A walking portrait of my hood

Folk Navaz Batliwalla

My Facebook feeds are currently full of friends waxing lyrical about the joys of coastal living, having fled London for the simple life. Me? I’m not quite there yet. London’s where I was born and grew up and as a West Londoner I’ve not strayed far from my childhood stomping ground.

In particular I’m passionate about the pocket of London where Portobello meets Golborne Road. This little local stretch is relatively unknown by the masses. You won’t find hordes of tourists and bloggers descending here for their selfies and outfit posts, but you will find a genuine melting pot of character and style.

You can people watch in the flea market, pick up an antique mirror from Les Couilles du Chien, delight in the curiosities of Kokon To Zai, and make a pilgrimage to Rellik, the famous vintage store that specialises in collectable Westwood, Galliano and Comme. Foodies can enjoy a Palestinian feast at Maramia, fish & chips at George’s or queue up for a pastel de nata at Lisboa, the Portuguese coffee shop that’s a local institution.

I gave the folks at Folk a little local walking tour of my hood a few weeks ago, discussing the style and cultural heritage of the area. If you’re interested, you should hunt down Jonathon Green’s brilliant oral history, Days In The Life and this fantastic local blog, which I delved into while researching my spot. But first, watch the tour on the Folk journal here. And give me a shout if you’re planning a trip to the area!

MY GOLBORNE ROAD ADDRESS BOOK…

LISBOA PATISSERIE 57 Golborne Rd, London W10 5NR – grab a coffee and a Portuguese tart and watch the world go by with the locals

MARAMIA
48 Golborne Rd, London W10 5PR – amazing mezze, salads, fish and flatbread perfect for an impromptu casual supper

ROCKINS 60 Golborne Rd, London W10 5PR – the 70s counter culture spirit of West London is alive and well in Rockins’ skinny printed silk scarves and shirts

RELLIK 8 Golborne Gardens, London W10 5NW – expect a history and culture lesson to be delivered with your purchase from this legendary vintage emporium at the foot of Ernő Goldfinger’s Trellick Tower

KOKON TO ZAI 86 Golborne Rd, London W10 5PH – a cave of curiosities for home decor and self-gifting enthusiasts

FOLK 69 Golborne Rd, London W10 5NP – wardrobe workhorse staples for men and women, especially if you like your womenswear with a boyish twist

WORDS: Disneyrollergirl / Navaz Batliwalla
IMAGE: Folk jacket; Turnbull & Asser shirt; Dior scarf
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