London Notting Hill Food Tour: Bakeries, Scones & Movie Spots

Summary

Notting Hill’s bakeries, scones, pies and movie nostalgia in London

You’ll taste Notting Hill’s baking history one bite at a time: bacon sandwiches in an old cabmen’s shelter, warm scones with tea on Portobello Road Market, flaky pies from London institutions, and pastries spiced with cardamom while hearing stories of music legends and movie sets along pastel streets. Expect laughter, crumbs on your jacket, and moments you’ll want to remember long after you leave.

What’s the experience like?

You know that feeling when you arrive somewhere and it just smells like morning? That’s how it started for me on this Notting Hill food tour — the air was cool, a little damp, and the first thing I noticed was the scent of bacon drifting from this tiny green hut. Our guide, Anna, waved us over like she’d been waiting all week. She handed out these thick bacon sandwiches, nothing fancy but honest, and explained how cab drivers used to eat here before sunrise. I kept glancing at the old shelter — it looked like something out of a storybook, chipped paint and all.

We wandered through Portobello Road Market next, dodging early shoppers and pausing at a bakery famous for scones. The debate about whether it’s “scone” like “gone” or “cone” came up (I said both wrong apparently). Warm scone in hand, with clotted cream melting into raspberry jam — honestly, I didn’t expect to care about the pronunciation after that first bite. Anna poured English Breakfast tea from a battered thermos. It tasted stronger than what I make at home. There was laughter from someone behind us trying to snap a photo without dropping their pastry.

The route twisted past pastel houses that looked almost too perfect (but somehow weren’t), then we stopped outside George Orwell’s old flat. Anna told us he wrote here before anyone cared who he was — I tried to imagine him staring out at the same street. After that came my favorite: beef and ale pie from a bakery that’s been around longer than most of the buildings nearby. The crust flaked everywhere; I got crumbs on my jacket but didn’t mind. Somewhere between bites Anna pointed out an antiques shop from Paddington — people were peering in looking for movie magic.

Later we ducked into this spot where French pastries meet Indian spices — cardamom buns warm enough to fog up the window and chai so fragrant you could smell it before you even sat down. Li (the baker) laughed when I tried to say thank you in Mandarin — probably butchered it. We ended with bakewell tart at a quiet place on All Saints Road; by then my feet hurt but nobody seemed in a rush to leave. On the way back we passed Island Records’ old studio — Anna just nodded at it quietly, like letting us fill in our own soundtrack.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Notting Hill food and film walk

• Eat classic bacon sandwich in cabmen’s shelter
• Taste warm scone with jam and cream
• Stand outside George Orwell’s former home
• Sample rich beef and ale pie
• Pass antiques shop from Paddington movie
• Try pastries with Indian spices and chai
• Walk through pastel streets and film locations
• Visit former Island Records studio
• Enjoy bakewell tart with tea or coffee

Top questions

How long is the Notting Hill food walking tour?

The tour lasts about 2 hours.

Are there vegetarian or gluten-free options available?

Yes, dietary requirements can be accommodated if noted at booking or by email.

Is hotel pickup included for this London food tour?

No hotel pickup is included; guests meet at the starting point in Notting Hill.

What foods are included on the tour?

Bacon sandwich, scone with jam & clotted cream, beef & ale pie, cardamom bun with chai, bakewell tart with tea or coffee.

Is this Notting Hill food tour suitable for children?

Yes; children under 4 join free (no food included), paid tickets for ages 4+ include tastings.

Does the tour visit any famous movie locations?

Yes; stops include film spots from Paddington and other iconic movies set in Notting Hill.

How many people are on each tour group?

This is a small group experience; exact numbers may vary but groups are kept intimate.

Are service animals allowed on the tour?

Yes; service animals are permitted during the experience.

What’s included

Your day includes guided walks through Notting Hill’s pastel streets with stops at five different bakeries: classic bacon sandwiches in a historic cabmen’s shelter, scones with tea on Portobello Road Market, beef & ale pie from an iconic bakery institution, pastries spiced with cardamom paired with aromatic chai, plus bakewell tart served with tea or coffee for a sweet finish—all led by an English-speaking local guide who shares stories behind every stop along the way.