House from iconic 90s film is in ‘shocking’ condition & covered in graffiti after being targeted by vandals
A HOUSE featured in an iconic film from the 90s has been left in a ‘shocking’ condition and covered in graffiti after being targeted by vandals.
Superfans of the classic movie often visit the site – but they’re disappointed with the appalling state of it.
Thousands of people make the trip to see the blue door that featured in the iconic 1999 flick Notting Hill.
The film features famous faces Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant – who plays the occupant of the blue house, William Thacker.
But tourists were left shocked at the state of the famous door.
It was recently covered in paint and graffiti, and one visitor said: “William Thacker needs to take more pride in his house….”
The house has dozens of angry comments on Google Reviews and a score of just 3.6 out of 5.
Visitor Jonathan Lau posted an image of the site covered in graffiti, saying it had “has seen some better days.”
He said: “Obviously the hooligans responsible aren’t fans of the movie.”
Another person commented: “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.”
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.”
Kateřina Marxtová said: “The door is blue, so it fits the brief. Quite dirty though, sprayed over.
“Well, it has been a while since the time of Hugh & Julia…”
The rom com became the highest grossing British film of all time on its release in 1999.
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.
One fan on Instagram discovered the door covered in white paint.
He said: “Every couple has their own romantic film…me and my wife also have it, it is Notting Hill.
“Me and my wife always wanted to look at the places where our favorite 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.”
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.”
A spokesperson for Kensington and Chelsea 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.
