The owner of among London's most 'Instagrammable' homes says he'll always keep it painted pink, although the colour attracts hordes of posing influencers.
Peter Lee, 80, says his home in Notting Hill, west London is gone to daily by people utilizing it as a background for their social media photos.
The great-grandfather has taken a different view to a group of unhappy residents surviving on Lancaster Road, famed 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 say are swarming their domestic 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 actions - and even balancing on his railings.
Others - in some cases worn just a leotard - come onto his residential or commercial property and lean against the front door.
He included that many influencers will spend whole early mornings outside his home - even undergoing attire modifications.
Mr Lee's doorstep has also 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 many 'Instagrammable' homes and states he'll always keep it painted pink, despite the fact that the colour draws in crowds of influencers posing for photos
The previous style designer, who has actually lived in his home for 47 years, stated he's seen people doing the splits in front of his steps - and even balancing on his railings
Notting Hill has ended up being famed for its attractive vibrant homes and has become an Instagram hotspot
Despite the consistent visitors, Mr Lee is determined that he will not change his home.
He said: 'I do not really mind the crowds. I have electronic cameras so it does entertain me to simply watch their shenanigans.
'Recently I looked outdoors and there was someone having their image taken - with 3 others queueing for their turn.
'Another time a company appeared to be having a whole photoshoot. They had a little outfit change tent and whatever. They in fact left a lot of brand brand-new clothing here - tags and all. I set up a sign, saying to knock on my door to gather them.
'But when a couple of weeks passed and no one pertained to get them, I gave them to my granddaughter.
'It's busiest when it's sunny. In early May, when we had all that good weather condition, there were loads of individuals.
'I know it bothers others however it doesn't actually bother me. I simply believe, 'Live and let live'. Life's too brief.'
But one instance of an over-confident tourist saw him rack up a bill worth countless pounds.
He said: 'I have actually had actually the tiles damaged from women in high heels getting on the actions.
'That's a bit annoying - as I had to pay to have them fixed. But that's been my only problem really.'
They declare influencers stand best outside their doors to get the best shot with some even going through several outfit modifications
But he insisted he would never wander off from the iconic colour: 'It was pink when I relocated back in 1978 so it's part of the house. I'm not altering it. It will always be pink.'
Meanwhile, some Notting Hill homeowners have actually grown fed up of the photoshoots taking place in front of their well-known colourful houses and have actually painted them black in a bid to stop the 'rude' travelers.
Homeowners on Lancaster Road - located just metres away from Portobello Road Market in west London - say they are continuously swamped with people taking images in front of their residential or commercial properties.
They claim influencers stand best outside their doors to get the ideal shot.
It's claimed that brazen tourists will likewise take pleasure in lunchtime picnics on their doorsteps and frequently peer through their windows 'forgetting that people in fact live there'.
A bicyclist weaving through a group of Instagram addicts was just recently identified shouting, 'You are all f ** king sheep. These are typical houses.'
Two homes on the roadway have actually now dropped their previous brilliant exterior - 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 house and now they have signed up with forces with their neighbour.
A 'peaceful zone' indication has actually likewise been installed - and one residential or commercial property further down the street has actually even strung a rope throughout their front steps.
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 the homes on Lancaster Road searched in 2022
Mike, who lives in a turquoise flat, informed Metro the noise from travelers has actually got so bad that he has actually needed to move his meditation classes to the back of his home.
He stated: 'What is more irritating than anything else is just sound. Tourists operate at a various 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 get rid of influencers
One homeowner, who did not wish to be called, stated: 'Our house was in fact originally black and the others weren't.
'But the other 2 chose to join us a couple months ago as all of us agree that black houses do not look good on social networks.
'I understand why individuals take photos - since of how it looks - but it simply gets so jam-packed.
'We can have numerous people on the street at the same time and it's a domestic roadway - we're unable to accommodate tourists.
'I think individuals simply forget that individuals live here. So the hope with painting your houses black is that tourists will unwind a bit. It's been working a bit up until now, to be fair.'
The homeowner said he didn't expect the staying homes on the street to likewise ditch their vibrant paint but stated it may be required if the issue continues.
Homeowners on Lancaster Road - situated just metres far from Portobello Road Market in west London - say they are continuously overloaded with people taking images in front of their residential or commercial properties
Tourists taking photos on Lancaster roadway where Notting Hill homeowners paint famous colourful houses black in bid to postpone influencers and stop 'disruptive overtourism'
Notting Hill residents have paint their vibrant homes black. Pictured: Lancaster roadway in 2025
A homeowner in the third black home did not wish to talk today explaining that the point of the colour modification 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 hopefully as a street we can collaborate and do that.'
Another resident, who also wished to be confidential, stated: 'My household relocated about a month ago and the previous owner painted it black prior to due to the fact that they were fed-up with the number of individuals stop out front.
'It gets crazy. People get on the actions and take loads of images. On the weekends, there can be numerous individuals.
'It's not Londoners, it's mainly tourists. But it just gets stressful. I understand my parents hate it.
'The hope with the black homes is that it's less picturesque. They basically wish to attract less attention.'
A homeowner in the third black home did not desire to talk today discussing that the point of the colour change had been to 'get rid of the attention' and 'not draw more individuals 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 choice to paint your homes black was 'a downer'.
Two tourists Clancy Carroll and Georgia Densley, who were visiting London from Australia, said the choice to paint your homes black was 'a downer'
Residents are now campaigning to attempt and get other vibrant residential or commercial properties on the street to do the same
A letter flowed amongst property owners advises 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, best?
'It's a tourist area and certainly tourist benefits the local economy. It's a bit of a downer to paint your homes black. We're not fans of that.
'But to be sincere, it probably won't 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 homes'.
'It hasn't stopped us.'
Residents are now campaigning to try and get other vibrant residential or commercial properties on the street to do the same.
A letter flowed amongst homeowners prompts them to 'consider' repainting to dissuade travelers and influencers.
Titled 'Addressing tourist influence on our street', it checks out: 'As much of you have observed, our section of the street has actually become a progressively popular area for social media travelers, drawn by the dynamic colours of our homes.
'While it's great to see appreciation for our street, the continuous crowds, noise, litter and absence of privacy triggered by individuals sitting on our stairs are starting to take a toll on our every day lives.'
The letter goes on to declare that 'disruptive tourist' has actually implied locals have actually faced 'rental difficulties' - and 'estate agents have confirmed it is negatively impacting the rate of our residential or commercial properties'.
A 'peaceful zone' sign has also been set up - and one residential or commercial property even more down the street has even strung a rope throughout their front actions
It continues: 'As a possible solution, 3 homes, nos [redacted] have actually decided to repaint their homes this spring in more neutral tones to help in reducing the visual pull for travelers.
'If more people consider collectively doing the same, we might have the ability to bring back some peace and privacy to our neighborhood.'
Meanwhile, other homeowners explained that they had actually previously painted their houses more neutral colours, also in the hope of becoming less appealing to travelers and influencers.
George Hencken, who has actually resided in Notting Hill for 29 years, said: 'Our home utilized to be pink but we painted it grey around seven years earlier.
'The point was to be an unphotogenic colour.
'But the important things is, and something those who have painted their homes black will soon learn, is that even if individuals aren't utilizing their home as a photo backdrop - they'll still be here.
'They'll be having their picnic lunch in their entrance, sheltering outside when it's raining, and even altering clothing on their front steps.
'And Instagram and TikTok are having this effect all over the world. I understand that there's a coffee shop in Japan, with a background of Mount Fuji, which has had to close because of it.
'And over the years I have actually just had one tourist state to me, 'You need to get so tired of it'.
'With great deals of the others - there's simply this sense of conceit and entitlement.'
Ms Hencken described that what irritated her most was that none of the travelers or influencers appeared to have any idea of Notting Hill's history.
Homeowners have discovered the most reliable thing is placing a rope in front of his steps. Pictured: Lancaster Road in June, 2025
Lancaster Road situated simply metres far from Portobello Road Market in west London
She stated: 'This area used to be a happy rebel corner in west London. Yes, there are costly houses, but this street also has a great deal of social housing.
'They don't understand the history.
'Ever because Richard Curtis made that stupid movie every American lender or abundant guy from Switzerland who invests a couple of months here, when asked where they wish to live, says: 'Oh, my other half likes that film'.
'It's changing the area. Our doorsteps used to be social locations. We 'd remain here and chat to buddies and neighbours.
'Today 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 thought the colour would ward individuals off but discovered 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 vibrant ones - however the most reliable thing is these straps we have now.
'I understand the green house has actually seen a big drop given that putting theirs there.
'Because it does get ludicrous. Before, we had people posturing on our steps - which obviously set my pet off.
'They 'd even have picnics there. It's simply impolite.
'With Instagrammers, it's always the same sort of individuals. You can spot them. Great deals of Italians - which I can since I'm Italian.
'As for the travelers, I indicate, it's individuals are coming here for pretty photos instead of going somewhere of note. They're not going to the British Museum.'
LondonMade In Chelsea
