On the last weekend of August a new edition of the Notting Hill Carnival will take place in London.
As its name suggests, the carnival takes place on the streets of London’s Notting Hill neighborhood and attracts more than 2 million participants and spectators each year, making it the busiest street festival in Europe.
The Notting Hill Carnival has been held since 1966 and its origins date back to efforts to create harmony between local residents and Caribbean emigrants who arrived in London after World War II. In the 1950s there were several racially motivated riots in London and there were several cases of racism and xenophobic violence.
The main event of the Notting Hill Carnival is a parade of floats, troupes and musical bands through different streets of the famous west London neighborhood. Many people who attend the carnival only go to see the parade. But in truth the carnival is a much bigger party, and in different areas of the neighborhood huge sound systems are installed, each one with a different type of music. There are also many food stalls on various streets in the area. Thus, almost the entire neighborhood is transformed into the largest street festival in the country and many people who go to Notting Hill do not go to see the parade but to the great party that is held there.
Practical Information
This year 2019 the Notting Hill Carnival will take place on Sunday the 25th and Monday the 26th of August (in England Monday the 26th is a public holiday). Sunday is family day, with the floats and parade focused on children and families. Monday is the main day and for adults.
-On Sunday the opening ceremony will take place at 10 in the morning and the events will take place until 5 in the afternoon.
-On Monday – the main day – the parade and events will take place between 10:30 in the morning and 8:30 at night.
-The parade passes through Kensal Road, Golborne Road, Elkstone Road, Great Western Road, Chepstow Road, Westbourne Grove and Ladbroke Grove. One of the best places to watch the parade is on Ladbroke Grove Street.
-The closest tube stations to Ladbroke Grove Street are Notting Hill Gate and Holland Park.
-Ladbroke Grove tube station will be closed all day on both days of the carnival.
-Notting Hill station will be enabled for departure only (between 11:00 and 19:00) and only the red line (Central) will operate there. The green and yellow lines (District and Circle) will not stop at Notting Hill Gate.
-Holland Park station will close at 6:00 p.m.
