Vibrant and Multicultural: 31 Colorful Photos of Portobello Road, One of London's Most Famous Streets in the Eighties

Portobello Road is a street in the Notting Hill district of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in west London. It runs almost the length of Notting Hill from south to north, roughly parallel with Ladbroke Grove. On Saturdays it is home to Portobello Road Market, one of London's notable street markets, known for its second-hand clothes, pastries and antiques.

Portobello Road suffered a lack of investment for much of the twentieth century. By the late 1980s however, subject to a large amount of gentrification, Portobello Road went from being a run-down and shabby working class district to being affluent, fashionable and one of the most desirable areas to live in the capital. 

Take a look back at one of London’s most famous streets in 1987 through these beautiful pictures taken by Peter Marshall. For more fascinating vintage photographs, make sure to visit his Flickr site.

Japanese Kimonos on sale at 221, Portobello Rd, Notting Hill, Kensington & Chelsea.

Shops, Portobello Rd, Notting Hill, Kensington & Chelsea.

Ghost sign, Swan Ink, Cambrdige Gardens, Ladbroke Grove, Notting Hill, Kensington & Chelsea.

Honest Jon’s, Records, Portobello Rd, Notting Hill, Kensington & Chelsea.

Alice’s, 86, Portobello Rd, Notting Hill, Kensington & Chelsea.

The Hairdresser, Notting Hill, Kensington & Chelsea.

Portobello Rd, Notting Hill, Kensington & Chelsea.

Beulah, a Strict Baptist Chapel, 280, Westbourne Park Rd, Notting Hill, Kensington & Chelsea.

Graffiti, Basing St, Notting Hill, Kensington & Chelsea.

Woman, Rough Sleeper, Harrow Rd, Westway, Westbourne Park, Notting Hill, Kensington & Chelsea.

T Spencer, Portobello Rd, Notting Hill, Kensington & Chelsea.

Shop, Portobello Rd, Notting Hill, Kensington & Chelsea.

Young Blood, Records, 297, Portobello Rd, Notting Hill, Kensington & Chelsea.

J H Smith, 208, Portobello Rd, Notting Hill, Kensington & Chelsea.

Travellers under The Westway, Bishops Bridge Rd, Paddington, Westminster.

All Saints Rd, Notting Hill, Kensington & Chelsea.

Planet Alice, Portobello Rd, Notting Hill, Kensington & Chelsea.

Portobello Studios, 101, Portobello Rd, Notting Hill, Kensington & Chelsea.

Shops, Portobello Rd, Notting Hill, Kensington & Chelsea.

Snake Juice, Notting Hill, Kensington & Chelsea.

Clifford Augusts Fullerton, Tailor, Talbot Rd, Notting Hill, Kensington & Chelsea.

A E & D A Thomson, Pawnbrokers, 158, Portobello Rd, Notting Hill, Kensington & Chelsea.

Shop, 295, Portobello Rd, Notting Hill, Kensington & Chelsea.

Mural, Harrow Rd, Westway, Notting Hill, Kensington & Chelsea.

Man sitting, Ladbroke Grove, Notting Hill, Kensington & Chelsea.

Westbourne Park, Westway, Notting Hill, Kensington & Chelsea.

Shops, Portobello Rd, Notting Hill, Kensington & Chelsea.

Joseph Kiss, Cabinet Maker, Notting Hill, Kensington & Chelsea.

Portobello Green, Notting Hill, Kensington & Chelsea.

Acklam Rd, Notting Hill, Kensington & Chelsea.