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In January 1959, Trinidadian human rights activist Claudia Jones organised a showcase for Afro-Caribbean talent to unify the community. Dubbed Claudia’s Caribbean Carnival, it grew into an annual celebration held in local town halls and community centres until Claudia died in 1964. Then in 1966, Notting Hill resident Rhaune Laslett organised the first street festival and invited Russell Henderson, who had played for Claudia Jones in 1959. He led a steel pan procession of locals up and down Portobello Road – and attracted quite a crowd.

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From these humble beginnings, the Notting Hill Festival has grown into Europe’s largest street party. An incredible multicultural celebration of dance, music and costumes, this year promises a big and vibrant celebration in W10’s streets. With attendees expected to soar past one million, and tens of thousands of participants from across the globe, the annual Notting Hill Carnival continues to cement its place as a colourful cornerstone of London culture.

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Over the August bank holiday weekend, London’s Notting Hill Carnival – Europe’s largest street festival – welcomes more than a million visitors in a huge celebration of Caribbean arts, heritage and culture. Thousands of performers and participants show off their incredible bejewelled costumes in the parade and dance to the sounds of steel bands playing calypso, reggae and salsa. This is our quick guide to the Notting Hill Carnival.

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Notting Hill Carnival weaves through West London, W10: Notting Hill, Ladbroke Grove, Westbourne Park, and Kensal Road. The parade route usually begins on Great Western Road and continues along Chepstow Road and Westbourne Grove before arriving at Ladbroke Grove.

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While Carnival has been a longstanding Caribbean tradition following the abolition of slavery, Notting Hill Carnival has its own flavour and backstory unique to London. Buckle down for a super fast history lesson folks: at the time when it was established, Notting Hill had one of the most concentrated populations of West Indians in the country.
The hero of Notting Hill Carnival is the music. Traditional carnival music is Calypso and Soca, but it’s the reggae and dancehall sound systems that pull the crowds. More recently, Dub, Funk and House music have made their way into the Carnival music hall of fame, so there really is something for everyone. True Londoners will know exactly what sound systems they want to go to, and will have done their research to know exactly who’s playing, when, and in what location – and will make their way there super early to get a good spot. If you’re heading to Carnival for the first time, try to get an eclectic mix of everything that’s on offer, spending roughly half an hour at each spot to get the true Carnival music cocktail experience.

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Notting Hill Carnival once attracted up to two million attendees, making it the second largest street festival in the world, behind only the Carnival held in Trinidat and Tobago itself.
Sunday is mainly for children's performances, and Monday is the main holiday. This year, an estimated 1 million guests attended the festival, as large as a sea of ​​people filling the streets of Notting Hill.

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You’ll have never seen more vibrant colours and enthralling designs than with the costumes at Carnival. The extravagant costumes of the traditional dancers is part of the thrilling spectacle of the whole event, and it will definitely have you thinking it’s time to up your game with your own wardrobe. Feathers, diamantes, masks and capes are just a few of the elaborate things you’ll see as Samba, Dancehall and Soca dancers make their way down the streets in an exciting display, alongside huge, vivid floats. Just make sure your camera has enough memory on it…

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The festival is an occasion for African-Caribbean communities living in the UK to celebrate their own cultures and identities.
The Notting Hill festival has its roots in Caribbean carnivals in the early 19th century, especially in Trinidat, when people celebrated the abolition of slavery and the slave trade.