Events

Notting Hill Carnival

May 21, 2025 21:09

Notting Hill Carnival is held annually and is a colourful costume parade. It attracts huge crowds right into the centre of London. Participants dressed in colourful costumes dance to rhythmic reggae and salsa music.

The leading role in the carnival is played by members of the English Afro-Caribbean community, especially those from Trinidad and Tobago, who made up a significant part of the population of Kensington and Chelsea in the 1950s.

Address	Notting Hill Carnival, The Tabernacle 34-35 Powis Square, London W11 2AY
First issue	1966 year
Duration	3 days (in 2025, from 23 to 25 August)
Founders	Claudia Jones, Rowan Laslett
Number of visitors	2 million people
Planned events	Great Britain Panorama Steel Band Competition, children's parade, adult parade
Sponsors	Bacardi, Innocent, Adidas Terrex и Red Bull
Official website	https://nhcarnival.org/carnival-info

History of the carnival

The tradition of the London Carnival dates back to the 1960s. Its original purpose was to reconcile white Britons with dark-skinned immigrants from the Caribbean and prevent armed conflict.

In 1958, a major riot broke out, after which many politicians addressed the people with speeches about the need for reconciliation, visiting Notting Hill. The idea of holding a festival came from Claudia Jones, a well-known politician from Trinidad and founder of the first newspaper for black people in the UK.

The modern look of the Notting Hill Carnival was created by one of London's social workers, Rowan Laslett. She organised the festival, persuaded the authorities to hold it on weekends, notified the police, invited musicians, and rented costumes from Madame Tussauds. Representatives of ethnic minorities participated in the first editions.

Since 1966, the Notting Hill Festival has been held annually in the streets of the London borough of Notting Hill, Kensington and Chelsea County.

In 2020 and 2021, it was cancelled due to the pandemic.

The first festival

The first parade took place on 30 January 1959 at Saint-Pacras Town Hall. Traditionally, all Caribbean festivals were held outdoors. In England, this was not possible due to the high likelihood of riots and the colder climate. The event officially became a carnival in 1966.

Rowan Laslett helped organise the platforms and found floats to showcase different cultures during the festive parade. The event was attended by over 1,000 people.

Notting Hill helped bring different ethnic groups together and became one of London's traditions.

Carnival traditions

One of the main traditions of Notting Carnival is dressing up in bright costumes. Both adults and children take part in the festivities. They wear costumes featuring natural elements such as feathers, beads and dried grass. This is a unique way of connecting with their national roots. Feathers, for example, are part of the costumes, headdresses and masks of African tribes. They are believed to help ward off evil spirits and disease.

Notting Hill Festival traditions — Traditions of Notting Hill Carnival

Another tradition of the Notting Hill Carnival is connected with music – the performance of national songs: reggae, funk, rhythm and blues. The festival's trademark has become an original musical style called calypso.

Notting Hill Carnival line up

The Notting Hill 2025 line up is expected to be quite busy, as were the 2024 and 2023 editions.

Saturday, 23 August 2025.

On Saturday, the Panorama Steel Band Competition, the UK's national steel band competition, will take place at Eslie Horniman's Pleasance Park, W10 3DH. It will start at approximately 4 p.m.

This day is dedicated to pre-carnival events, one of which is the Panorama Steel Band competition. It starts at 11:00. The opening ceremony will be attended by the festival organisers and numerous participants. One of the most spectacular events on Saturday is the frying pan throwing competition. Spectators can get into the spirit of the event by throwing paint and sprinkling coloured powder on each other.

Sunday, 24 August 2025.

Family day dedicated to children and parents, free for everyone.

notting hill london children's parade — Notting Hill Carnival children

On Sunday, the organisers have planned a children's parade and carnival, as well as an adult Dutty Mas. Live performances by musicians are expected to begin around midday. On Sunday, you can dance all day long to the sounds of samba and reggae.

The unique atmosphere of the party is created by several dozen sound systems playing hip-hop and other music.

Monday, 25 August 2025.

The adult parade is the main event of the carnival. It starts at 10:00.

It is estimated that over 80 musical groups will participate in the event. There will also be numerous mass groups, including:

ABIR Mas.
Caribbean Sessions Mas.
Colours Carnival.
Dynamic Mas.
Elimu Mas Band.
Funatik Mas.

The public will also be able to sample food sold at food stalls, including Jamaican grilled chicken.

Location and map of Notting Hill Carnival

The festival route begins at Westbourne Park station and passes through Westbourne Grove and Ladbroke Grove. Its total length exceeds three miles.

The carnival parade covers the following streets:

Ladbroke Grove;
Kensal Road;
Elkstone Road;
Great Western Road;
Westbourne Park Road;
Chepstow Road;
Westbourne Grove;
Ladbroke Gardens.

notting hill carnival map — Notting Hill Carnival map

Information for visitors

In London, you can get to the festival venue by underground, but keep in mind that the nearest stations will not be operating on public holidays, so you will have to walk part of the way.

Nearest stations:

Holland Park;
Notting Hill Gate Underground;
Ladbroke Grove.

There is also an option with ground transportation by bus No. 23.

Some tourists rent a car, but parking can be difficult. Most festival visitors get to the venue by taxi, but it is recommended to leave early, as the roads can be congested.

Before visiting the festival, it is recommended that you familiarise yourself with the rules established by the organisers to ensure safety. There have been unpleasant incidents in the past; in 2022, Takayo Nembhard died during the carnival as a result of a knife attack.

Not everyone feels comfortable in crowds – this should also be taken into account before travelling.

Please note! Nine thousand police officers are responsible for ensuring safety during the holiday.

Contact

Notting Hill Carnival

The Tabernacle

34-35 Powis Square

London W11 2AY

[email protected]

Parking

Due to the large influx of people, it is very difficult to park near the festival venue on festival days. Some roads are closed, which creates additional difficulties.

Apps designed to find and book parking spaces, such as Parkopedia or JustPark, can help you find a place to park your car.

Registration for the festival

The NHC parade is free to watch for everyone. If you want to join in, for example, the Panorama competition, you will have to pay a nominal fee. Tickets are available for purchase on the official website of the event, and the registration process is very simple. Proceeds from ticket sales are distributed among the performing groups.

Notting Hill Carnival outfits

For Notting Hill Carnival, it is advisable to choose brightly coloured outfits. Feathers and other natural accessories are welcome, as are sequins and garlands, including floral ones.

Clothes should be comfortable; strappy sandals and heels are not recommended. Everyone decides for themselves what to wear, but it is still important to try to fit in with the concept of the festival.

Those who have attended this event share their positive emotions and vivid impressions. Today, Notting Hill Carnival is one of the largest street festivals on the planet, second only to the carnival in Rio de Janeiro in terms of visitor numbers. Local schools and organisations actively participate in it, and it attracts numerous tourists from different countries.

Who started the carnival in Notting Hill?

The initiative to hold a carnival in Notting Hill belongs to Trinidadian activist and newspaper editor Claudia Jones. The first street parade in London took place in 1959. Social worker Rowne Laslett helped to organise it fully in 1966.