BTW- I fly into Stansted tomorrow, what's the best way into Notting Hill?
The quickest way to the Notting Hill area from Stansted, if you don't want to check into a hotel or anything, is to take the M11 into Greater London, to the town of Redbridge.
The Redbridge tube station is very convenient, it's at the first roundabout after the M11 descends to a surface street, at the intersection with Eastern Avenue.
Take the Red Line from Redbridge Station and get off at the Notting Hill Station. I believe that puts you near the Kensington Gardens end of Notting Hill Road.