London is jam-packed with pretty streets and gorgeous thoroughfares, with most people picking their favourites and taking themselves there when they need a boost. One such popular number is Notting Hill’s famous Portobello Road, which has just been named as one of the most beautiful streets in the world by the gurus at Condé Nast Traveler.
Aptly described as one of the world’s most-visited street markets (you need only visit on a Saturday afternoon at ~1pm to see for yourself), Portobello Road was praised for its colourful streets and its history in connecting the old Portobello Farm with Kensal Green. Today, we know it as a spot to hunt down a bargain on an old trinket, perhaps a rare film camera or a pair of shades or an ornament for a new house, before tucking into some street food and enjoying a lager at the weekend.
Portobello Road comes alongside some esteemed company in the list, sandwiched in between the beautiful blue and white colours in Sidi Bou Said in Tunisia and the 15th-century sandstone-kissed walkway of Pienza in Tuscany. Also featured on the list are the vibrancies of Koon Seng Road in Singapore, the canals and the cobbles of Bruges, the stunning 10th-century Muizz Street in Cairo, and more.
Elsewhere in the UK, streets in Bath, York, Edinburgh, the Cotswolds, and Ballymoney all made the cut alongside London on the list of 71 cities. Cities were listed for a variety of reasons; from their history to spring blooms to striking architecture, there are many things that make up a great street—and London’s Portobello Road certainly hits all the right notes.
Read the full list of Condé Nast Traveler’s most beautiful streets here. You can also check out our handy guide to Notting Hill.