The Westway Walk

Beneath the gentrification of North Kensington and the image portrayed in the films of Hugh Grant lies a much more interesting story; the areas vibrant past beats any kind of fiction.

From the early 50s this was London's Bohemian quarter, West Indian & Irish immigrants and the indigenous working class of Notting Dale mixed with artists, musicians and writers, all attracted by cheap rents and the freedoms that a neglected area provided. Slummers would use the local clubs and Shebeens for vicarious thrills. In 1958 there were race riots and Oswald Mosley attempted a political comeback. All this led to the founding of the famous Notting Hill carnival.

In the 60s and 70s the Portobello Road became London's answer to San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury as the hippy counterculture moved in. The end of the 70s saw the punk movement gain a foothold in the area.

More recent times have seen the area gentrified and now few people can afford to live there but the area still holds onto its roots with a busy street market, the carnival lives on,Notting Hill still attracts countless visitors all year round.

Race Riots, Rent Racketeers, Slums, Iconic tower blocks, Hawkwind, Marley, The Beatles film locations,The Front Line, Hippies, Governments brought to their knees, The Clash and of course the Westway that slashes through the manor. This tour has it all and more! See you down there,Just book on the website http://www.flipsidelondontours.com/ or just turn up on the day

About the organiser:
Aidan McManus, founder of Flipside London Tours, is an award-winning tour guide, historian, broadcaster, and curator of music-related film events. West London-born of Irish heritage, he was a teenage participant in the city’s early punk scene and later its soul, 2-Tone and rave cultures. His first tour guiding experience came in San Francisco, where he created walks exploring the city’s bohemian subculture, literature and music. Returning to London, he went on to research and build critically acclaimed walking tours on subjects as diverse as gangland Soho, David Bowie’s early years, and the social history of West London. He served as a consultant to Westminster Council for its 2025 Joe Strummer memorial event, and he has been a featured commentator in BBC and Sky Arts documentaries and on Radio London’s Robert Elms Show. He is the host of Flipside London Radio, a fortnightly Portobello Radio programme focusing on books, music, history and youth culture.

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