Whose Hill? | Notting Hill Carnival 60

A one-hour walk from Notting Hill Gate to the summit of the actual hill. A thousand years of history beneath your feet.

This neighbourhood has been fought over, built up, torn down and reinvented for a thousand years. Join Notting Hill Walks for a one-hour walk from Notting Hill Gate to the summit of the actual hill, uncovering the layers beneath the surface – the artists’ colony, the working families, the Victorian dreamers, the writers and the communities who shaped this place long before the film crew arrived.

WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER

The old hamlet where J.M.W. Turner painted and a Russian Tsar came shopping
A blue plaque for a composer who shaped the sound of the piano
A street that went from slum to pastel paradise in a single lifetime
A Victorian theatre where kings, actors and film stars all took their seats
The site of the old toll gate that gave Notting Hill Gate its name
The freezing attic where a young writer prepared himself to walk out among tramps
The summit of Notting Hill itself – and the forgotten Victorian scheme that shaped every street around it

WHO IT’S FOR

Anyone curious about the real history under the postcards. Perfect for locals who want to know their own streets, visitors who want more than the film tour, and anyone studying London’s Victorian history, literary heritage or urban change.

Duration: 60 minutes
Distance: around 1.5 km, mostly flat with a gentle rise to the summit
Start: The Old Swan, 206 Kensington Church Street, W8 7LX (opposite Notting Hill Gate station)
Finish: Kensington Park Gardens, W11 (close to Ladbroke Grove station)
Accessibility: step-free route throughout, pavements in good condition
Weather: walk runs in all conditions except extreme weather – please dress for the day

This walk is part of Carnival 60 – the six-month heritage programme marking 60 years of Notting Hill Carnival, running May to October 2026. Walks, talks, workshops and exhibitions exploring the Caribbean heritage of Notting Hill and the wider neighbourhood.