The owner of one of London's many 'Instagrammable' homes says he'll always keep it painted pink, despite the fact that the colour draws in hordes of positioning influencers.
Peter Lee, 80, says his home in Notting Hill, west London is checked out daily by individuals utilizing it as a background for their social media photos.
The great-grandfather has taken a different view to a group of dissatisfied residents surviving on Lancaster Road, well known for it's colourful homes, simply over a mile away.
They have painted their houses black in the hopes of fending off selfie-loving influencers - who they say are swarming their property street.
The former designer, who has resided in his home for 47 years, stated he's seen people doing the splits in front of his steps - and even stabilizing on his railings.
Others - sometimes dressed in simply a leotard - come onto his residential or commercial property and lean against the front door.
He included that numerous influencers will invest whole mornings outside his home - even undergoing clothing modifications.
Mr Lee's doorstep has likewise attracted stars from Made In Chelsea and a current photoshoot from a clothing giant he selected not to name.
Peter Lee, 80, is the owner of among London's a lot of 'Instagrammable' homes and says he'll constantly keep it painted pink, despite the fact that the colour draws in hordes of influencers posing for images
The former style designer, who has lived in his home for 47 years, said he's seen individuals doing the splits in front of his steps - and even stabilizing on his railings
Notting Hill has actually become famous for its attractive vibrant houses and has actually become an Instagram hotspot
Despite the continuous visitors, Mr Lee is determined that he will not change his home.
He said: 'I don't truly mind the crowds. I have electronic cameras so it does amuse me to simply watch their antics.
'Recently I looked outside and there was someone having their photo taken - with three others queueing for their turn.
'Another time a business seemed to be having an entire photoshoot. They had a little outfit modification tent and whatever. They in fact left a bunch of brand name new clothing here - tags and all. I installed an indication, stating to knock on my door to gather them.
'But when a couple of weeks went by and no one came to get them, I offered them to my granddaughter.
'It's busiest when it's warm. In early May, when we had all that good weather condition, there were loads of people.
'I understand it troubles others but it doesn't truly bother me. I simply believe, 'Live and let live'. Life's too short.'
But one circumstances of an over-confident tourist saw him acquire an expense worth thousands of pounds.
He said: 'I have actually had actually the tiles harmed from females in high heels jumping on the actions.
'That's a bit annoying - as I had to pay to have them repaired. But that's been my only issue actually.'
They declare influencers stand ideal outside their doors to get the ideal shot with some even going through several clothing modifications
But he insisted he would never ever wander off from the iconic colour: 'It was pink when I moved in back in 1978 so it belongs to the home. I'm not altering it. It will constantly be pink.'
Meanwhile, some Notting Hill locals have grown fed up of the photoshoots taking place in front of their popular vibrant houses and have actually painted them black in a bid to stop the 'rude' travelers.
Homeowners on Lancaster Road - situated simply metres away from Portobello Road Market in west London - state they are continuously overloaded with individuals taking pictures in front of their residential or commercial properties.
They claim influencers stand ideal outside their doors to get the ideal shot.
It's declared that brazen tourists will also take pleasure in lunchtime picnics on their doorsteps and typically peer through their windows 'forgetting that people in fact live there'.
A bicyclist weaving through a group of Instagram addicts was just recently identified yelling, 'You are all f ** king sheep. These are normal houses.'
Two houses on the road have now dumped their previous intense exterior - in the hopes that black walls are 'less Instagrammable' - and will for that reason stop individuals coming there.
Previously, a purple and pink home sat either side of an already-black home but now they have joined forces with their neighbour.
A 'peaceful zone' sign has likewise been installed - and one residential or commercial property even more down the street has actually even strung a rope throughout their front actions.
Fed up Notting Hill have actually dropped their previous brilliant exterior - in the hopes that black walls are 'less Instagrammable' - and will for that reason stop individuals coming there. Pictured: Lancaster Road in June, 2025
Pictured: How your homes on Lancaster Road looked in 2022
Mike, who lives in a blue-green flat, told Metro the sound from tourists has got so bad that he has needed to move his meditation classes to the back of his house.
He said: 'What is more irritating than anything else is just noise. Tourists operate at a different volume level. There will be a group of 70 plus. It sounds like a football match.'
Fed-up Notting Hill residents paint their colourful terraced homes black to eliminate influencers
One homeowner, who did not wish to be named, stated: 'Our house was actually originally black and the others weren't.
'But the other two chose to join us a couple months earlier as we all agree that black houses don't look excellent on social networks.
'I comprehend why individuals take images - due to the fact that of how it looks - but it simply gets so packed.
'We can have numerous people on the street at the same time and it's a domestic road - we're not able to cater to .
'I think individuals just forget that individuals live here. So the hope with painting your houses black is that travelers will unwind a bit. It's been working a bit up until now, to be reasonable.'
The local stated he didn't anticipate the staying houses on the street to likewise ditch their vibrant paint however stated it might be needed if the problem continues.
Homeowners on Lancaster Road - situated just metres far from Portobello Road Market in west London - say they are constantly overloaded with individuals taking photos in front of their residential or commercial properties
Tourists taking pictures on Lancaster roadway where Notting Hill homeowners paint popular colourful houses black in bid to delay influencers and stop 'disruptive overtourism'
Notting Hill citizens have paint their colourful homes black. Pictured: Lancaster road in 2025
A homeowner in the 3rd black house did not desire to talk today describing that the point of the colour change had been to 'get rid of the attention'. Pictured: Lancaster Road in June, 2025
He stated: 'We certainly desire our neighbours to do whatever they want, however if this doesn't work, and we all need to go one colour to get it to stop, then ideally as a street we can sign up with together and do that.'
Another homeowner, who also wanted to be confidential, stated: 'My family relocated about a month back and the previous owner painted it black prior to because they were fed-up with the number of people stop out front.
'It gets insane. People get on the steps and take loads of pictures. On the weekends, there can be hundreds of people.
'It's not Londoners, it's primarily travelers. But it simply gets demanding. I know my parents hate it.
'The hope with the black homes is that it's less picturesque. They basically wish to draw in less attention.'
A homeowner in the 3rd black home did not want to talk today explaining that the point of the colour modification had been to 'eliminate the attention' and 'not draw more people here'.
Two travelers who were on Lancaster Road today were Clancy Carroll and Georgia Densley, who were checking out London from Australia.
They stated the decision to paint the houses black was 'a downer'.
Two tourists Clancy Carroll and Georgia Densley, who were checking out London from Australia, stated the choice to paint your homes black was 'a downer'
Residents are now campaigning to try and get other vibrant residential or commercial properties on the street to follow match
A letter flowed among property owners prompts them to 'think about' repainting to dissuade travelers and influencers. Pictured: Lancaster Road in June, 2025
They stated: 'I indicate individuals are drawn here since of the street being iconic and colourful, right?
'It's a tourist spot and certainly tourist is excellent for the regional economy. It's a bit of a downer to paint the houses black. We're not fans of that.
'But to be truthful, it probably won't work. If the rest are still colourful, individuals will come here - and if they all paint their homes black, it will become: 'Let's go see the street of all black homes'.
'It hasn't stopped us.'
Residents are now campaigning to attempt and get other colourful residential or commercial properties on the street to follow fit.
A letter circulated amongst property owners advises them to 'consider' repainting to discourage travelers and influencers.
Titled 'Addressing traveler effect on our street', it reads: 'As a lot of you have actually noticed, our area of the street has actually ended up being an increasingly popular spot for social media tourists, drawn by the vibrant colours of our homes.
'While it's excellent to see gratitude for our street, the constant crowds, noise, litter and absence of personal privacy triggered by people resting on our stairs are beginning to take a toll on our every day lives.'
The letter goes on to declare that 'disruptive tourism' has actually indicated homeowners have faced 'rental challenges' - and 'estate agents have confirmed it is adversely affecting the rate of our residential or commercial properties'.
A 'quiet zone' indication has actually also been put up - and one residential or commercial property further down the street has even strung a rope throughout their front actions
It continues: 'As a possible solution, 3 families, nos [redacted] have actually chosen to repaint their homes this spring in more neutral tones to help reduce the visual pull for tourists.
'If more people think about collectively doing the very same, we might be able to bring back some peace and personal privacy to our community.'
Meanwhile, other house owners described that they had actually formerly painted their houses more neutral colours, also in the hope of ending up being less enticing to travelers and influencers.
George Hencken, who has actually lived in Notting Hill for 29 years, stated: 'Our home utilized to be pink however we painted it grey around 7 years ago.
'The point was to be an unphotogenic colour.
'But the important things is, and something those who have actually painted their homes black will quickly learn, is that even if people aren't utilizing their home as an image background - they'll still be here.
'They'll be having their picnic lunch in their entrance, safeguarding outside when it's drizzling, and even altering attire on their front actions.
'And Instagram and TikTok are having this result all over the world. I know that there's a cafe in Japan, with a backdrop of Mount Fuji, which has had to close because of it.
'And for many years I've only had one traveler state to me, 'You must get so fed up with it'.
'With lots of the others - there's simply this sense of conceit and privilege.'
Ms Hencken discussed that what annoyed her most was that none of the tourists or influencers seemed to have any concept of Notting Hill's history.
Homeowners have actually found the most reliable thing is placing a rope in front of his steps. Pictured: Lancaster Road in June, 2025
Lancaster Road located just metres far from Portobello Road Market in west London
She stated: 'This area utilized to be a happy rebel corner in west London. Yes, there are costly houses, but this street also has a lot of social housing.
'They don't understand the history.
'Ever since Richard Curtis made that foolish movie every American lender or abundant guy from Switzerland who spends a few months here, when asked where they wish to live, states: 'Oh, my partner likes that film'.
'It's changing the location. Our doorsteps used to be social places. We 'd remain here and chat to pals and neighbours.
'Now you can't do that. If you do, any random person believes they can come and sit here too.'
Another regional, whose home is beige, likewise thought the colour would ward individuals off but found the most reliable thing is placing a rope in front of his actions.
He said: 'Our home is beige so it's not as bad as a few of the more colourful ones - but the most reliable thing is these straps we have now.
'I know the green house has seen a huge drop because putting theirs there.
'Because it does get ridiculous. Before, we had individuals posing on our steps - which obviously set my pet off.
'They 'd even have picnics there. It's simply impolite.
'With Instagrammers, it's constantly the exact same sort of individuals. You can spot them. Great deals of Italians - which I can since I'm Italian.
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'As for the travelers, I suggest, it's individuals are coming here for pretty photos rather of going somewhere of note. They're not going to the British Museum.'
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Notting Hill's Top Selfie Spot is my home - i won't Paint It Black
walkerreyes275 edited this page 2025-08-31 18:56:59 +08:00