The Notting Hill Carnival is the most colourful of all the annual events in London. It has taken place since 1966 in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea during the August bank holiday Monday and the preceding Sunday, and in some years also Saturday.
Unlike most local festivals, the Notting Hill Carnival has nothing to do with English culture and is celebrated by the Afro-Caribbean community. The main features include vivid national costumes and traditional flavorful foods, including curried rice and peas, jerk chicken, fried plantains, and lots of rum punch. Enjoy an all-time favorite or try something new at over 300 stalls.
Notting Hill Carnival 2024 Program
On Saturday, the program of events is generally scheduled for the evening from 4 pm to 11 pm. The UK National Panorama Steel Band Competition features seven bands playing a ten-minute composition from memory—no sheet music is permitted. Sunday's program covers the entire day from 6 am to 7 pm: it's free Families and Children's Day, featuring Children’s Parade and Carnival and Adults ‘Dutty Mas.’ The festivities culminate on Monday between 12 pm and 7 pm, with the free-to-attend Adult Parade as the climax of all merriments.
Carnival History
This street festival originated in the mid-1960s when the Afro-Caribbeans of London decided to celebrate their culture despite all the racial misunderstandings at the time. This joyous Caribbean street party is one of the most popular events in the capital.
The Notting Hill Carnival claims to be one of the world's most attended festivals featuring around 2 million visitors annually. During the carnival, the streets of London are naturally packed. It is recommended to arrive and leave the Notting Hill area early to avoid the busiest hours.
