If you’ve ever dreamed of wandering into a bookshop and finding a real-life romance—à la Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts in Notting Hill—you’re not alone. The 1999 film gave us an unforgettable bookstore moment and turned one charming London neighborhood into a romantic destination for movie fans and book lovers alike. And though the bookshop in Notting Hill was fictional, its real-life inspiration has captured hearts ever since. Here’s a look at the bookshop that started it all, the movie magic, and what both Richard Curtis and Hugh Grant have said about it.
The Magic of Notting Hill: A Brief Film Recap
In Notting Hill, written by rom-com legend Richard Curtis, a chance meeting in a travel bookstore leads to one of cinema’s most endearing romances. William Thacker (Hugh Grant), a shy and unassuming bookshop owner, falls for Hollywood star Anna Scott (Julia Roberts) when she wanders into his shop. Through accidental encounters, endearing awkwardness, and heartfelt moments, Will and Anna’s love story plays out, with the bookstore as the backdrop for many key scenes.
Curtis knew the shop’s setting was central to the film’s charm. In an interview, he explained, “There’s something about a bookstore that’s very intimate… people fall in love with places where they find magic. The bookshop was that magical place.” He wanted a cozy, slightly cluttered space where Will’s world of books could feel a little like a haven—and a bit of an escape for a superstar trying to get away from it all.
The Real Bookstore: “The Notting Hill Bookshop”
Fans hoping to find the actual “Travel Book Co.” will be happy to know there’s a real-life counterpart. At 13 Blenheim Crescent, just around the corner from Portobello Road, sits The Notting Hill Bookshop, an independent bookstore with its own endearing charm. It was initially inspired by The Travel Bookshop, which once existed at this location and served as Richard Curtis’s muse for Will’s fictional shop.
Curtis, who lived in the area, shared in a 2013 interview: “I used to walk past [The Travel Bookshop] all the time, and it just seemed like the kind of place a romantic story could happen.” Although The Travel Bookshop eventually closed, The Notting Hill Bookshop embraced its cinematic legacy, capturing the spirit of the film’s cozy, intimate setting. With shelves of travel books, fiction, and plenty of charm, the shop has become a pilgrimage site for fans of the movie.
Hugh Grant’s Take on the Bookshop
Hugh Grant, who played the lovable Will, has expressed his affection for the film’s setting and the real neighborhood. “The bookshop was just lovely,” he said in an interview with The Guardian. “It’s the kind of place where you’d imagine something extraordinary could happen… or even just something nice.” For Grant, the small, cozy nature of the bookstore added to the vulnerability of his character. “Will’s a bit of a dreamer, and the bookshop became his safe space,” he explained.
Grant went on to note that filming in such a place added to the charm of the scenes. “Richard [Curtis] chose the shop very carefully… the whole area has that slightly whimsical feel to it, where you almost expect to bump into someone like Anna,” he joked. And while Grant has moved on from his bookshop-owner days, he still says that he’s often recognized by fans who want to recreate the famous moments, like the awkward “I’m just a girl…” quote.
Notting Hill libreria Julia Roberts
A Whirlwind of Fans: Romance, Quotes, and “I’m Just a Girl…”
Today, The Notting Hill Bookshop has wholeheartedly embraced its rom-com fame. Visitors from all over the world come to see the shop that inspired one of cinema’s most memorable love stories. The walls feature iconic quotes from the movie, including Anna’s unforgettable line, “I’m just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her.” Curtis, who wrote that line, has commented on how the quote resonates with fans. “It’s a simple line, but it has a lot of heart. That moment is all about vulnerability, and bookstores are spaces where we often find the courage to be a little vulnerable ourselves,” he said.
Grant, too, gets a laugh out of the line’s popularity. “People always ask me to recreate it. I’ve had people say it to me on the street, in cafes… everywhere. It’s funny, but I suppose that’s what makes the film stick with people—it’s those small moments that feel like they could really happen,” he shared.
Exploring the Neighborhood: From Bookstore to Blue Door
While The Notting Hill Bookshop is the ultimate stop for any rom-com lover, the entire neighborhood of Notting Hill offers nods to the film’s legacy. Around the corner on Portobello Road is 280 Westbourne Park Road, home to Will’s famous blue door. The house once belonged to Curtis, who said in an interview, “The blue door was actually the front door of my own house at the time. It wasn’t meant to become a landmark, but now people visit it every day.”
Grant has joked about how many people knock on the blue door in hopes of finding a rom-com moment themselves. “I think people believe it’s still a movie set!” he said. While the door has since changed owners and colors (it was painted over by a later owner but is now restored to blue), it’s still a beloved landmark for fans.
The Bookshop as a Timeless Landmark
While the real The Travel Bookshop may be gone, The Notting Hill Bookshop has taken up the torch and become a living symbol of the film. Its shelves are filled with travel books, novels, and souvenirs for Notting Hill fans. Curtis once remarked, “The bookshop has become something much bigger than the film itself—it’s a piece of the neighborhood’s soul now.” Fans can still pick up postcards, quotes from the film, and even find a small corner of the shop dedicated to the movie that made it famous.
As Grant puts it, “It’s lovely that a small, simple story can have that kind of impact. I think it says something about people wanting to believe in that kind of love and that kind of place.” So if you’re in London, make a point to visit this little bookshop. After all, you never know what story might be waiting for you, just around the corner.
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