Visitors lucky enough to be in London at the end of August have a fantastic opportunity to experience the excitement and colour of a traditional Caribbean street celebration at the Notting Hill Carnival. It takes place in West London on Sunday 28th and Monday 29th August and is a heady mix of music and costumed parade together with a feast of authentic Caribbean food. As many as a million people will attend the Carnival over its two days and there is a wide selection of hotels in London from which you can choose the ideal base for your stay.
The Notting Hill Carnival originated in 1964 when the local Afro-Caribbean communities came together to celebrate their culture and traditions. Its roots go back to the early 19th century when Caribbean people, especially those in Trinidad, celebrated the abolition of slavery. A special feature is the gloriously elaborate and colourful costumes worn by thousands of participants in the street parade which takes place throughout the day from morning till evening.
One of the cornerstones of the whole Carnival experience is music and scores of bands participate. Traditional music from Calypso, Soca and steel bands is still very much a feature, although increasingly these musicians have to compete with the pulsating beats from the many static sound systems, set up in the street all over the Carnival area. Nobody seems to mind the differing styles, though you may have difficulty holding a conversation when you're close to one of the amps! Over the years, many internationally famous musicians have appeared on stage at the Carnival and there have been performances by Eddie Grant, Jamiroquai and Burning Spear to name but three.
You're bound to build up a healthy appetite with all this partying and you'll never be far from sustenance. There are literally hundreds of stalls selling authentic Caribbean cuisine. You could try curried goat, rice and peas or chicken jerk. Some dishes are rather spicy, so check with the stall holder if you're not used to this.
The costumes worn by people taking part in the parade are nothing short of spectacular. Huge head dresses are constructed of wire and fibreglass and the dancers are clothed in every colour of the rainbow. Different community groups spend months planning their themes and compete to outdo each other in terms of imagination and extravagance.
With the huge crowds that gravitate towards the Carnival, it will come as no surprise that parking will be nigh on impossible in the area. Using public transport is the only realistic means of travelling to Notting Hill on the two days of celebration. Many local tube stations will have opening restrictions, in fact Ladbroke Grove station will be closed for the whole two days. However, you can get to the area using alternative stations. Notting Hill Gate, Royal Oak, Westbourne Park and Latimer Road will be open. Or you could use one of the many bus routes to reach the area. A special leaflet detailing both bus and tube arrangements during the Carnival is available from tube stations. Alternatively, many hotels in London will have staff able to help you with travel arrangements to get to Notting Hill during the festivities.
Keeping safe is something you should give a little thought to and there are a few common sense guidelines to follow. Firstly, make sure you and other members of your group have decided on a meeting up point to go to should you get separated. Also decide in advance when you're going to leave and how you'll travel back. Perhaps the best advice here is to arrive early and depart early too. Police caution that there will be pickpockets operating in the crowds, so keep your belongings under close watch. It is a good idea to take only enough cash to pay for what you'll need during the day.
Many hotels in London already have bookings from guests who are visiting the Notting Hill Carnival, so it is a very good idea to book up quickly. A visit to this spectacular celebration of Caribbean culture will be a highlight of any stay in London.
The Notting Hill Carnival originated in 1964 when the local Afro-Caribbean communities came together to celebrate their culture and traditions. Its roots go back to the early 19th century when Caribbean people, especially those in Trinidad, celebrated the abolition of slavery. A special feature is the gloriously elaborate and colourful costumes worn by thousands of participants in the street parade which takes place throughout the day from morning till evening.
One of the cornerstones of the whole Carnival experience is music and scores of bands participate. Traditional music from Calypso, Soca and steel bands is still very much a feature, although increasingly these musicians have to compete with the pulsating beats from the many static sound systems, set up in the street all over the Carnival area. Nobody seems to mind the differing styles, though you may have difficulty holding a conversation when you're close to one of the amps! Over the years, many internationally famous musicians have appeared on stage at the Carnival and there have been performances by Eddie Grant, Jamiroquai and Burning Spear to name but three.
You're bound to build up a healthy appetite with all this partying and you'll never be far from sustenance. There are literally hundreds of stalls selling authentic Caribbean cuisine. You could try curried goat, rice and peas or chicken jerk. Some dishes are rather spicy, so check with the stall holder if you're not used to this.
The costumes worn by people taking part in the parade are nothing short of spectacular. Huge head dresses are constructed of wire and fibreglass and the dancers are clothed in every colour of the rainbow. Different community groups spend months planning their themes and compete to outdo each other in terms of imagination and extravagance.
With the huge crowds that gravitate towards the Carnival, it will come as no surprise that parking will be nigh on impossible in the area. Using public transport is the only realistic means of travelling to Notting Hill on the two days of celebration. Many local tube stations will have opening restrictions, in fact Ladbroke Grove station will be closed for the whole two days. However, you can get to the area using alternative stations. Notting Hill Gate, Royal Oak, Westbourne Park and Latimer Road will be open. Or you could use one of the many bus routes to reach the area. A special leaflet detailing both bus and tube arrangements during the Carnival is available from tube stations. Alternatively, many hotels in London will have staff able to help you with travel arrangements to get to Notting Hill during the festivities.
Keeping safe is something you should give a little thought to and there are a few common sense guidelines to follow. Firstly, make sure you and other members of your group have decided on a meeting up point to go to should you get separated. Also decide in advance when you're going to leave and how you'll travel back. Perhaps the best advice here is to arrive early and depart early too. Police caution that there will be pickpockets operating in the crowds, so keep your belongings under close watch. It is a good idea to take only enough cash to pay for what you'll need during the day.
Many hotels in London already have bookings from guests who are visiting the Notting Hill Carnival, so it is a very good idea to book up quickly. A visit to this spectacular celebration of Caribbean culture will be a highlight of any stay in London.
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