Notting Hell! Tourists left fuming after finding famous blue door from 1999 film Notting Hill covered in graffiti and in ‘shocking’ condition
- Thousands of tourists make the trip each year to see the iconic door in London
Notting Hill fans have been left fuming over the graffitied state of the famous blue door from the hit 1999 film.
Thousands of tourists make the trip each year to see the iconic door in London which featured in the film starring Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant.
But locals say it has regularly been the subject of vandalism with tags scrawled across it – ruining the picture for visitors.
Dozens of moaning comments have been left on Google Reviews, where the site has been given a score of 3.6 out of 5 thanks to its sorry appearance.
One visitor wrote: ‘William Thacker needs to take more pride in his house.’
Six months ago visitor Jonathan Lau posted an image of the famous portal covered in graffiti, saying it ‘has seen some better days.’
Thousands visit the iconic door each year which appears in the film starring Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts
Locals say it has regularly been the subject of vandalism with tags scrawled across it – ruining the picture for visitors
Its most famous appearance was perhaps when William’s hapless flatmate Spike – played by Rhys Ifans – appeared to paparazzi waiting outside it in his pants
Hugh Grant is seen filming at the blue door in London made famous in the film Notting Hill
‘It is now heavily graffitied,’ he added. ‘Obviously the hooligans responsible aren’t fans of the movie.’
Valentino Odasso said: ‘It should be restored and bring back the conditions for a proper door.
‘If you’re thinking to come only for the door, not worth it.’
Adriana Couto said those visiting the door would find it a ‘disappointment’, adding: ‘It is possibly the dullest house on the street, now bearing the stamp of some brand that uses it for free advertising.
‘I saw more people taking photos next door than in the ‘official’ one.’
Others described the vandalism as ‘heartbreaking.’
Hannah Lightfoot said: ‘I know it’s just a door but as someone who loves the film, it was heartbreaking to see the graffiti. It’s not hard to repaint it. Wish I saw these reviews before I went there.’
Emerson Loureiro added: ‘The door is badly kept and has graffiti all over.’
A still from the 1999 film Notting Hill showing the famous blue door
A visitor pictured next to the door which has been grafitied
White paint is seen on the door – the picture shows one fan looking up at the well-known site
Hugh Grant stood at the famous blue door of his character William Thacker’s flat
Another, named John, said: ‘It’s a bit shocking how badly taken care of this door is,’ while Noémi Elizabeth added: ‘Not very special as the door is not well maintained with lots of graffiti and very different to film.’
And Frederick Gunning said: ‘Pretty cool, however it is heavily graffitied and unrecognisable. If you’re a fan it’s good to see but be warned, you may be disappointed.’
Meanwhile Max on Instagram discovered the door daubed in white paint – and even photographed an empty paint pot lying nearby.
He said: ‘Every couple has their own romantic film. Me and my wife also have it, it is Notting Hill.
‘A number of scenes of the film were filmed in the house of the protagonist William Thacker, which was located in Notting Hill in London and had a wonderful blue door.
‘Me and my wife always wanted to look at the places where our favourite movie was filmed, but when we got to the location, we found this.
‘The vandals did their best, staining the blue door with white paint.
‘I don’t know who did it and why, but it was a shame, especially watching the disappointment of the couples who came to this iconic place.’
The rom com became the highest grossing British film of all time on its release in 1999.
One Instagram user posted an image of an empty paint pot lying nearby
It stars Julia Roberts as American megastar Anna Scott and Hugh Grant as floppy haired book seller William Thacker, alongside Rhys Ifans, Emma Chambers, Tim McInnerny, Gina McKee, and Hugh Bonneville.
One day Anna happens to walk into William’s book store in London’s Notting Hill where she buys a book, and later he bumps into her on the street, spilling his orange juice on her.
They then strike up an unlikely romance, much of it carried out behind the famous blue door of William Thacker’s flat.
Legend has it that the door was chosen because at the time Richard Curtis, who wrote the screenplay, lived in the flat behind it in Westbourne Park Road.
Its most famous appearance was perhaps when William’s hapless flatmate Spike – played by Rhys Ifans – appeared to paparazzi waiting outside it in his pants.
According to records, the church conversion behind it was last sold in June 2014 for £4,575,000.
The film has since gained something of a cult following with hundreds of people posting images with the famous door on Instagram every year.
At one point it was painted black – presumably to put off picture hunters – but it was soon repainted in its famous blue again.
People have been complaining about the state of the door on Google Reviews
It appears the last spate of graffiti – which occurred earlier this year – has now been painted over
Jakub Nowacki, assistant manager of the Royal Trinity Hospice nearby, said the door had often been subject to graffiti attacks.
He said: ‘ Sometimes it’s graffitied and they paint over it, then it gets graffitied again.
‘Honestly people get pictures with it regardless. They care a little bit for the pictures, but people still get pictures all the time.’
It appears the last spate of graffiti – which occurred earlier this year – has now been painted over.
A spokesperson for Kensington and Chelsea Spokesperson said: ‘We are determined to ensure that we maintain the amazing spaces we have in Kensington and Chelsea.
‘Our crews work hard to remove graffiti and fly posting and we have invested significant resources to tackle the problem where it occurs, including in Portobello and Notting Hill.
‘We take a zero tolerance approach to graffiti and littering.’
He added that the homeowner would be contacted if it happened again so the council could help them clean it off.
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