Notting Hill Carnival: London's Caribbean street party

Notting Hill Carnival is Europe's biggest street festival, celebrating Caribbean culture in west London over the August bank holiday weekend. Costumed mas bands, steel pan orchestras and booming sound systems fill the streets, along with the smell of jerk chicken.

Fun facts

• The carnival's roots go back to an indoor Caribbean carnival organised by activist Claudia Jones in 1959.
• The first street event in Notting Hill took place in 1966.
• Sunday is the family day, while Monday features the main parade.

What to see

• The costumed mas bands parading on Monday.
• The Panorama steel band competition on Saturday.
• Portobello Road Market with its antiques and street food.

What to taste

• Jerk chicken, spicy grilled chicken cooked on oil-drum barbecues.
• Curry goat with rice and peas.
• Rum punch, a fruity Caribbean drink.

What to do

• Dance at the sound systems along the route.
• Join J'ouvert early in the morning with paint and powder.
• Relax in nearby Kensington Gardens.

💡 Tip: Some nearby tube stations close or are exit only, so walk from Paddington or Ladbroke Grove. The Elizabeth line links Heathrow with Paddington.