Portobello road market

Just to be prepared for massive crowds anytime on Saturday, which is the main day. Umbrellas become a hinderance if its raining. So waterproof jacket in that case.
http://www.portobelloroad.co.uk/the-market/

To say it's crowded on Saturdays is an understatement! Quite literally wall-to-wall people. Very much worth it though with all of the antique dealers out, food vendors, etc. The earlier you can get there, the better. The place is pretty much up and running by 8. Bring cash...some vendors will bargain a bit but that seems to become less and less welcomed every time we go back. Most of the antique stalls are set up towards the upper end of the street...the lower down you go, towards the above ground tube track that runs above the road, it becomes more of a flea market.
Don't ignore the permanent shops...there are some fantastic little places tucked behind all of the stalls that are unique and have things you won't find elsewhere. We bought some old stained glass pulled out of an old church once, cutlery, old silver...there is a huge variety of things available!

Great question. My wife and I would also like to visit the market. What tube exit would we use to get there?

Nothing hill gate is the closest tube stop

I would arrive in the morning and plan to have lunch while there. The food venders, while not as numerous as Borough Market, are outstanding (at least on Saturdays).

Any day but Saturday when its massively crowded (unless you were there by 7am and watch the set up while enjoying a pastry and coffee at Gail's Artisian Bakery) or Sunday when the majority of it is closed. Nottinghill Gate Tube or Ladbroke Grove. These are the tube stations at either end of the market. http://shopportobello.co.uk/about-portobello-market/opening-hours-days/
Enjoy the food stalls! It's great fun. Don't ignore the stores either. Some intriguing shops. Allow a minimum of 2 hours so you can meander and explore.

If you like to continue your day out in this lovely area and enjoy some delicious pub grub after youve perused the market walk back from Goldborne road past the Electic Cinema and turn right onto Elgin Cresecent. Follow it a few blocks to Clarendon road and turn left. Stay on Clarendon till it dead ends at Holland Park avenue. The Castle is on the corner. I stayed in this area last Fall and The Castle was the go to spot to enjoy a respite following a day of sightseeing. Its about a 20 minute walk from Portobello Road. Beware that the Holland Park tube station is off line as they are replacing the elevators. https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/media/news-articles/closure-of-holland-park-for-improvements.

If you want to tube somewhere from The Castle you'll need to walk along Holland Park avenue back to the Notting Hill Gate tube stop. About a 3-4 block walk. Or hop on a bus.

Use google maps satellite view to see what I'm talking about.

Depending on what interests you in Portobello market... if it's the 'antiques' and old stuff, early Saturday is the day, the market is much smaller on other days.

Borough Market for food, avoid on Saturdays, Thursday and Friday 2-5pm are best.

For clothes and fashion things, Spitalfields Market is worth a visit, and it also has a large selection of food.

I'm also really loving the Brick Lane markets at the moment, loads of great food, fashion and things too, good prices. Busiest on Sunday, Saturday has a few less market stalls, neither day is crazy busy. Much less there during the week.

I've been trying loads of street food recently, from all the markets above, and it's generally been excellent.

I have dreams about the Confit Duck Wrap from Le Marché du Quartier in Borough Market, absolutely amazing. Only available Weds - Fri, they don't seem to do the wrap on Saturdays. A wrap, with a spread of sweet red onion jam along it, topped with lightly pickled shredded red cabbage and carrot, with heaps of warm, juicy, salty, crispy duck on top... oh my! Only £5 too.

Thanks to the Paddington books I nurtured a 40+ years desire to visit Portobello Road market, and when I planned my trip to London a few years ago I made a point to be there on a Saturday, when the street market is in full swing. It did not disappoint and I will certainly return someday. Others have posted more recent details, and it is indeed wall-to-wall people and full of wonderful things, though I only purchased from one of the antique shops as I'm a big collector and love old things. The market progresses from antique/collectible items to mass-produced stuff and then finally garage sale/flea market items and food. The street is lined with interesting shops and I spent a good 4-5 hours, including a stop for a hard cider at a pub and then lunch. On the way there I was delighted to see a Blue Plaque for George Orwell's house on Lawford Road.

do be sure to visit this market. unbelievable variety--something for everyone. i was looking for a vintage magnifying glass and asked a vendor who had something similar. she suggested a stall down the street that specialized. when i found it, oh my! i'd never seen so many magnifying glasses. negotiated for a lovely silver, early 20C glass that i frequently wear as a necklace. another time i found a set of six lovely dessert knives of silver and mother of pearl. you will find whatever you're looking for and many things you didn't even know you wanted. wide range of prices/quality. i would allow at least a full morning or afternoon. also, try other markets: exotic Brick Lane, enclosed Victorian Leadenhall, Burough Market for fantastic foods, and many others. have fun on your trip!

Just be careful at these markets to keep your money and valuables safe. There may be the occasional pickpocket circulating among the buyers. It gets pretty crowded. Fun, but busy.

Antique markets still start at stupid o'clock from the times of 'market overt', where at ancient and chartered markets goods providing they were sold in open view in daylight conveyed good title to the purchaser, ie if they had been stolen the original owner could not claim them back from the purchaser. I don't think this directly applied to Portobello but it certainly did to Bermondsey - often goods would be taken from one to the other and to maximise the time the markets started at sunrise.

Market overt was only abolished in the 1990s after several well-published events of stolen goods being bought for a pittance.