William Thacker (Hugh Grant) runs a travel bookstore in Notting Hill, London, alongside his assistant Martin (James Dreyfus). Unfortunately, the shop is struggling to make ends meet and suffers from a decline in sales. Recently abandoned by his wife for another man, William shares his home with the eccentric and carefree Spike (Rhys Ifans). One day, his life takes an unexpected turn when the glamorous Hollywood actress Anna Scott (Julia Roberts) enters his store to purchase a few books.
Their path crosses again when a clumsy mishap occurs: William accidentally spills orange juice on her. Offering her a place to clean up at his apartment, an impulsive moment leads to an unforgettable kiss, leaving William smitten. He agrees to keep their interaction a secret at Anna's request, but soon finds it impossible to get her out of his mind.
Later, Anna invites him to the prestigious Ritz Hotel, but when William gets mistaken for a journalist, he inadvertently ends up in a press junket for her upcoming film. His naïveté shines through as he fumbles with silly questions about horses, and once again, Anna finds his genuine nature charming. She then surprises him by asking to be his date at his sister's birthday celebration. During the party, Anna wins over everyone, including William's friends Tony (Richard McCabe), Max (Tim McInnerny), Bella (Gina McKee), Bernie (Hugh Bonneville), and his sister Honey (Emma Chambers). Although discerning that Anna is a vegetarian, the group makes her feel at ease, treating her not as a celebrity but as a friend.
As their relationship flourishes, they sneak into a private park and share another intimate kiss. However, their connection faces a jarring reality when, out and about one evening, they overhear rude comments about Anna, equating actresses with prostitution. Will stands up for her, but Anna, in an act of defiance, comes back to assert her identity.
Their romance takes a hit when Anna's movie star boyfriend, Jeff King, unexpectedly returns from the States, rendering William heartbroken. Despite his friends rallying around him to help him move on, the thought of Anna remains ever-present. Months pass, and one day, Anna knocks on his door, clearly distressed over a tabloid scandal involving old nude photos. After revealing that her relationship with Jeff is over, they rekindle their bond, finding common ground over art and life.
As their intimacy deepens, destiny throws a curveball when paparazzi surround William's house, tipped off by Spike, which leads to a furious confrontation between the two. This incident causes Anna to withdraw her affection, leaving him to reflect on the emptiness in his life without her. Time moves on, and Will tries to date other women to fill the void, but none can compare to Anna.
His world shifts when he learns that Anna is back in London filming a passion project inspired by his suggestion. A mix of hope and apprehension brings him to the filming location. Upon seeing Anna, he gets a glimpse of friendship but overhears her dismiss his importance to a coworker, which hurts him deeply. When Anna arrives at his bookshop with a gift, Will confronts her about the comment he overheard, but they soon engage in a heartfelt conversation. Despite her confession of love, fear grips him, and he decides to push her away, believing it will protect him.
In a moment of epiphany, he comes to terms with his mistake and rushes through London to stop her before it's too late. Reaching her at a press conference reveals the urgency of their situation as Anna's publicist announces her intention to leave the UK that night. Just as tensions rise, Will boldly poses the question on everyone's mind, admitting to being a "daft prick" and asking for forgiveness. Anna's response: she would consider it, revealing her intentions to stay "indefinitely."
In a beautiful culmination of their love story, Will and Anna marry, navigate the Hollywood spotlight together, and eventually look forward to quiet family moments park-bench style as they begin their journey into parenthood.
