Notting Hill Carnival guide
Dancing, music and masquerade – join the Carnival fun in Notting Hill next August bank holiday weekend
Notting Hill Carnival, Europe’s biggest street festival, is a vivid spectacle representing London's multicultural past and present. It's also a vital date in any party-lover's diary. But, whatever you do, don’t go anywhere without reading our guide, which includes invaluable information about Notting Hill Carnival. Looking for route details and tips on having fun, while staying safe? You've come to the right place. And for all the essential details you need for the big weekend, have a glance at these FAQs below:
Which weekend does Notting Hill Carnival take place?
Carnival traditionally takes place on the bank holiday weekend at the end of August.
Where does Notting Hill Carnival take place?
Spread throughout W10 in west London, the Carnival celebrations take over the areas of Notting Hill, Ladbroke Grove and Westbourne Park.
What's the best way to get there?
Take the tube to the outskirts and join the masses in walking towards the parade route. The nearest tube stations without disruptions are Holland Park, High Street Kensington, Queen's Park, Shepherd's Bush, Bayswater and Paddington, while Notting Hill Gate, Royal Oak and Westbourne Park usually have amended operating times.
For more in-depth travel info, read our round-up of everything you need to know about Notting Hill Carnival.
What time does everything kick off?
The Carnival floats and bands set off in the morning on both Sunday and Monday.
What is Notting Hill Carnival?
A celebration of the capital's Caribbean communities, their culture and traditions, which has been taking place since 1964, featuring two days of fantastic live music ranging from reggae to dub to salsa. The celebrations also include soca floats, steel bands and a whole lot of jerk chicken and fried plantain.
We'll be updating this page with details for 2017 as soon as they're announced.
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Comments
Oslo
In case you didn’t know, Scandinavia is cool right now. The food, the fashion, the facial hair – plus the Vikings have invaded the British Museum. All we need next is a healthy economy, a reliable public transport system and a sense of social justice, and London will be indistinguishable from Oslo. Meanwhile in Hackney, there’s yet another Northern European-inspired incursion. Or apparently so: the website claims this bar-restaurant-club draws on ‘a Nordic aesthetic’, although it’s not immediately obvious within. Oslo occupies the previously deserted old Hackney rail station and takes on a bit of a railway theme with its luggage-rack lighting, plus there are industrial stylings that give the whole place a Janet Jackson ‘Rhythm Nation’ video feel. The restaurant part is rather fancy, its food incorporating a few of the forages, pickles, jellies and marinations of New Nordic cooking. The kitchen is regularly given over to guest chefs, and you have to book – it’s always heaving. Eat in the bar and the food is more straightforward. Where once the standard snack in pubs was a toastie, sausage roll or pork pie, now it’s the slider or fried chicken. These are served alongside frankly obscene portions of chips, slathered with the likes of cured bacon fat and bacon salt, or braised oxtail, gravy and cheese. There’s a commendable range of craft beers from the vicinity, including a couple from Five Points Brewing just five minutes up the road at the Downs.Head upstairs and you’ll find a
Venue says: “Join us every Thursday night until late for Soul Soul Soul – a night of vinyl appreciation with DJs playing soul, funk, disco and more.”
Nottinghill Carnival!
Yesterday I kept thinking how comes no one is mentioning how many people attended???? Because when you proportion it out it does not make good new. Sorry it is then not as awful as it seems. I'm not saying I condone violence I don't. I have seen the ugly side of carnival, I just hate the very skewed vision that is sold with everything black related!
Two million people in two days, which park could u hold that in! Sometimes I hate this bloody country and how they demonise our events.
76 arrests at creamfields 40,000 capacity.
Leeds festival this year one death. 75,000 capacity.
20 arrests so they say at reading, 87,000 capacity, reading has a well known tradition of bottling, where acts have been historically bottled off the stage but I guess this is ok. I spoke to a young man who said he would never go to reading again as there are not enough police and there are groups of boys rolling around looking to fight. Oh and anyone on Twitter may have been exposed to a awful video of 4 men urinating on their very drunk friend. These bits are not news as they are not of the racial mix that the mud does not stick.
Least we forget that the once very ethnic Nottinghill went through ethnic cleansing in the late 80's, oops no it was the cash for homes scandal! To gentrify the area and push up house prices.
The government make tonnes of money from the carnival that more than covers the cost of staffing it in whatever capacity. But just like anything else in this country we want to make more money so let's demonise it and scare everyone then they will agree to put it in a park then you will have to pay to attend. Great!
@Linda A well I'll be there yet again for good music and good vibes :)
http://batdongsanbigland.com/nha-dat/cho-thue/nha-rieng.html
Hayley - I took the photograph that you have used for the lead article. More than happy for you to use it, and I've been a loyal follower of Time Out for years, it but I'd appreciate a credit please.
I'm sure the Carnival is 3 days from Saturday to Monday and Is always in May or June. In August people are on holiday. I always go Carnivol
WAAAAAY I WANT TO COME TO CARNIVAL ! PICK ME UP OR EMAIL ME @ YOU KNOW MY ADDRESS IM LOGGED IN...SMILE
I'm sorry to say but I felt like Carnival this year depicted some kind of London dystopia. I was expecting colourful dancers with great plumes of feathers for lingerie, but alas I will not be ruffling anyone's feathers with this review. There were just a massive mob of eerily clad goths, trying to ambush everyone with selfie sticks and (suspicious looking) white body paint (although I do appreciate Batman in his Hermes t-shirt in this photo). And then there's the toilet issue - if would be alright if there was an obvious way to escape the abyss but you'd walk around the corner, and there would be ANOTHER mob surrounding by ANOTHER half-assed boombox, blocking your escape.
I wont to come but I don't know how to get their
Your post is very nice to read and very informative. I love to here music and musical fest. Recently I had enjoyed the musical fest of http://www.bookmusic.dk. It has mind blowing and rocking performance. They had a very good band artist, light effect, sound system, stage lighting.
In your blog post you have given new information for me and help me to know about new thing. I was unknown to Notting Hill Carnival, but now I decided to go to join this festival after my tour by http://www.getbustours.com/newyeareve-tours/. I hope it will be a nice experience for me.
hoping for a good family day out at carnival just have to miss the gran prix or watch highlights
I agree who ever did their research shame on you.
You know the sad thing, not a lot of people of Caribbean descent know what the true meaning of Carnival is at all. SMH just like the researcher.
Why do you put Reggae music as the main music of carnival. Please do your research and stop misleading people/readers, of course Raggae has a role but the main music for carnival floats costume bands is not reggae!
In order for The carnival to grow and be spectacular the Mas Bands (floats) need support by ordinary people participating very few bands receive funding from the arts council, if you would like to support a band that does not receive funding you can ask when you contact them if they do, did you know in Holland the local authority pays for the trucks for the bands on the road because they acknowledge the contribution the carnival makes to the country by the way of tourism and revenue! in London we get nothing, but generate millions (in excess of 100 Million) for London don't forget you can make the show! so spread the love and support Europe's Largest street festival, remember without floats and costumes there is no carnival!
also have a read of the insiders view on this site.
Hi Diane, You could also check out www.arawakcarnivals.com to get involved, don't just be a spectator GET INVOLVED! it's easy.
we went to the carnival on Monday, full or excitement and expectation of a wonderful and colourful day. instead we got glimpses of several trucks with nothing happening on them and a few people in front or behind them who looked like spare stand ins. the loud music was good plenty of people just going to party and drink which is good but as for the carnival, which is supposed to be what its all about was a let down. the day seemed to be about girls just shaking booty every two minutes with not much effort on costume and every one just their to walk about getting drunk not really taking much interest in the passing empty lorries grinding with odd booty shaker and waiting to just have more drink and dance at the after party's. one big street pub and restaurant and not much else!! at least the music and traditional curry goat made up for it.
Hi @diane you may want to look out for @IsisMas or Get INVOLVED with @IsisMas
The #Revolution is televised. New #designers from #London #Grenada #USA join forces with @IsisMas for operation #NHC50#NottingHillCarnival50#NottingHillCarnival celebrating 50 YEARS!!! It's all about the #RENAiSSANCEcarnival #costume design FINALS Friday 4th April. Get INVOLVED!!!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ArAOBxeZvmM
It was my first time at the carnival and I had a ball! Loved the dancing, atmosphere, the food, etc! Will do it every year from now on:) Here's a few of some of my pictures from last evening. https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.490965724328671.1073741837.470197319738845&type=1
Best carnival ever. Amazing parade, wonderful music. Absolutely delicious yummy food. Beautiful people, and the best soundsystems. A total blessing
Yep! This is one of the best events in London each year and it all starts with the steel band competition on Kensal Road this Saturday evening. You can hear the vibrant sounds of bands with over 50 players and feel the energy and rhythm of real Caribbean steel bands. For more on steel band music and parties, follow on Twitter/bigsands