This is the story of Notting Hill, from its beginning in the Ladbroke Estate to its current incarnation as one of the most cosmopolitan & fashionable London neighbourhoods. The spacious crescents, stuccoed houses & leafy communal gardens that give Notting Hill its charm were developed during the 19th century. This elegance existed cheek by jowl with the Potteries, one of London`s worst slums, where in the mid-19th century average life expectancy was 11 years & 7 months. After the First World War many buildings fell into disrepair, houses were converted into flats & bed-sits, & the area went into decline. During the 1950s there was an influx of immigrants from the Caribbean, who were exploited by unscrupulous landlords. The race riots of 1958 marked a low point for Notting Hill. But the incomers inspired the Notting Hill Carnival, which has become a popular tourist attraction, as has the Portobello Road with its antiques & fruit & vegetable market, while the area has been regenerated by new wealth (not to mention a starring role in the film Notting Hill). All contribute to the cosmopolitan, fashionable area Notting Hill is today.