Notting Hill Carnival visitor guide
Wednesday, 22 August 2012 12:51 PM
The Notting Hill Carnival is Europe’s biggest street festivals
Every year the streets of west London come alive with steel bands, calypso music and colourful costumes for one of Europe’s biggest street festivals – the Notting Hill Carnival (August 26-27th).
Here’s our guide to the weekend:
How to get there:
The carnival starts at 9am both days so make sure to leave yourself plenty of time to get there as travel to and from Notting Hill will be heavily congested.
Tube: Notting Hill Gate will be Exit Only on August 26-27th between 12pm and 7pm and the Circle and District line trains will not stop at this station during these hours. Ladbroke Grove station will be closed throughout the carnival; Latimer Road will be closing at11.30pm both days; Royal Oak will be Exit Only on August 26-27th between 11am and 6pm and Westbourne Park will be Exit Only on August 26-27th between 11am and 6pm. Other nearby stations include: Paddington, Bayswater, High Street Kensington, Holland Park, Queen’s Park and Shepherd’s Bush.
Bus: Some bus routes will be disrupted or on diversion. Check the map on the TFL website for more information.
Music and the parade:
Music is at the heart of Notting Hill Carnival and visitors will be able to enjoy traditional steel bands, Soca & Calypso music as well as more contemporary sounds from Reggae to R&B, Funk, House, Dub and much more.
Time Out London has produced a handy map detailing the parade route and the different soundsystems located around the carnival to cater for all musical tastes. You can view their map by clicking here.
After parties:
If you’re not quite ready to head home after a fun day at the Notting Hill Carnival then fear not – there are after parties all over the city to keep you partying into the early hours.
The best Caribbean DJs in the world will keep you dancing all night at the O2 Academy Islington, which is hosting The Hot Caribbean Carnival after party. With a live PA by the Barbados megastar Lil Rick and two rooms of Caribbean sounds, revellers will be well and truly Calypso-ed out . Sunday August 26th; tickets cost £12.
The Lostbahnhof Carnival after party is back again this year with forward-thinking DJs Fools & Rushmore and Mr Beatnick & Claws For? among others. Sunday August 26th; tickets cost £7
Further south at the Brixton Clubhouse, Gilles Peterson will be DJ-ing ‘Up on the Roof’ – a daytime terrace party in the heart of Brixton. Expect a diverse fusion of everything from soul & disco to house & hip-hop. Sunday August 26th; tickets cost £12
Out east in Shoreditch, East Village’s club night Inner Rhythm is holding its Notting Hill Carnival special on Sunday 26th August and promises lively house music for just £4. For the bank holiday Sunday following Carnival, Best Works’ Andre Lodemann heads over from Berlin for another special night. Sunday August 26th; tickets cost £4
For a full list visit ViewLondon.co.uk.
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