Notting Hill Carnival

This is a lot like Mardi Gras, lots of drinking in the street, food vendors and people selling everything from balloons and whistles (you hear them everywhere!) to rum punch, jello shots, rum and coke slushies and beer out of coolers. The true highlight of Carnival to me was the music on back of the mobile semi trucks aka «lorrys» and there massive sound systems, some complete with dancers in very festive attire. The police are everywhere and extremely nice, helpful, attentive and Oh yeah, Hilarious!!! Although this year supposedly had a record number of stabbings I never once felt uneasy or worried about anything at all, I highly suggest going if you get the chance. I took my family the first day, I believe it was Saturday also known as «family day» then the next day I ventured out with a friend in from Australia and it seemed that family day was just as wild as the main party on Sunday, (this celebration is held over the bank holiday so no one works on monday.) I think if you stay with the carnival route and don’t venture down any dark alleyways you should come out in one piece except for that darn headache the next morning.

Uno de mis festivales favoritos del mundo. Se celebra el último fin de semana de Agosto y es sencillamente apoteósico, millares de personas dándolo todo por las calles del barrio cosmopolita de Notting Hill. La cultura caribeña tiene una grandísima influencia en este Carnaval, la gente, la estética, el baile del perreo… Merece la pena pasarse el día entero allí y si es con buen tiempo mejor (yo lo he llegado a vivir diluviando y aún así no decaíà la fiesta).
Es importante saber que el Carnaval se divide en dos días, el domingo suele estar enfocado en un ambiente más para familias y niños y el lunes es el despiporre total para adultos y jóvenes, es el gran día. El desfile suele comenzar sobre el mediodía y la juerga se extiende ya durante toda la tarde por el barrio, con las carrozas con la música a tope y la gente perreando con todo el mundo, especialmente si no os conocéis de nada, el perreo es el saludo oficial en el Carnaval.
La mejor fiesta de Londres con diferencia. Es el momento ideal para conocer a los londinenses de forma más abierta (y para ligar, por supuesto), el espíritu caribeño se apodera de ellos, su sangre caliente y su aire festivo y alegre en comunión con todo el mundo hace que sea la ocasión perfecta para pillar desprevenidos a unos londinenses que en carácter no suelen ser así habitualmente.
No os lo perdáis por nada del mundo. Para mi es un ‘MUST’ Top 3 de Londres. No apto para sieso/​as.

I heard a variety of things ranging from Eugh to Awesome and ‘you’ll get robbed/​stabbed’ to ‘everyone is incredibly friendly’. So happy I went. In my opinion it’s a must do at least once.
It’s apparently the largest street festival in Europe and it certainly feels like it. There’s some sort of parade route, and every float is filled with sights and sounds (people dressed colourfully and without fail, excellent sound systems). A tonne of people kind of just wander along the parade route (I’m not even sure if there’s one route or multiple) and just take it all in.
Beyond that, there’s a lot going on on pretty much every side street in the area. An abundance of food, people just chilling and drinking/​smoking (NHC has a reputation for reefer and it’s not unwarranted. There’s the unmistakable scent pretty much everywhere at the festival), and a lot of areas set up with sound systems and people dancing.
We bought drinks from various corner shops at prices of varying ridiculousness (one store was charging £4 for a GnT and £12 for a pack of Marlboro Ice Blast. Another was charging a more bearable £3 for the same GnTs). There were actually a fair number of porta loos set up, and the queues for them were reasonable.
Phones of course don’t work, and in the process of looking for a friend, I lost everyone I came with. Fortunately I managed to locate said friend and we still had a blast. Also, leaving the festival area was kind of confusing due to the crowds and road closures but there were police stationed everywhere and they were extremely helpful.
As far as the you’ll get robbed/​stabbed bits, there’s no doubt that you need to keep a close watch on your belongings as given the sheer amount of people, there’s bound to be an opportunistic few. That aside, also given the sheer numbers and the tightness, there are a few idiots in a hurry who occasionally push or shove, and you can see tempers flare. I didn’t actually see any fights break out but while dancing at one of the areas, heard the MC telling a group to break it up so evidently scuffles occur.
Bottom line — don’t be deterred and just go and have a blast! The vast majority of people there are incredibly friendly and overall it’s just the sort of environment with incredible energy and positive vibes. Still felt good from it for a few days after.

Aaaaaah le Notting Hill Carnival ! Je suis fan absolue ! Deux jours de fête dans une ambiance bon enfant et méga festive dans les rues de ce quartier immense que je n’ai toujours pas visité au calme !
Notting Hill c’est grandiose, il y a une foule incroyable le dimanche comme le lundi, jour de la grande parade dans les rues du quartier. C’est difficile à décrire, il faut venir et participer, gouter les plats que les gens du quartier préparent et vendent en bas de chez eux, boire un verre de punch XXXL en se baladant dans les rues où il y a toujours de la bonne musique à écouter sur des petites scènes, quand on né tombe pas, au détour d’une rue, sur un sound system trop puissant qui fait décoller les pieds du sol !
Toutes les couleurs, toutes les classes sociales, tous les âges et toutes les nationalités sont là et se mélangent sans à priori. C’est magique.

Do you like your chicken jerked, your rice with beans and your live entertainment in mobile form? Do you like to fight with thousands of other people as you jostle for position and food? Do you like your restaurant outside and spread over a whole neighbourhood? Well if you do, I’m sure there’s loads of places to go. But on August bank holiday weekend I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else than Notting Hill Carnival.
The amazing weather didn’t hurt, coupled with (overpriced but what do you expect?!) food, alcoholic drinks all around and the most amazing street parade — the effort people go to with colourful costumes and dancing is AMAZING. And as you look down the main road all you can see is a sea of colourful people! Now that’s a sight that I like to see in London. Repeat of this next year yes please!

Notting Hill Carnival is widely acknowledged as a chance for people from absolutely everywhere to come together and enjoy good food and great music. The Carnival is truly a chance to witness the diversity of London! You’ll hear many beautiful languages spoken throughout the day and can also see for yourself the flags on the floats of the various influential countries. Check out this cool article about it —

Sehr schöné, bunte Kostüme, leider ist die Musik so laut, daß sie teilweise ohne Gehörschutz nicht über längere Zeit zu ertragen ist. Die Steeldrum-​Musiker sind teilweise mehrere Strassenzüge weiter zu hören.
Beim Carnival gibt es viele Stände mit den verschiedensten Speisen und Getränken. Ein Erlebnis ist es in jedem Fall.

I’m a fan of Notting Hill Carnival ever since I moved to the country. Amazing street parade!

Music, Food, Dressing up! Carnival is always the one.

When I was a teenager — and a wee bit smaller than I am today and an awesome amount more naïve, I loitered — without malicious intent, I might add — in the Notting Hill area, namely it’s quaint, yet rather sprawling market at Portobello Road. I introduced myself to the wonderful, colourful pubs, eateries and antique stalls and stood drooling, amazed at the pot-​pourri of delights. However, sadly, in my ‘wide eyed and bushy tailed’ state, I fell foul to the old PPPP — known simply as the, Professional Pick Pocket Ploy. Undeterred, but much wizened for the experience, I began to study up on the history and beginnings of the market — and it’s now, very trendy, adjoining area known as Notting Hill Gate.
It’s origins go back to farmland and the name Portobello — having been named after Puerto Bello in the Caribbean. Consequently, there is nothing strange in the annual celebration that brings folks of various colours and creeds together for a massive three day street party of hedonistic proportions that emulates the carnivals one gets to witness in Trinidad and Rio — Brazil. The focus of this August Bank Holiday Bonanza derives from the roots of the West Indian Community who got to settle in the West London Borough in the early 1950’s and as such, with it’s immense vibrant display of colour, intense characteristic food smells, rhythmic jungle beats and contagious party atmosphere. All attributed to those intrinsic Caribbean roots. Which is why the Notting Hill Carnival, with it’s international flavour, attracts those to it from all parts of the globe. Those who wish to soak up the abundance of joy that comes from unyielding exhibitionism and hedonism that is definitely untamed and only matched in their country of origin. Many years ago, gangs of Down Under PPP’s ‘Professional Pick Pockets’ cleaned up big at this Carnival. It wasn’t over– policed in those days and as the British used to complain, «we once transported the buggers down there and now they’ve come back to haunt us!»
Beginning in 1964 this vibrant Festival has grown in strength and magnitude with gorgeously decorated floats, loud libidinous music and gyrating women who enjoy nothing more than showing off their ample bosom and girths for those who are hungering for a feast of flesh.
Although every year one will find a rather large police contingent, this year almost every Bobbie (Gendarme) in the Scotland Yard squad was on the beat and were given special permission to pat down — not so little — ‘Tommy and Tim’ checking to see if they were carrying anything they shouldn’t. Coming on the shirt tails of the horrific London riots, it is not surprising. And, while this is an altogether brilliant gathering of community and spirit alike, there are low points to be considered. Opportunism runs rife and my little scrape with those aforementioned PPPP (No longer from Down Under) those many years ago, still occurs in great abundance during festival time, so potential visitors best to check your STWW
(Spectacles, Testicles, Wallet and Watch) at every opportunity.
Squashed to the seams with a vast array of people straining to get a glimpse of the highlights — is really not terrific fun, especially if you are petite. Smelling the body odours instead of the food aromas is neither great and pleasant either, particularly when you are, like myself — arm pit high. And, having lived in Holland Park in my youthful twenties, I can assure you, being so close to the aftermath festival bravado and raucous noise extending into the ‘wee’ hours of the mornings, isn’t that terribly invigorating either.
But still, as the photos detail, most enjoyed the vivacious celebrations that the Notting Hill Carnival had to offer and instead of sounding like a dinosaur, I shall leave it to the vibrant pictures to tell the story. At least one can say, that the usually cold and characteristically stark, West London suburban brick walls get to witness a much needed injection of life for three days of the year.

If you live in or around London, you’d be mad to miss the carnival!

If you’ve ever wondered what the sights and sounds of a New Orleans mardi gras would be like, you needn’t travel much further than the Notting Hill carnival for an insight.
Wonderful, boistrous, colourful with all manner of fabulous costumes, music and food — it’s everything a great party needs to be!
A definite must for all the family, guaranteed to entertain

Yes it’s crazy, yes it’s loud, yes it’s crowded and yes you have to go! Throngs of people line the streets like you have never before seen! Be prepared to spend a while stuck in crowds — keep your mobile phones handy in case you get split up from your friends! Music, costume, atmosphere, food, fun! That’s the carnival spirit in a nutshell. There are cafes and stalls available at the side streets which give you a welcome break from being on your feet all day (you will need this!) Check out the food on offer at the carnival — fantastic Caribbean fare and other unusual foods. Even if you go just once, you have to experience the bonanza that is the Notting Hill Carnival!

The best day out in London. Better than NYE. Consistently captures the essence of London year after year. I first went to Carnival 10 years ago and was blown away by the atmosphere. So many people going crazy partying in the streets — it blew me away.
Contrary to popular opinion, the better day is the Sun, not the Mon. Everyone goes on Mon because they think Sun is for the kids, as it’s called Children’s Day. Mon, therefore, is much more crowded and that’s the day there’s generally more trouble. And on Sun, the sounds systems, like Sancho Panza play classic old school house attracting a more mature crowd. It is the perfect way to celebrate the end of the English summer.
Regardless of which day you go, the Carnival is a guaranteed fantastic day out — especially if the London weather cooperates. The keys to a successful day are knowing where to go, timing you entry and exit and sticking to a good area. So, it helps to have some inside knowledge. Otherwise use the map in the Time Out, which outlines all the sound systems location, type of music, etc.

When many years ago I would laze around in front of the TV, complaining to everyone that there was never anything to do The Notting Hill Carnival was probably that something that I was dreaming of. (Picture a nerdy kid on a couch sighing and looking into the ether as a little thought bubble pops up filled with skimpily dressed dancing girls and massive dub blasting sound systems.)
This was my third free North London Summer festival this year, and it was the second year in a row I’d been to the Notting Hill Carnival. For me these events are the best part of the summer and demonstrate the very best qualities of Londoners. I can understand though if, for instance, you lived in the area, hated loud music, were intimidated by drunk people and felt trapped by the crowds, then this might well be the worst part of the summer and an example of everything wrong with life in the capital.
I arrived there on the Monday at about 3 pm at Kensal Rise Station. The train was full of Carnival goers, almost all of whom had got on in Dalstan. (I have a theory that as Notting Hill has gentrified and the Caribbean communities have moved east, this carnival is increasingly a Hackney/​Brixton festival that is staged in Notting Hill might be a controversial idea)
Leaving the train we were greeted by some thumping dance music, the smells and smoke of jerk chicken and no less than 40 police and transport workers. Dogs sniffed everyone and seemed to find everyone of interest. Which meant long body and bag searches. Now I’m not complaining about this though. I continue to be really impressed with the way that London police operate, and particularly at big events which is where I tend to get closer to them. I LIKE the idea that people are searched for weapons. And I think their attitude to drugs is really practical. It seems that large quantities or the higher class drugs will get you in trouble, but they unofficially aren’t bothered about small amounts of pot. The policeman searching a lad in front of me said to a colleague I found a spliff on this one what should I do?
Take it off him and tell him he’s lucky
I love this attitude. Actually most of all I love the policeman calling it a spliff. Really getting into the spirit of the thing!
The crowds got denser as we approached the carnival area proper, although we were always able to walk at a reasonable pace. We were stopped for a few minutes when we ran into the main procession. The floats were amazing! So much work went into them. Along with the costumes and the dancers and the music. Just brilliant! I hadn’t watched the parade last year but this year we walked for an hour or more against the flow of the floats, drinking wine and taking photos. I sensed no agro at all in the crowd as Japanese and German and all other flavour of tourist posed for photos with the dancers, danced themselves and just soaked it in.
Last year we’d used a map to get around and this year I was a bit disorientated. My favourite part of the carnival is the soundsystems and I was a bit confused as to where they were. We had to double back along the path of the parade to find them and this took quite a while. Along the way police had blocked off different roads to manage numbers and we had that sense of being inescapably stuck in a really large crowd that moved very slowly.
We found the spot we wanted and spent three hours of so dancing and meeting people and generally mixing it with a flowing group of revellers in front of some very large speakers.
Around 7 the music stopped and the thousands of people all wandered off to the transport points or their after parties. I didn’t witness any trouble at all on the way out. We bought some chicken and sat on the canal for an hour or so till the worst of the crowds cleared and then caught a not ridiculously full train back home.
Going on my standard device for measuring crowds at festivals (the queue for the toilets) I thought there were less people this year than last; might have been the sunny weather last year that brought everyone out.
Whilst buying a kebab yesterday I read in one of the tabloids that there had been around 600 or so arrests or incidents at the carnival but that there was not a single stabbing or shooting or other major horrible drama. I think that’s a cause for a huge celebration. All we hear about in the media is how dangerous London is, about how terrible are the gangs and the stabbings and the drugs. But here we have the biggest street party in Europe, filled with all those young people we are told to be scarred of, and there is almost no crime.
Video link:

Fro people in my age group or younger feared to go carnival as most gangs of youths went to fight or rob buti went never the less with a group of my mates and we enjoyed it the police calmed and volience before it erupted and where kindly stoppin and searching everyone they thought were suspicious which showed they where alert however they also got involed posing for photographs, dancing and that gave it a community feel as everyone was dancing and getting along

I usually go carnival every two years and I feel this year there was much more people to what I am used to and about 15% were police.
The floats were great as usual especially choicefm and rampage. This years carnival has to be one of my favourite because the one and only Kano acknowledge me and waved to me from the choicefm float which was my highlight of the carnival. Then he performed for a hot second which felt like ages, cause it was that good.
Then at rampage which is always over crowded, is actually my favourite part of carnival because its like a massive street rave. This year Lloyd performed which was ok if you like his music, Busy signal also performed which was great but the crowd got a little hype but i didnt mind cause I was in my own world anyway trying to create some space to dance. Also Sway performed.
Trying to leave carnival is the worst part of carnival. Hundreds and Hundreds of people moving in the same direction at different paces, some high and some drunk is very frustrating.

I have experienced the carnival twice now and each time it has been a good experience, full of live entertainment and interesting music and food. A great day for all.

Went a couple of years ago having not been since a child. The crowds were so dense we saw only the tops of heads in the parade. It got really silly after a while and we got pushed and threatened. We tried to leave and moved along at a snails pace. lost half our friends and at one point I got incredibly scared. I was lifted off the ground by the crowd and was being carried along. I managed to stay with the last friend visible by hanging on to his backpack as I was carried along.
Never again!

The Carnival began several decades ago as a celebration by West Indies immigrants in the UK. It continues to be a huge street party (between 1 and 2 million visitors over two days), and it was a lot of fun watching the parade, eating roast chicken, and listening to the DJ soundsystems scattered through the otherwise posh neighbourhood.
The crowds are insane, but the parade is a real spectacle. It’s entertaining to see all the mobile soundsystems and the fabulous costumes roll by (so long as you can see). Everyone should go at least once.
I enjoy walking through the streets just off the parade route, to hear some good dub tunes or locate some tasty jerk chicken. It’s a full-​on party vibe for dozens of blocks in every direction.
The first day is family day, and not as mad as the second (family day was mad enough for me, thanks!).

Amazing costumes, music and Caribbean foods. You get a children’s parade the one day and an adults the other. I really don’t know how some of the children manage to carry their costumes around all day in the blistering heat, so impressed with them. If you wander to the food stands, you can even get a picture with the Reggae Reggae sauce guy and try his rice, peas and chicken! It’s a long walk round but you’re entertained all the way and it’s a slow-​moving parade, so you won’t miss much. It’s a wonderful weekend full of colour and smiles.

Update on May 29, 2008: I just started a German group (
) about the NHC Qyper meeting we are trying to organize.
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Original report (January 18, 2008):
For quite a while, I used to live in Cologne which is one of Germany’s carnival capitals but never really warmed up to the strange rituals performed by this city’s party people between November 11 and the day before Ash Wednesday each year. (More info at
.)
Two years ago, I finally encountered the kind of street party I can enjoy: the Notting Hill Carnival. I had wanted to visit it since I got into black music (funk, soul, hip hop, reggae, dancehall, soca, gospel, blues etc.). In 2006, I found a cheap flight to London which, as I found out months after I had bought the ticket, just happened to take me to town during carnival weekend.
And I became hooked instantly: 40 sound systems, hundreds of food stalls (many of them selling jerk chicken, my favourite Caribbean dish), up to 2 million people having fun (with very few altercations). What more can you want?
Since that magic August weekend, it’s one of my major goals in life to return to Notting Hill Carnival as often and as long as I can. :-)
For those who feel the same way, I started a Qype group dedicated to that event:

Maybe we can use the group to organize an international Qyper meeting around carnival time
Video link:

If you want a cultural day out full of colour, noise, drink, food and entertainment, not to mention lively crowds, you must get to the Notting Hill Carnival one year! It is overwhelming to all your senses in so many ways. There are SO many people, being one of the biggest carnivals in Europe, and so many performers that are in amazing costumes which some cost over £100 each to make. Don’t go to the normal stores for food and drink during the day, there are so many stalls with an amazing variety of tasty food that really puts you in the spirit of the carnival. There are also street parties and different styles of music to dance to and such a huge mix of people that you will be totally entertained long into the night!