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The owner of one of London's a lot of 'Instagrammable' homes says he'll constantly keep it painted pink, despite the fact that the colour brings in crowds of posing influencers.

Peter Lee, 80, states his home in Notting Hill, west London is visited daily by individuals using it as a backdrop for their social media photos.
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The great-grandfather has taken a various view to a group of disgruntled locals living on Lancaster Road, renowned for it's vibrant homes, simply over a mile away.

They have painted their houses black in the hopes of warding off selfie-loving influencers - who they state are swarming their domestic street.

The former style designer, who has resided in his home for 47 years, said he's seen individuals doing the divides in front of his actions - and even balancing on his railings.

Others - in some cases worn just a leotard - come onto his residential or commercial property and lean versus the front door.

He added that lots of influencers will spend whole mornings outside his home - even undergoing attire changes.

Mr Lee's doorstep has likewise attracted stars from Made In Chelsea and a recent photoshoot from a clothes giant he chose not to name.

Peter Lee, 80, is the owner of among London's a lot of 'Instagrammable' homes and states he'll always keep it painted pink, although the colour brings in hordes of influencers positioning for photos

The previous designer, who has actually lived in his home for 47 years, said he's seen people doing the splits in front of his actions - and even balancing on his railings

Notting Hill has actually ended up being renowned for its attractive vibrant homes and has actually ended up being an Instagram hotspot

Despite the consistent visitors, Mr Lee is determined that he will not alter his house.

He stated: 'I don't actually mind the crowds. I have electronic cameras so it does entertain me to simply view their antics.

'Recently I looked outdoors and there was someone having their photo taken - with 3 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 really left a bunch of brand new clothing here - tags and all. I installed an indication, stating to knock on my door to collect them.

'But when a couple of weeks went by and nobody concerned get them, I provided to my granddaughter.

'It's busiest when it's bright. In early May, when we had all that excellent weather, there were loads of people.

'I understand it troubles others but it doesn't actually trouble me. I simply think, 'Live and let live'. Life's too short.'

But one circumstances of an over-confident traveler saw him rack up a costs worth thousands of pounds.

He stated: 'I've had actually the tiles harmed from women in high heels jumping on the steps.

'That's a bit frustrating - as I needed to pay to have them fixed. But that's been my only concern actually.'

They claim influencers stand best outside their doors to get the ideal shot with some even going through several clothing changes

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 your home. I'm not altering it. It will constantly be pink.'

Meanwhile, some Notting Hill locals have actually grown fed up of the photoshoots happening in front of their well-known colourful homes and have actually painted them black in a quote to stop the 'impolite' tourists.

Homeowners on Lancaster Road - situated simply metres away from Portobello Road Market in west London - state they are constantly overloaded with people taking images in front of their residential or commercial properties.

They declare influencers stand right outside their doors to get the ideal shot.

It's claimed that brazen travelers will also take pleasure in lunch break picnics on their doorsteps and often peer through their windows 'forgetting that individuals in fact live there'.

A bicyclist weaving through a group of Instagram addicts was recently found yelling, 'You are all f ** king sheep. These are typical houses.'

Two homes on the roadway have now ditched their previous intense outside - in the hopes that black walls are 'less Instagrammable' - and will therefore stop individuals coming there.

Previously, a purple and pink home sat either side of an already-black home however now they have joined forces with their neighbour.

A 'peaceful zone' sign has likewise been set up - and one residential or commercial property further down the street has even strung a rope across their front actions.

Fed up Notting Hill have actually dumped their previous bright outside - 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 the homes on Lancaster Road looked in 2022

Mike, who resides in a turquoise flat, told Metro the noise from tourists has actually got so bad that he has actually had to move his meditation classes to the back of his house.

He stated: 'What is more irritating than anything else is simply sound. 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 locals paint their vibrant terraced homes black to get rid of influencers

One homeowner, who did not desire to be named, said: 'Our house was in fact initially black and the others weren't.

'But the other two chose to join us a couple months ago as all of us concur that black houses do not look great on social media.

'I understand why people take images - because of how it looks - however it simply gets so packed.

'We can have hundreds of people on the street at the same time and it's a residential road - we're unable to cater to tourists.

'I think people simply forget that people live here. So the hope with painting the homes black is that travelers will relax a bit. It's been working a bit up until now, to be fair.'

The homeowner stated he didn't expect the remaining houses on the street to also ditch their vibrant paint however said it might be necessary if the issue continues.

Homeowners on Lancaster Road - situated just metres far from Portobello Road Market in west London - state they are continuously overloaded with individuals taking images in front of their residential or commercial properties

Tourists taking photos on Lancaster roadway where Notting Hill locals paint popular colourful houses black in quote to delay influencers and stop 'disruptive overtourism'

Notting Hill homeowners have paint their vibrant homes black. Pictured: Lancaster roadway in 2025

A resident in the third black house did not desire to talk today discussing that the point of the colour change had been to 'get rid of the attention'. Pictured: Lancaster Road in June, 2025

He said: 'We certainly desire our neighbours to do whatever they desire, but if this doesn't work, and we all need to go one colour to get it to stop, then hopefully as a street we can collaborate and do that.'

Another resident, who likewise wanted to be anonymous, said: 'My household relocated about a month back and the previous owner painted it black simply previously due to the fact that they were fed-up with the number of people stop out front.

'It gets crazy. People get on the actions and take loads of photos. On the weekends, there can be hundreds of people.

'It's not Londoners, it's primarily tourists. But it simply gets stressful. I understand my moms and dads hate it.

'The hope with the black houses is that it's less picturesque. They essentially wish to draw in less attention.'

A local in the third black house did not want to talk today describing that the point of the colour change had actually been to 'eliminate the attention' and 'not draw more individuals here'.

Two tourists who were on Lancaster Road today were Clancy Carroll and Georgia Densley, who were checking out London from Australia.

They said the decision to paint your houses black was 'a downer'.

Two travelers Clancy Carroll and Georgia Densley, who were visiting London from Australia, said the decision to paint the homes black was 'a downer'

Residents are now campaigning to try and get other colourful residential or commercial properties on the street to follow fit

A letter flowed amongst property owners urges them to 'think about' repainting to discourage tourists and influencers. Pictured: Lancaster Road in June, 2025

They stated: 'I suggest individuals are drawn here since of the street being renowned and colourful, best?

'It's a traveler spot and definitely tourist is excellent for the local economy. It's a little bit of a downer to paint your homes black. We're not fans of that.

'But to be sincere, it probably will not work. If the rest are still colourful, people will come here - and if they all paint their homes black, it will become: 'Let's go see the street of all black houses'.

'It hasn't stopped us.'

Residents are now campaigning to try and get other vibrant residential or commercial properties on the street to follow fit.

A letter circulated amongst property owners advises them to 'think about' repainting to dissuade tourists and influencers.

Titled 'Addressing tourist effect on our street', it reads: 'As a number of you have noticed, our section of the street has actually become a significantly popular area for tourists, drawn by the lively colours of our homes.

'While it's excellent to see gratitude for our street, the consistent crowds, noise, litter and lack of personal privacy caused by people sitting on our stairs are beginning to take a toll on our daily lives.'

The letter goes on to claim that 'disruptive tourist' has actually meant locals have faced 'rental difficulties' - and 'estate representatives have actually verified it is adversely affecting the rate of our residential or commercial properties'.

A 'quiet zone' sign has also been installed - 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, three households, nos [redacted] have chosen to repaint their homes this spring in more neutral tones to assist lower the visual pull for tourists.

'If more of us consider jointly doing the very same, we may have the ability to restore some peace and personal privacy to our neighborhood.'

Meanwhile, other property owners discussed that they had previously painted their homes more neutral colours, likewise in the hope of becoming less attractive to travelers and influencers.

George Hencken, who has lived in Notting Hill for 29 years, stated: 'Our home used to be pink but we painted it grey around seven years back.

'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 find out, is that even if individuals aren't utilizing their house as a picture background - they'll still be here.

'They'll be having their picnic lunch in their doorway, sheltering outside when it's drizzling, and even changing clothing on their front actions.

'And Instagram and TikTok are having this impact all over the world. I understand that there's a cafe in Japan, with a background of Mount Fuji, which has actually needed to close since of it.

'And throughout the years I've just had one traveler state to me, 'You must get so tired of it'.

'With great deals of the others - there's just this sense of conceit and entitlement.'

Ms Hencken explained that what irritated her most was that none of the tourists or influencers seemed to have any concept of Notting Hill's history.

Homeowners have discovered the most reliable thing is putting 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 used to be a proud rebel corner in west London. Yes, there are expensive homes, but this street also has a lot of social housing.

'They do not understand the history.

'Since Richard Curtis made that foolish movie every American lender or abundant guy from Switzerland who invests a couple of months here, when asked where they wish to live, states: 'Oh, my better half likes that movie'.

'It's altering the location. Our doorsteps utilized to be social locations. We 'd sit out here and chat to friends and neighbours.

'And now you can't do that. If you do, any random person thinks they can come and sit here too.'

Another regional, whose home is beige, likewise believed the colour would ward individuals off but found the most efficient thing is putting a rope in front of his actions.

He said: 'Our home is beige so it's not as bad as some of the more vibrant ones - but the most efficient thing is these straps we have now.

'I understand the green house has seen a big drop considering that putting theirs there.

'Because it does get absurd. Before, we had people posing on our steps - which obviously set my dog off.

'They 'd even have picnics there. It's simply disrespectful.

'With Instagrammers, it's always the very same sort of people. You can identify them. Great deals of Italians - which I can since I'm Italian.

'When it comes to the travelers, I indicate, it's individuals are coming here for quite images instead of going somewhere of note. They're not going to the British Museum.'

LondonMade In Chelsea
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