‘Fantasy’ flat above romcom Notting Hill bookshop hits the market
The west London property from the 1999 film is up for sale for £2.4m
The bright blue facade of The Travel Book Co has brought film fans flocking to London’s Portobello Road since Richard Curtis’s romcom Notting Hill hit cinemas in 1999.
In reality, the interior scenes where “posh-geeky bookshop owner” William Thacker, played by Hugh Grant, first meets Hollywood star Anna Scott (Julia Roberts) were filmed in a studio, said Time Out, and the retail space is now home to a gift store. But movie buffs are being offered the chance to live out their “romcom fantasy” in the flat situated above.
.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The “fantasy flat” situated over the bookshop where the “unlikely” film romance first begins is on the market for a “serious” £2,375,000, the magazine reported.
The apartment sprawls over 1,414 square feet and is split over three floors, the first of which features an open-plan kitchen, reception and dining area leading onto a generous terrace – “great for entertaining”, according to estate agents Russell Simpson.
The reception area is the “star of the show”, said House Beautiful, with an “original brickwork wall, fireplace, oak flooring and double sash windows” offering “the kind of character you don’t find in every home”.
The second floor features two bedrooms and a large bathroom, and the “entire” top level is “dedicated to the master bedroom, complete with an en-suite bathroom”, said the Daily Mail. The property is “truly a one-of-a-kind sales opportunity”, said Hermione Russell, sales negotiator at Russell Simpson.
The seller bought the property in 2006 for £860,000, the London Evening Standard. Russell said similar properties in the area are often sold to “young, single women, because you’re in amongst the life and the busyness of Notting Hill” and “it’s a very safe place to live”.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Julia O'Driscoll is the engagement editor. She covers UK and world news, as well as writing lifestyle and travel features. She regularly appears on “The Week Unwrapped” podcast, and hosted The Week's short-form documentary podcast, “The Overview”. Julia was previously the content and social media editor at sustainability consultancy Eco-Age, where she interviewed prominent voices in sustainable fashion and climate movements. She has a master's in liberal arts from Bristol University, and spent a year studying at Charles University in Prague.
-
Today's political cartoons - April 28, 2024
Cartoons Sunday's cartoons - airline safety, teleprompter gaffs, and more
By The Week US Published
-
5 doom 'n' gloom cartoons about the mess we're in
Cartoons Artists take on long-term pessimism, dystopian fears, and more
By The Week US Published
-
The Church of England's legacy of slavery
The Explainer Should the CofE offer financial redress for its involvement in the transatlantic slave trade?
By The Week UK Published
-
Death Cafes: where people talk mortality over tea and cake
Why everyone's talking about The meet-ups are intended to offer a judgement-free and respectful space to discuss the end of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
10 museum exhibitions to see this winter
The Week Recommends The Roman Empire, Ukrainian modernism and early Buddhist art are all covered
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
Movies to watch in December, from 'Wonka' to 'The Color Purple'
The Week Recommends A month for Beyoncé, Godzilla and Willy Wonka
By Brendan Morrow, The Week US Published
-
Da Terra review: high-end elaborate dining in London’s East End
The Week Recommends Each dish at this two-Michelin-starred restaurant requires evident toil, but the resulting flavours appear effortless
By Arion McNicoll Published
-
TikTok chef Thomas Straker sparks hospitality diversity row
Speed Read Restaurant owner apologises after fierce criticism of pictures showing his all white male kitchen team
By Julia O'Driscoll Published
-
Hugh Grant Oompa-Loompa casting criticised by actors with dwarfism
Speed Read Campaigners say ‘shrinking down’ actor to play ‘mocking role’ has made situation even worse
By Julia O'Driscoll Published
-
The cost of clean air: who will win the battle over low emissions zones?
Today's Big Question Debate has ‘turned toxic’ as legal challenge to expansion of London’s Ulez is heard
By Chas Newkey-Burden Published
-
National Portrait Gallery: the reopening review
The Week Recommends After a £41m renovation the gallery has reopened its doors and the result is a triumph
By The Week Staff Published