Attracting up to two million people per year, the Notting Hill Carnival is the largest street festival in Europe. The event celebrates the British West Indian community and has been taking place since 1966. It became distinctly Caribbean in 1976, having had a broader multicultural theme during the decade before.
If you love a street-party atmosphere, going to the Notting Hill Carnival should be high on your list of things to do. The event takes place over two days around Notting Hill, Ladbroke Grove and Westbourne Park, covering about one square mile of West London.
What to See and Do
Aside from its colourful procession, the Notting Hill Carnival features excellent live entertainment, including soca music, reggae, dancehall, dub, jungle, and salsa. Steel bands compete in the Notting Hill Carnival Panorama contest.
A feast of Caribbean food is yours to enjoy, too, at the Notting Hill Carnival. Try some jerk chicken or pork, fried plantains, Jamaican patties, rice and peas, roti or saltfish fritters.
Is the Notting Hill Carnival Safe?
Although there have been a few incidents in the past, that threatened the future of the Notting Hill Carnival, only a tiny fraction of people fall victim to criminal activity. Some crime is inevitable at such a huge event, but you can make yourself safer by taking a few precautions:
Avoid taking anything valuable that you don’t need, and don’t carry large amounts of cash. Don’t take camera gear that you’re unlikely to use
Any valuables that you do carry should be kept at your side or front (i.e. within view), so they can’t be stolen by stealth. Don’t keep smartphones or money in your back pocket.
Be wary of joining slow-moving, dense crowds of people, which are a happy hunting ground for thieves.
Agree on a place to meet friends or family if you get separated since mobile phone coverage might be flaky among crowds of people
More than anything, the Notting Hill Carnival offers a chance to enjoy yourself. No other European event is quite like it.
