbroke Grove takes you into cheaper sections of the market. There are still many vintage finds here as well, but modern pieces appear more often as you move away from Notting Hill. Mixed in among these vintage finds are revamped pieces as well. Artistic shopkeepers find broken pieces and incorporate a modern touch with stones, chain work, or metalwork. Some simpler pieces can be snatched up for £15 while others can be upwards of £50.
In this same area, simplistic modern jewelry also appears; Portobello’s fashion isn’t restricted to just vintage. Contemporary designs include intricate leaf pendants, braided bracelets, and delicate rings. Occasionally geometric designs pop up and overall simplicity is popular in these modern pieces. Oddly enough, this is where you’ll find the least variety. Fortunately, though, many stalls offer these similar pieces, so if one happens to sell out just a few hundred feet down there’ll be more to pick from.
By the flea market section of Ladbroke Grove, there are more stalls offering jewelry but it’s generally a hodgepodge of pieces. Earrings can be found for as little as 50 pence, cloth bracelets for £1 and leather for £5, and necklaces of various lengths and materials ranging from £2 to £20. One stall offers modern pocket watches - some intricately etched while others are adorned with stereotypical British aspects like the Union Jack, a crown, or a telephone booth - that are about the size of a USD quarter and you can pick up two of them for just £10. Some of the shopkeepers have been in this area for upwards of fifteen years while others just began selling in 2017, but their eclectic mix still seems come together in this end of Portobello Market.
Venturing Among the Vendors
The Brits are generally referred to as being a bit reserved, but don’t let that stop you from striking up a conversation with the vendors and shopkeepers. They know the ins and outs of their own market better than any guide could ever convey, so if something about their booth or the shopkeepers themselves captures your interest, don’t hesitate to speak up. Some are professionally friendly, others are excited to tell you about the history behind their antiques and trinkets, and a few are just excited to speak with anyone in general.
While I was at Portobello I decided to take the opportunity to talk to a few of the vendors. Among the first that I spoke to were sisters Simrat and Samneet Aydee of The Henna Den where they create henna art and sell incense. They told me how despite its large size, the market is like a family. To them, that aspect is what makes the market so great. They know many of their regular customers and were beyond excited to talk to anybody new. Of all of the vendors, these two sisters were quite possibly two of the friendliest people I’d spoken to. Even with very little interest in henna or incense, it was easy to be drawn into conversation with them without feeling overly pressured to buy their products.
I also spoke with Charlotte Reed. Author and illustrator of the book May the Thoughts Be With You: Ideas and wisdom to inspire your days, Charlotte defines herself as an artist and creator of positive thoughts, and it shows through her artwork. Despite appearing a bit childish, her artwork is filled with positive thoughts and messages inspiring people to be who they are and do not conform to societies wishes. As I spoke to her she informed me that getting a spot selling at Portobello Market is actually significantly easier than at most other London markets. She believes that is one of the leading reasons as to why one can find such a fantastic variety of pieces here since getting a spot at other markets can be time-consuming and tedious.
You can also find such a vast selection because vendors often have been here for years, if not decades, and they’ve paid attention to what makes customers come back. A lady named Donna, a vintage jewelry dealer who specialized in jewelry-making herself has been selling at Portobello for nearly fifteen years. Though jewelry is a part of fashion and it too fluctuates in style through the years, timeless pieces will always be just that, so keeping classics mixed in with contemporary designs draws in a wider range of customers. She claimed that at the moment necklaces and earrings featuring red or pink stones were quite popular while pearl earrings and silver watches were always selling well. Noting a love for repurposing, she had a collection of longer necklaces featuring antique pocket watch mechanisms and dial faces as pendants. Keeping timeless pieces in stock while adding eye-catchers happens to be a great way to attract more customers, and the vendors quickly learn this.
Universal Happiness: Food
Choosing where to eat can be an overwhelming experience. There’s two aisles of made to order, grab-and-go options while at the opposite end of the market are sit down restaurants, cafes, and produce stands. Food ranging from Caribbean to Thai to fish and chips lay before you in a bustling, chaotic lane, with no options for seating available. Aromas of Korean, Middle Eastern, Mexican, and more battle each other in a way that’s surprisingly pleasing to the nose but overwhelming to the mind. Our group choose to circle up and take a peek at everyone’s wide range of food, and each dish looked wonderfully fresh and delicious. It’s as difficult to find a trash can as it is to find seating, so be prepared to hold onto your leftovers for a minute before you find a place to drop it off.
Portobello’s Personal Peculiarity
Simply describing Portobello Market leaves so much to still be experienced; we’ve only given a profile but novels and guides could be written and still seem to miss something about the treasures here. Though London has a vast number of markets, Portobello should definitely be on the list to explore. If antiques aren’t your thing, there were hemp backpacks for only £20, some beautiful stones, crystals, and geodes, and you can even find Union Jack thongs. If great food, amazing antiques, and other trinkets and mementos are at all appealing to you, then go explore Portobello Market.
Portobello has far more to offer than just antiques and vintage items, but there’s certainly a reason why it’s such a well-known aspect of the market. No matter where you turn, the majority of whichever aisle you enter will display vintage clothing, antique furniture, old trinkets, and jewelry from the past. Still take the opportunity to try out the aromatic foods, explore the stalls offering prints and photographs, and wander into the stores that line the mile-long section of the street that Portobello Market calls home. Broke college students to antique dealers themselves will certainly find things that please themselves and their wallets, as will tourists, everyday shoppers, and anyone else who stumbles upon the massive Portobello Market.
So Now That You Want To Go...
Look for Notting Hill - no, not the movie but the actual British neighborhood - on any semi-up-to-date map and use your own current location to help pinpoint the cheapest, fastest, or most unique method of getting to Portobello. It’s quite easy to spot, nor are there too many twists and turns to take if you’re coming from the Tube or taking a bus. Once you’ve reached the Notting Hill neighborhood, chances are you can just follow the masses making their way in whichever direction because odds are pretty good that they too are making their way to this well-known, eclectic market. Or you know, you can just use Google Maps and the Tube App; that’ll probably be more accurate and specific.
“If the tourists are let down, they came at the wrong time,” One of Portobello’s many vendors, Jerry, bundled in patterned, cozy layers, explained to us as we looked down the lanes of the massive market. In the way of antiques, Portobello Market fulfills nearly all desires. Ornate, delicate glass vases were displayed around her table, along with a beautiful miniature hurricane lamp and a few other odds and ends. Portobello has a quirky feel to it, which Jerry describes as a “bohemian edge… [with] an addictive element.” She admitted that even she herself shops at the market, and urged us to further explore.
Portobello brings a large crowd of people to it daily. It’s open from Monday- Wednesday, and Friday-Saturday 8:00-18:30 (or 6:30 pm), and Thursday’s from 8:00-13:00 (or 1:00 pm). Antique-lovers will want to come on either Friday or Saturday when the entire antique section is packed. Early Friday guarantees the best selection, but late Saturday may offer the opportunity for discounts. If your wallet happens to only have a few pounds in it, worry not; many of the antique dealers will accept cards. We took full advantage of Jerry’s advice and scoured the market, but because of the massive size of Portobello, we split apart from our trio and braved the lanes on our own, hunting for the true treasures it had to offer.
Endless Antiques, Endless Opportunities - Will
As for the antiques to pick from, there’s a vast and ever-changing variety to browse. Wooden boxes with varying designs on them, one even shaped like a turtle, and other knick-knacks are scattered throughout the market. Compasses, paintings, jewelry, records, clothing and more await to be found. Larger items like chairs, tables, footstools, and more are also available in certain sections of the market, but these offerings aren’t as common as the smaller items. Portobello is among the largest antique markets in the world and considered to be one of the oldest as well, so over time, it’s gained a famous reputation.
The prices are widely varied. Jerry’s booth sold items from £5 to £40, depending on size and quality. There were other merchants like Raymond who sold wooden, biblical figures for fairly low prices, though right next to them was a slender vase covered in crosses that went for about £50. This inconsistency is true to most antique markets as items are grouped together by the vendor who found them, not by price. Taking a right out of Portobello’s food area will lead to a cheaper section of antiques, but there are still some pricey collectibles here. I recommend acknowledging the vast size and range of the market and knowing that not everything can be bought. Fear that I would find something else later was one of the main things that kept me from buying everything I saw because each piece truly seemed better than the last.
Entirely cosmopolitan in nature, the stock of antiques comes from around the world and provides new experiences every day. One man literally gets new antiques from around the world during the week then puts them out that very same Friday and Saturday. Other vendors proudly display signage stating where their treasures originated from. Being surrounded by all these wonders - cheap and pricey alike - can be overwhelming, but I would say just breathe and let yourself have fun as you explore. Despite its size, it’s surprisingly easy to navigate Portobello, so you can always come back if that old French-to-English dictionary is still calling out to you.
Music Among Us - Avery
No matter where in the market I explored, there was always some type of music playing. If I took a few steps out of one area and into another, The Beatles would start to fade into The Beach Boys. A few booths down I could hear Frank Sinatra playing over shouts of prices and deals from various vendors. The vast majority of the music came from the many records shops that have booths scattered across the market. Almost all of these booths sold music in the form of vinyl records, which aids in making Portobello a fantastic market for collectors.
Although the market is enormous, someone seemed to be selling some form of music in nearly every location, even in the food sections. In the antique section, there was one booth selling old keyboards and other various antique instruments for those who prefer to make their own music. In the tented flea market area, there were also loose leaf sheet music and unbounded music books that could be bought for just £2 or £3.
Clothing the Crowds - Avery
With the variety of music playing in the background I continued to explore the market. I happened to take particular notice of the clothing, easy enough to do given the fact that a significant portion of the clothing was brightly colored or patterned. I came across a collection of button-up shirts that seemed to have come right out of the 1990’s; one was baby blue with a Pokemon print, another had a Donald Duck pattern, and one had a multi-colored Mickey-Mouse pattern. Just a few booths down a man was selling rasta hats and in between the two, there was a table overflowing with scarves. They came in every color imaginable, and in even more patterns.
A bit further down the path, someone was selling suit jackets. Others were selling hats and scarves one might wear for a nicer evening out. It seemed an odd yet somehow unsurprising contrast to have such a variety at a single market. At one point I stepped inside one of the shops that lined the streets, a clothing shop that also benefited from the masses that descended on Portobello despite not being officially associated.
Shimmer and Shine, Patina Layered with Time – Caity
Another fashionable option offered at Portobello Market are the jewelry pieces ranging in price, age, and craft. Modern artisans sell simplistic designs featuring rose gold, .925 silver, and gold. Vintage dealers display a variety of rings, necklaces, cufflinks, earrings, bracelets, and more that have gained patina over time. Souvenir sections offer pocket watches featuring the Union Jack or telephone booth etchings along with pins adorned with similar designs. If authenticity is important to you, several vendors proudly trace back their pieces. But if the general appearance draws you in, many shopkeepers are also artisans and crafters themselves, personally adding bits of modern to treasures from the past. There’s an eclectic mix of all sorts to pick from no matter what your preference or price range may be, however, Portobello is a massive market to explore so budget accordingly.
True to Portobello’s antique and vintage identity, many shopkeepers display old pocket watches, pearl sets, patina-coated chains, and rings of all sizes and styles for everyone. As you move through the lengthy market, one of a kind finds call out from the vintage stalls. Towards the end near Notting Hill are numerous antique stalls that pride themselves on authenticity; the jewelry booths integrated here toot that same authenticity. With that though, higher prices can be expected. Don’t be afraid to haggle, but don’t be overly aggressive either or else you’ll risk outright offending the shopkeeper and getting no sale at all.
Heading towards Ladbroke Grove takes you into cheaper sections of the market. There are still many vintage finds here as well, but modern pieces appear more often as you move away from Notting Hill. Mixed in among these vintage finds are revamped pieces as well. Artistic shopkeepers find broken pieces and incorporate a modern touch with stones, chain work, or metalwork. Some simpler pieces can be snatched up for £15 while others can be upwards of £50.
In this same area, simplistic modern jewelry also appears; Portobello’s fashion isn’t restricted to just vintage. Contemporary designs include intricate leaf pendants, braided bracelets, and delicate rings. Occasionally geometric designs pop up and overall simplicity is popular in these modern pieces. Oddly enough, this is where you’ll find the least variety. Fortunately, though, many stalls offer these similar pieces, so if one happens to sell out just a few hundred feet down there’ll be more to pick from.
By the flea market section of Ladbroke Grove, there are more stalls offering jewelry but it’s generally a hodgepodge of pieces. Earrings can be found for as little as 50 pence, cloth bracelets for £1 and leather for £5, and necklaces of various lengths and materials ranging from £2 to £20. One stall offers modern pocket watches - some intricately etched while others are adorned with stereotypical British aspects like the Union Jack, a crown, or a telephone booth - that are about the size of a USD quarter and you can pick up two of them for just £10. Some of the shopkeepers have been in this area for upwards of fifteen years while others just began selling in 2017, but their eclectic mix still seems come together in this end of Portobello Market.
Venturing Among the Vendors
The Brits are generally referred to as being a bit reserved, but don’t let that stop you from striking up a conversation with the vendors and shopkeepers. They know the ins and outs of their own market better than any guide could ever convey, so if something about their booth or the shopkeepers themselves captures your interest, don’t hesitate to speak up. Some are professionally friendly, others are excited to tell you about the history behind their antiques and trinkets, and a few are just excited to speak with anyone in general.
While I was at Portobello I decided to take the opportunity to talk to a few of the vendors. Among the first that I spoke to were sisters Simrat and Samneet Aydee of The Henna Den where they create henna art and sell incense. They told me how despite its large size, the market is like a family. To them, that aspect is what makes the market so great. They know many of their regular customers and were beyond excited to talk to anybody new. Of all of the vendors, these two sisters were quite possibly two of the friendliest people I’d spoken to. Even with very little interest in henna or incense, it was easy to be drawn into conversation with them without feeling overly pressured to buy their products.
I also spoke with Charlotte Reed. Author and illustrator of the book May the Thoughts Be With You: Ideas and wisdom to inspire your days, Charlotte defines herself as an artist and creator of positive thoughts, and it shows through her artwork. Despite appearing a bit childish, her artwork is filled with positive thoughts and messages inspiring people to be who they are and do not conform to societies wishes. As I spoke to her she informed me that getting a spot selling at Portobello Market is actually significantly easier than at most other London markets. She believes that is one of the leading reasons as to why one can find such a fantastic variety of pieces here since getting a spot at other markets can be time-consuming and tedious.
You can also find such a vast selection because vendors often have been here for years, if not decades, and they’ve paid attention to what makes customers come back. A lady named Donna, a vintage jewelry dealer who specialized in jewelry-making herself has been selling at Portobello for nearly fifteen years. Though jewelry is a part of fashion and it too fluctuates in style through the years, timeless pieces will always be just that, so keeping classics mixed in with contemporary designs draws in a wider range of customers. She claimed that at the moment necklaces and earrings featuring red or pink stones were quite popular while pearl earrings and silver watches were always selling well. Noting a love for repurposing, she had a collection of longer necklaces featuring antique pocket watch mechanisms and dial faces as pendants. Keeping timeless pieces in stock while adding eye-catchers happens to be a great way to attract more customers, and the vendors quickly learn this.
Universal Happiness: Food
Choosing where to eat can be an overwhelming experience. There’s two aisles of made to order, grab-and-go options while at the opposite end of the market are sit down restaurants, cafes, and produce stands. Food ranging from Caribbean to Thai to fish and chips lay before you in a bustling, chaotic lane, with no options for seating available. Aromas of Korean, Middle Eastern, Mexican, and more battle each other in a way that’s surprisingly pleasing to the nose but overwhelming to the mind. Our group choose to circle up and take a peek at everyone’s wide range of food, and each dish looked wonderfully fresh and delicious. It’s as difficult to find a trash can as it is to find seating, so be prepared to hold onto your leftovers for a minute before you find a place to drop it off.
Portobello’s Personal Peculiarity
Simply describing Portobello Market leaves so much to still be experienced; we’ve only given a profile but novels and guides could be written and still seem to miss something about the treasures here. Though London has a vast number of markets, Portobello should definitely be on the list to explore. If antiques aren’t your thing, there were hemp backpacks for only £20, some beautiful stones, crystals, and geodes, and you can even find Union Jack thongs. If great food, amazing antiques, and other trinkets and mementos are at all appealing to you, then go explore Portobello Market.
Portobello has far more to offer than just antiques and vintage items, but there’s certainly a reason why it’s such a well-known aspect of the market. No matter where you turn, the majority of whichever aisle you enter will display vintage clothing, antique furniture, old trinkets, and jewelry from the past. Still take the opportunity to try out the aromatic foods, explore the stalls offering prints and photographs, and wander into the stores that line the mile-long section of the street that Portobello Market calls home. Broke college students to antique dealers themselves will certainly find things that please themselves and their wallets, as will tourists, everyday shoppers, and anyone else who stumbles upon the massive Portobello Market.
So Now That You Want To Go...
Look for Notting Hill - no, not the movie but the actual British neighborhood - on any semi-up-to-date map and use your own current location to help pinpoint the cheapest, fastest, or most unique method of getting to Portobello. It’s quite easy to spot, nor are there too many twists and turns to take if you’re coming from the Tube or taking a bus. Once you’ve reached the Notting Hill neighborhood, chances are you can just follow the masses making their way in whichever direction because odds are pretty good that they too are making their way to this well-known, eclectic market. Or you know, you can just use Google Maps and the Tube App; that’ll probably be more accurate and specific.