What to expect from Notting Hill Carnival

Notting Hill Carnival will be bringing a celebration of culture and colour to the streets of West London on Monday 28th August.One of London's proudest traditions, it sees freedom and Caribbean culture become loud and proud with everyone invited down to come and get involved. We thought we'd give you a bit of a guide of what to expect at this year's edition.

Steel band galore

On the Saturday of August bank holiday, the festivities will begin two days before the parade. A range of steel bands will be going head to head in a competition where only one winner can be crowned. It will be an open event where people can enjoy the music and street food will be provided too.

The steel pan percussion is arguably one of the most satisfying instruments to listen to and you'll be able to hear them in perfect harmony. You can find out more about what goes on during the Saturday here.

Family day

The Sunday activities are all about getting the family together. The official opening ceremony will take place before the children's day parade takes place, where the next generation of carnival-goers will head down the parade route. This will be your first chance to have a joyous dance in the street.

Sound systems will take over later in the day as well as stages of live music. Make sure you check out the full programme here.

The actual parade

The party atmosphere is amped up to the max on the Monday, where a host of bands and live performers have been practicing for a whole year to nail their performances. Watch all the floats go by across the route and dress up in costume if you wish to fit in with the sea of colour in front of you.

The route itself is a loop that starts near Westbourne Park tube station, heading down Westbourne Park Road before turning up Ladbroke and back via Kensel. It is estimated that two million people will descend upon the carnival this year so be patient as you go through the crowd. 

You usually expect to see 50,000 performers taking part in the festivities, with each float and band offering something different, providing you with hours of dancing with your friends. Make sure you stay hydrated and enjoy what is one of the most joyful days you'll ever have in London.

Check out our What's On Guide to discover even more rowdy raves and sweaty gigs taking place over the coming weeks and months. For festivals, lifestyle events and more, head on over to our Things To Do page or be inspired by the event selections on our Inspire Me page.