The Laslett
Love thy neighbourhood
A promenade from Portobello
The Laslett boutique hotel embodies the same sense of community spirit and creativity as its namesake, Rhaune Laslett (founder of the Notting Hill Carnival). British brands such as Waldo Works architects, and Pinch and Race Furniture have shaped the modish interiors, and the involvement of local heroes – Biba founder-cum-artist Barbara Hulanicki, who's supplied some of the eye-catching wall candy, and Jerome Dodd of Golborne Road’s Les Couilles du Chien antique shop – ensure a true sense of place.
Planes
From Gatwick Airport (www.gatwickairport.com), hop on the express train to Victoria, then ride the circle line to Notting Hill Gate Tube station. The Heathrow Express (www.heathrowexpress.com) arrives at Paddington, two stops away on the District or Circle lines. A taxi will take about 30 minutes from Heathrow or an hour from Gatwick.
Trains
Notting Hill Gate Tube station is just around the corner. The District, Circle and Central lines pass through, so all corners of London are within reach.
Automobiles
London’s Tube system may befuddle first-timers, but it’s less bewildering than navigating the traffic-swollen streets. If you must drive, there are car-hire booths at both airports, but there’s no parking at the hotel. Guests can leave their car at the Q-Park on Queensway (www.q-park.co.uk), a 10-minute walk away, for £26 a day.
Worth Getting Out of Bed For
Notting Hill’s legendary gatherings and offbeat boutiques will coax you from your lie-in. The district is coloured in brighter strokes than the eponymous Richard Curtis film; grand dame townhouses have a lick of carnival-coloured paint, and petite gardens and characterful old-school pubs punctuate meandering streets. Westbourne Grove and Ledbury Road are lined with petite cafés and high-street wonders such as Anya Hindmarch, Smythson and famed designer-label den Matches, interspersed with independent institutions. It’s touristy and trashy in parts, but Portobello Market’s stalls are still worth rummaging through for antique doohickeys, hand-made wearables, toys and trinkets; and you can weave in and out of designer boutiques, vintage shops and one-off pop-ups. With corsetry from What Katy Did, Sixties-inspired mens’ tailoring at Adam of London and cute-as-a-button kids’ wear from Sasti: the Portobello Green Arcade peddles serious designer wares. The Electric Cinema has super-comfortable leather armchairs, and theatre company the Print Room has taken over historic cinema the Coronet. William and Kate’s gaff, Kensington Palace, is a 10-minute walk away, flanked by pretty gardens – stop for afternoon tea in the Orangery, then roam through Kensington High Street. On August bank holiday each year, the streets become a flurry of feathers and sequins as the Notting Hill Carnival’s parades kick off street parties till late.
