Westbourne Grove is a road running across Notting Hill from Kensington Park Road in the west to Queensway in the east, crossing over Portobello Road. It is home to both independent and chain retail stores, and by some is considered fashionable and up-and-coming. The central part of Westbourne Grove is used during the Notting Hill Carnival.
Westbourne Grove is near many popular shopping destinations including Ledbury Road, Holland Park Avenue, Portobello Market, and Clarendon Cross. It is also home to Westbourne Grove Church, the oldest congregation in Notting Hill formed in 1823.
The name Westbourne Grove came from a settlement developed to the west called Westbourne Green. The area was first recorded as Westeburn in 1222. Thomas Hardy lived in this area, mainly at no 16 Westbourne Park Villas, which was his home 1863-67.
In the 1950s much of the area had become rundown, though today Westbourne Grove is popular and expensive for home-buyers.