Visitors lucky enough to be in London at the end of August have a fantastic opportunity to experience the excitement and colour of a traditional Caribbean street celebration at the Notting Hill Carnival. It takes place in West London on Sunday 28th and Monday 29th August and is a heady mix of music and costumed parade together with a feast of authentic Caribbean food. As many as a million people will attend the Carnival over its two days and there is a wide selection of hotels in London from which you can choose the ideal base for your stay.
Although the traditional roots of Caribbean carnivals go back to the beginning of the 19th century, when people took to the streets to celebrate the abolition of slavery, the event in Notting Hill has its origins in 1964. People from Afro-Caribbean communities in London came together to share their culture and traditions in a riot of colour and noise. Over the years the event has expanded in its size and scope and nowadays it's attended by an estimated one million people each year.
The stunning sights of Carnival are accompanied by equally vibrant sounds; and music plays an enormous role in the overall event. Traditional Soca and Calypso music along with steel bands are still very much in evidence, but these days they have to fight to compete with the booming amplified music played via many static sound systems, situated all over the Carnival area. Live performances on stage also take place and over the years a number of internationally renowned musicians have appeared such as Eddie Grant, Burning Spear and Jamiroquai.
There is plenty of scope to sample traditional Caribbean cuisine and you'll find hundreds of stalls selling a wide variety of authentic fare. Typical dishes include curried goat, rice and peas and jerk chicken.
The costumes worn by people taking part in the parade are nothing short of spectacular. Huge head dresses are constructed of wire and fibreglass and the dancers are clothed in every colour of the rainbow. Different community groups spend months planning their themes and compete to outdo each other in terms of imagination and extravagance.
You're strongly advised to use public transport to get to the area on either of the days of the Carnival because parking will be extremely difficult. However you should note that there will be restrictions on opening times at many of the local tube stations. Ladbroke Grove underground station will be closed on both days, but you can get to the carnival using Latimer Road, Notting Hill Gate, Royal Oak and Westbourne Park. Another way to get there is by using the bus system and you can get full details on both bus and tube travel in a special leaflet, published by London Transport and available at tube stations. Many hotels in London will be able to assist you with information on how to get to the Carnival.
Inevitably there will be a risk of pickpockets at such a large event and police advise visitors to take extra care with their belongings. You may prefer to take a disposable camera rather than an expensive model and it's also a good idea not to carry more cash than you think you'll need. As soon as you arrive in the area, agree on a meet up point in case you're split up from the other members of your group and make sure you all know when you're planning on leaving and how you'll travel back. If in doubt check with London Transport staff so that you're confident about tube station openings.
The Notting Hill Carnival is a long established fixture in the capital's calendar of events and attracts many visitors to London both from the UK and abroad. Many hotels in London will be expecting a lot of interest in their accommodation so booking early is advisable at this busy time.
Although the traditional roots of Caribbean carnivals go back to the beginning of the 19th century, when people took to the streets to celebrate the abolition of slavery, the event in Notting Hill has its origins in 1964. People from Afro-Caribbean communities in London came together to share their culture and traditions in a riot of colour and noise. Over the years the event has expanded in its size and scope and nowadays it's attended by an estimated one million people each year.
The stunning sights of Carnival are accompanied by equally vibrant sounds; and music plays an enormous role in the overall event. Traditional Soca and Calypso music along with steel bands are still very much in evidence, but these days they have to fight to compete with the booming amplified music played via many static sound systems, situated all over the Carnival area. Live performances on stage also take place and over the years a number of internationally renowned musicians have appeared such as Eddie Grant, Burning Spear and Jamiroquai.
There is plenty of scope to sample traditional Caribbean cuisine and you'll find hundreds of stalls selling a wide variety of authentic fare. Typical dishes include curried goat, rice and peas and jerk chicken.
The costumes worn by people taking part in the parade are nothing short of spectacular. Huge head dresses are constructed of wire and fibreglass and the dancers are clothed in every colour of the rainbow. Different community groups spend months planning their themes and compete to outdo each other in terms of imagination and extravagance.
You're strongly advised to use public transport to get to the area on either of the days of the Carnival because parking will be extremely difficult. However you should note that there will be restrictions on opening times at many of the local tube stations. Ladbroke Grove underground station will be closed on both days, but you can get to the carnival using Latimer Road, Notting Hill Gate, Royal Oak and Westbourne Park. Another way to get there is by using the bus system and you can get full details on both bus and tube travel in a special leaflet, published by London Transport and available at tube stations. Many hotels in London will be able to assist you with information on how to get to the Carnival.
Inevitably there will be a risk of pickpockets at such a large event and police advise visitors to take extra care with their belongings. You may prefer to take a disposable camera rather than an expensive model and it's also a good idea not to carry more cash than you think you'll need. As soon as you arrive in the area, agree on a meet up point in case you're split up from the other members of your group and make sure you all know when you're planning on leaving and how you'll travel back. If in doubt check with London Transport staff so that you're confident about tube station openings.
The Notting Hill Carnival is a long established fixture in the capital's calendar of events and attracts many visitors to London both from the UK and abroad. Many hotels in London will be expecting a lot of interest in their accommodation so booking early is advisable at this busy time.
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