Notting Hill

Notting hill is a part of London situated west of the centre in the Chelsea and Kensington district.
Fourty years ago Notting Hill was definitly a no-go area. It was described as a "massive slum" full of multi occupied houses. But in the past 30 years there has been a massive transformation and now has a great statue.
This area is popular for antique and music shops around Notting Hill Gate.
It's very quiet on week days but on saturdays the place is packed for the Portobello market. The market sells mostly antiques but because of the tourists is has become less authentic. Notting Hill is also known for it's carnival which takes place in august. It's a celebration of the Caribbean culture. The carnval started in the 60's as a positiv responce to immigrant communities.
The name Notting Hill is very old and comes from the Saxons "Cnotta".
This area used to be entirely rural and was part of Kensington's parish.
Notting Hill Gate is where the gate was installed on London's main road to maintain it's quality. This gate was taken away in the 19th century.
Notting Hills big Town-houses where designed by Ladbroke Thomas Allon. His idea was to build the houses surrounding a commune garden, so the gardens are not visible from the street.
Once built the Notting hill houses where not as popular as expected because rich families like living more central. So the houses where inspired by the Belgravia models but cheaper.
In the 20th century when wealthy families stopped employing domestiques the biggest houses where divided in multiple lodgings. But in the 80's the occupation of the whole house was fashionable again and now Notting hill is one of London's areas the most appreciated.