The answer is that there’s loads! Stalls and shops where you can buy toys and games and children’s clothes are all along Market. So if you’re planning a trip to Portobello and Golborne Market, don’t forget the children – they’ll have a whale of a time.
We’ve picked out a few of our favourite traders from the many choices available.
My Little Duckling
My Little Duckling makes charming hats with an aeronautical theme that are both lots of fun and practical. As well as hats, you’ll find bandana bibs and gloves, all beautifully made and styled in bright colours sure to appeal to children. It’s a great stall to buy presents for children you know or to kit out your own kids. You’ll find My Little Duckling at Pitch 181a (on Portobello Road between Oxford Gardens and Golborne Road) on Saturdays.
Issy & Chany
Ali Calls his stall Issy and Chany after his two daughters and he sells brightly coloured dresses and skirts from India. He has clothes to fit girls from 3 months old right up to 16. Ali imports all his stock himself so that he can be sure it’s top quality. He’s also got a fun selection of novelty hats which are sure to appeal to your children (and very probably, to your own inner child). You’ll find Ali on Portobello Road on Saturdays.
Sweetdreams Etc
Liquorice allsorts, cherry bonbons, sherbet lemons – all names to conjure with, and ones that will be familiar to any Briton of a certain age. We’re talking about sweets (candy if you’re from the USA) of course, and specifically the Sweetdreams Etc stall on Portobello Road, just by the corner with Talbot Road. If your children are due for a treat, then this splendidly retro sweet stall is just the ticket.
Paul
Paul sells an extraordinary selection of toys, many of which will appeal to adult collectors, although children are certainly delighted and amazed by them as well. Paul stocks a huge cast of character models and soft toys with everyone from Donald Duck to Hello Kitty and the Gremlins to the Minions. You’ll find Paul on Fridays and Saturdays at Pitch 125A, just opposite the Goode & Wright restaurant at 271 Portobello Road.
Mehmet Babacan
Every parent with a new baby knows that you can never have enough babygros to keep your precious bundle clean and ry. That’s where Portobello Road Market’s Mehmet Babacan comes in as he has a huge supply of both babygros and that other essential, bibs, plus a he has a fine selection of t-shirts. There’s some with funny epithets, others with attractive designs, and enough of a variety that you’re sure to find something that pleases. Mehmet is on Portobello Road on Fridays and Saturdays at Pitch 157, near the corner with Westbourne Park Road.
Honeyjam
2 Blenheim Crescent, W11 1NN, honeyjam.co.uk
In these days of Argos and Toys ‘r’ Us, traditional toy shops are few and far between. But just off Portobello Road on Blenheim Crescent you’ll find a superb independent toy shop, Honeyjam. They’ve got everything from novelty jokes and tricks for 99p (dirty face soap, horrible bloody finger and the squirting ring are all favourites) to exquisite doll’s houses for a lot more. The shop is absolutely packed with toys that will make your children (not to mention you) gasp with pleasure and surprise.
The Notting Hill Bookshop
13 Blenheim Crescent, W11 2EE, thenottinghillbookshop.co.uk
The Notting Hill Bookshop on Blenheim Crescent is renowned for its encyclopaedic travel section, but it also has an excellent range of children’s books and educational toys. Authors like JK Rowling, Tom Gates, Jacqueline Wilson and Roald Dahl are all represented here, plus many, many others covering the whole gamut from books for toddlers to popular reading for young adults.
