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The iconic Notting Hill Carnival is Europe’s biggest street party. It’s a diverse and vibrant celebration of Caribbean culture. Over two days, more than two million people from all backgrounds come together to celebrate on the streets of West London. The scent of jerk chicken and the sound of steel band music fills the air as flamboyant dancers parade the streets in colourful costumes.
Considering heading to the party? We’ve got all the information you need to plan your trip to Notting Hill Carnival here.
When is Notting Hill Carnival?
Notting Hill Carnival takes place on the August bank holiday weekend every year. This year’s carnival will fall on Sunday 25 and Monday 26 August. Sunday is ‘Children’s Day’, offering a family-friendly atmosphere, while Monday is an action-packed occasion for adults.
Carnival starts at 10:00 on Children’s Day and 10:30 on Monday, ending at 19:00 on both days.
Where is Notting Hill Carnival?
Notting Hill Carnival spans the Notting Hill area of Kensington on the streets of West London. It covers Notting Hill, Westbourne Park and Ladbroke Grove. The parade starts on Great Western Road.
How to get to Notting Hill Carnival
Public transport is the quickest and easiest way to Notting Hill Carnival, as the surrounding streets see heavy traffic. Travelling by train means you’ll get there without hassle.
Vauxhall is our closest station to Notting Hill Carnival. From there, take the Victoria line northbound and get off at Victoria. Once at Victoria, you can get a direct tube to Bayswater, High Street Kensington, Paddington, Queen's Park or Shepherd's Bush. The whole journey takes 20-25 minutes, and all five tube stations are within walking distance of the carnival.
Travelling by train
Trains run from Bournemouth, Southampton Central and Portsmouth, so it’s easy to get to the capital without a car. Find the right train tickets from our range of flexible ticket types, and benefit from cheaper train fares when travelling during off-peak hours. Save even more with Railcards and discounts, or if you’re travelling in a group, check out our GroupSave offers. Travel any time with a Sunday Out ticket.
Travelling from London
If you’re journeying from the outer London zones like Putney, Wimbledon or Richmond, you can hop on a direct train to Clapham Junction or Vauxhall. Don’t forget your London Travelcard or Oyster card, or use contactless payments for seamless travel within London.
Does Notting Hill Carnival cost money?
Notting Hill Carnival is completely free to attend, and it’s one of the best free things to do in London this August! Although, you may need to buy a ticket to continue the good vibes at one of the city’s many afterparties.
Things to do at Notting Hill Carnival
There’s plenty to do at Notting Hill Carnival. It’s a free-flowing celebration, so once you’re there you can eat, drink and dance the day away.
Notting Hill Carnival Parade
The parade is the main event at Notting Hill Carnival. Starting at around 10:00 on Sunday and 10:30 on Monday, a procession of floats and performers flood the streets in Caribbean carnival costumes, accompanied by joyful steel bands.
The route stretches over three and a half miles, starting near Westbourne Park Tube station. It then snakes through Great Western Road and Westbourne Grove, looping back up to Ladbroke Grove.
The J’ouvert parade
J’ouvert is a traditional festival celebrating ‘the opening of the day’ and the beginning of Carnival. As the sun rises, thousands parade through the streets, smeared and splattered in colourful body paints and powders.
The J’ouvert parade begins at 06:00 and finishes at around 09:00. The start address is Sainsbury’s, Canal Way, Ladbroke Grove W10 5AA.
Live stages
There are plenty of live stages spread across the Carnival area, hosting local talent as well as traditional Calypsonians. In recent years, celebrity guests like Wiley, Stormzy and Giggs have performed, so you’re bound to encounter some of the best live music in London.
Head to Soca City Stage or the Powis Square Stage, where you can party from 12:00 – 19:00 on Monday.
Carnival caters for every age group. Visitors with young children should head to Meanwhile Gardens. This green community space is open Sunday and Monday for kids’ entertainment, arts and crafts, face painting and, of course, lots more dancing!
Sound Systems
Carnival has over 30 static sound systems scattered throughout W10. Originating in Jamaica in the 1950s, sound system culture made its way over to the UK later that decade and has thrived here ever since. Manned by DJs, engineers and MCs, sound systems are hooked up to microphones and DJ equipment to pump out loud music to huge crowds in the streets, guaranteeing an unrivalled party atmosphere.
Notting Hill Carnival tips for a hassle-free day
Keep your day fun-filled and carefree with these top tips:
- Download the app - It’s free to use with an interactive map showing live GPS-tracking of the floats on the parade, as well as the locations of various sound systems, food stalls, toilets, and transport links.
- Bring cash - Not all food and drink stalls are guaranteed to take card payments, and cashpoints in the area will be busy.
- Wear suncream – The bank holiday weekend can get hot, so bring suncream to avoid sunburn and heat stroke.
- Stay hydrated - In the heat of the party, it’s easy to forget to hydrate, but you’ll regret not bringing a bottle of water with you.
- Check the TfL website - You’ll find live updates here, as some tube stations may be closed at short notice due to overcrowding.
Food and drinks
After a few hours of partying, you’re bound to have worked up an appetite. Providing the festival’s smoky scent, food at Notting Hill Carnival celebrates Caribbean street food favourites like Trinidadian roti and Jamaican beef patties. These fast foods are prepared kerbside to be eaten on the go, so you won’t have to miss out on any of the action.
Heavily spiced and packed with flavour, Jamaican jerk chicken and curry goat are popular picks, often served alongside fried plantain, rice and peas. If you don't eat meat, there are also veggie options at most stalls and an increase in vegan food traders this year. Wash your meal down with rum, coconut water or a Caribbean cocktail like Guinness punch.
Places to stay near Notting Hill Carnival
Looking to party through the night and spend 48 hours in London? There’s plenty of accommodation near Notting Hill, including:
Notting Hill Carnival accessibility
The Notting Hill Carnival team have made accessibility a key priority. There are over 40 designated disabled toilets scattered around the area. For wheelchair and scooter users, the closest step-free tube stations are Wood Lane and Shepherd’s Bush.
To learn more about the facilities available, visit Notting Hill Carnival’s website.
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