Notting Hill Carnival, United Kingdom

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What is Notting Hill Carnival?

The Notting Hill Carnival is an annual celebration that has taken place in the city of London since 1966 every August for two days. The celebration is run by members of the British West Indian community and is currently consideredthe largest street festival in the world. The Carnivals include both the Caribbean community and the Afro-descendant community located in the London area and the various adjacent neighborhoods..

Although Notting Hill Carnival is officially held on Sunday and Monday, it has some Pre-Carnival events in which sometropical band battles and competitions and of course, day and night carnival parties take place.

 

We invite you to learn all about the Notting Hill Carnival in England, United Kingdom.

 

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When is Notting Hill Carnival

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Notting Hill Carnivals are usually held on the last days of August, comprising 2 days of festivities, usually Sunday and Monday. TheNotting Hill Carnivals will take place from approximately August 29th to August 30th.

In addition, the day before the official start of the carnivals, there are various pre-carnival events and contests that are also worth visiting.

 

 

History of the Notting Hill Carnivals

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During the summer of 1958, some demonstrations of racism took place in west London, specifically directed towards the Afro-Caribbean community in the area. These demonstrations led to several riots that lasted 3 days, resulting in hundreds being injured and arrested.

As a response to what happened, a Carnival of the Caribbean was held on January 30, 1959, which was held in private halls and televised by the BBC, was organized by Trinidadian journalist and activist Claudia Jones. This Carnival was held with the intention of rejecting the acts provoked that year. In addition, it was also intended to serve as a vehicle for the cultural development of the people who had been victims of the demonstrations. The carnival was held with Caribbean elements, as well as a cabaret-style event. It also featured calypso musical events, steel drum bands, abeauty contest and a Jump-Up to end the celebration.

Some years later other important events occurred that gave beginnings to the carnivals, one of them was the “hippie” festival in Notting Hill. This festival was one of themost diverse events in Notting Hill, whose purpose was to promote the cultural unity of the city. The event began to absorb other elements, some of which consisted of Caribbean bands and parades. In addition, it also began to integrate dancers and spectators.

In 1973 it consolidateda parade route and steel drum bands with costumes that participated in the street festivals. In addition, it also integrated sound systems and various mobile floats, becoming a major event by 1975. The following year it had established itself as a Caribbean event par excellence and hundreds of thousands of people attended during this time.

The following years, the carnival was affected by a large series of riots, accompanied by demonstrations against the city police. The reason for the conflicts was the community felt that they were under constant harassment and even that a way was being sought to ban carnivals in the city. During this time, Prince Charles was one of the few public figures who publicly supported the carnivals..

In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, the Mayor of the City of London considered formulating parameters to safeguard the future of the carnival festivities, so in 2002 it was decided to make a change in the parade route. In addition, the use of other spaces was considered for the congregation of the groups and not to obstruct the passage of residential areas.

In the 2005 edition, the Notting Hill Carnival had the participation of other elements of national carnivals, in this case the Bridgwater Carnival, including its distinctive lighting elements to the city. By 2006, the carnival was voted to be included in theIcons of England list.

Over time, the carnivals were modernized, making way for technology and including official guides, transport routes and mobile applications in their celebrations. Currently the Notting Hill Carnival is one of the most anticipated events in the city, taking months of preparations and contributing thousands of pounds sterling to the city each year.

 

Where is the Notting Hill Carnival

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Notting Hill Carnival is held in the city of London, England, United Kingdom. The city of London is the current capital of England, which occupies an area of 1,572 square kilometers. The city has a population of over 9 million people.

 

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How is the Notting Hill Carnival celebrated?

The Notting Hill Carnival has some events prior to theofficial start of the festivities, these comprise various parties, musical performances and some contests or Caribbean band battles.

Once the official carnival has begun, the first day of the carnivals takes place, which consists of a series of events made up of bands, floats, parades, entertainment and activities for children. This day focuses more on family fun and much quieter than the main day. However, it is still a day loaded with celebrations and joy. If you are looking for a little more relaxed celebrations or if you want to spend a more enjoyable day with your family, this day may be the most suitable for you.

Also, during this day takes place thecharacteristic J’ouvert of the Caribbean carnivals. This is a celebration that has a long tradition in the Caribbean and symbolizes the liberation of the slaves and the freedom they acquired after the abolition of slavery. For Caribbean people this is more than a simple celebratory event, it is part of their identity as afro descendants. During the celebration, they cover themselves with water, foam, earth, chocolate or other materials and go out to celebrate in the streets.

If you want to know more about tourism in this country I recommend this guide:.

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The second and final day of the Notting Hill Carnival is the most anticipated and features most festive elements. The great parade takes place on this day and starts at approximately 9:30 am. The streets of the city are filled with hundreds ofcolorful costumes with thousands of feathers and crystals that are accompanied by dozens of carriages and music trucks. Music bands take to the streets with their characteristic Caribbean rhythms and hundreds of dancers perform their distinctive choreographies that bring joy to all who attend the carnivals.

In addition, hundreds of food stands are set up in the streets, offering a great variety of Caribbean and international dishes.

At the end of each of the days of celebration, an After Party is held with the collaboration of variouss musicians and DJ’s. Celebrations that you definitely won’t want to miss if you decide to attend the Notting Hill carnivals.

 

Tips for going to the Notting Hill Carnivals

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If you decide to attend the Notting Hill Carnivals, we suggest the following:

Planning

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Plan your trip in advance, make a travel itinerary and book the accommodation of your choice in advance.

During carnival days, some subway stations are closed, so it is a good idea to plan a route to get to the epicenter of the event or use another type of transportation.

Pack comfortable clothes and shoes so you can enjoy the celebrations in the best possible way.

If you are traveling with children, you can take them to the carnival celebrations, they also deserve to be entertained and participate in one of the most famous carnivals in the world. Be sure to keep an eye on them at all times and don’t let them out of your sight, as carnivals are a very crowded event.

If you are attending with several people, be sure to arrange a meeting point before and after the festivities, as it is easy to lose sight of people due to the large concentration of people. Once the carnivals are over, you can meet your friends and family at some pre-arranged point.

Be sure to find a good space to see the parade and events in the front row. If possible, arrive early to have time to find the ideal spot.

We encourage you to live a full Caribbean experience, so it is imperative that you visit the food stalls and eat some traditional Caribbean dishes.

If you have the possibility, attend the party after the main events, these are called After Party and it is the perfect opportunity to meet more people and enjoy a little more of the Caribbean parties.

 

Safety

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The Notting Hill Carnival is an extremely popular celebration attended by thousands of people. We recommend you pay attention to your belongings or leave them in a safe place, either at home or in your hotel room.

 

Health

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Physical activity and heat can cause your body to dehydrate quickly, which is why we recommend you carry a thermos with water or make sure you drink water regularly. Also, it’s a good idea to apply sunscreen during the holidays to avoid sunburn.

 

Events at Notting Hill Carnival

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Prior to theofficial carnival celebrations, some musical events, contests and Caribbean music competitions take place.

On the first day of the festivities, the J’ouvert, which takes place at 6 am, is held. People take to the streets in an atmosphere of joy and festivity, walk the streets and then cover themselves completely with paint, chocolate, oil, water, earth and other materials.

After the J’ouvert, the opening ceremony is held at approximately 10 am. Likewise, the bandas already begin to prepare and take up their positions a few minutes before to start the parade at 11 am. The procession makes a lap around the carnival grounds and returns to its place of departure. Finally, the events and activities aimed at children take place.

 

 

The second and last day of carnival takes place the Grand Parade, the most awaited event of the carnivals. During this day, the streets are in an environment of total celebration that lasts from 12:00 pm until 7:00 pm. Thousands of dancers and musicians take to the streets of the city to perform a Caribbean show like no other. In addition, 30 different sound environments are installed for the complete enjoyment of visitors.

Also, each of the days of the Notting Hill Carnival has an After Party after the official activities. Do not hesitate to attend these parties to have a complete experience of the Caribbean carnivals.

 

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Notting Hill Carnival Parades

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Notting Hill Carnival contains two parades: the first occurs on the first day and is a little quieter than the grand parade, while the second and Grand Parade is a large carnival event. Both parades feature music bands, dancers and entertainment, but the second parade has a higher level of entertainment, with more band numbers and more sound environments.

 

Parade route

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The parade starts at Ladbroke Grove, then starts down Kensal Street, turns left for Elkstone Road and continues through Westbourne Park. It then makes its way along Great Western Road, crosses onto Westbourne Park Road and then Chepstone Road. Finally it passes through Westbourn Grove ending at Ladbroke Gardens.

 

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What to eat at Notting Hill Carnival

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Thanks to the fact that the carnivals have hundreds of food stalls, you have the opportunity to eat good Caribbean food. On the menu you can find the traditional Goat Stew or goat stew, which is made with goat meat and different spices and aromatic herbs. The meat is cooked for several hours and served hot with rice.

In addition, you can also try one of the most famous cocktails in the Caribbean, the Rum Punch. This cocktail is made with fruit juice such as orange, pineapple and lime, white and dark rum is added and grenadine is added to sweeten and give it that distinctive color. The cocktail is served chilled and sometimes accompanied with some fruit.

Some places that the city of London offers are: Fishers Restaurant & Takeaway, The Golden Chippy, The Victoria, The Prince of Wales and Fishcotheque. These places offer mainly traditional English food and some vegetarian options.

 

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Travel Insurance

 

From Carnavalesdelmundo.org we recommend to hire a good insurance to visit this carnival and to know the rest of the country. For being our readers we offer a 5% discount on all IATI insurance. Read more information about all insurance offers here:

 

 

What to see and do inside the Notting Hill Carnival

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Notting Hill Carnival offers a wealth of activities that you can’t miss. If you wish, you can attend the J’ouvert which takes place in the streets of the city at 6 am, before the official opening of the carnivals. Once the carnival begins, you can witness the dozens of musical groups that perform during the first day. This day is somewhat quieter than the second day, so if you want to attend a slightly quieter and more family-friendly event, we recommend attending the event on these days.

The second and last day of the carnivals is when all the magic of the carnivals happens. Thousands of dancers, bands and floats take to the streets of the city to bring you a complete spectacle of dance, music and bright colors. In addition, you have around 30 music environments that you can attend at your leisure. Finally, you have the food fair that offers you a great amount of Caribbean food of the best quality..

If you don’t want to complicate things, here you can book interesting excursions in Spanish in this city:.

 

What to see and do outside of Notting Hill Carnivals

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British Museum

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It is one of the most important museums in the city. Its facilities offer several spaces that you can walk through to see the different historical and cultural pieces. Inside the museum you can take different tours that will take you to different historical periods and cultures around the world.

 

National Gallery

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It is located in Trafalgar Square and has a large collection of paintings. It is a must visit if you are a lover of painting and art. Among its collections you can find pieces by Van Gogh and Leonardo da Vinci.

 

Churchill War Rooms

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It is a museum dedicated specifically to the Second World War. The museum contains various historical pieces, documentation, artifacts and paintings. The tour is approximately 90 minutes or 2 hours.

Also if you want to visit museums and important buildings in this city we recommend that you book your ticket in advance through Tiquets: .

 

Safety at Notting Hill Carnival

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London is as safe or dangerous a city as any other large city. While it is true that the city has problems with some crime, it remains generally a safe tourist site. We recommend that you follow basic security measures, keep your belongings in a safe place and contact the authorities if you notice any suspicious activity.

In addition, the Notting Hill Carnival site has the constant vigilance of the police force, 12,000 police officers are in the vicinity of the parade route to contain any problems that may occur.

Also, we recommend the following products to store your items safely:

 

 

Weather at Notting Hill Carnival

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During the Notting Hill Carnival festivities, the city of London boasts relatively pleasant weather. During the festivities, the temperature in the city ranges from 15 to 23 degrees Celsius.

 

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How to get to Notting Hill Carnivals

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How to get there by plane

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The nearest airport is London Heathrow International Airport, which receives a large number of airports from all over the world. Once here, you can use all the means of transport that the city of London has to offer.

We recommend buying airline tickets through Kiwi.com or Skyscanner where they are usually cheaper. More information on this link to review Kiwi.com..

 

How to get there by train

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From the airport you can take TfL Rail or Heathrow Express trains to the city center. The journey takes about 15 minutes. In addition, you can reach the city via Eurostar trains that depart from Paris several times a day.

 

How to get there by subway

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From the airport you can use the subway from Terminal 2 or 3 to Leicester Square Station.

 

How to get there by bus

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You can take the bus from the airport to the city center using the companies London Buses or Stagecoach Oxfordshire on their different lines. The journey time is approximately 55 minutes.

In addition, you can also reach the city from Ireland.

 

How to get there by car

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From the airport you can take the M4 road to the city. In addition, you can reach London from France via the Eurotunnel. However, the latter option is somewhat expensive.

 

Where to stay at Notting Hill Carnival

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Booking.com

 

 

Qbic Hotel London City

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3-star hotel 4.3 km from the city center. Rooms have TVs, private bathrooms and tea and coffee making facilities. Facilities offer bar, restaurant, breakfast, parking and free Wi-Fi.

 

Central Park Hotel

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3-star hotel 4 km from the city center. Rooms feature satellite TV, tea/coffee set and private bathroom. Facilities include breakfast, bar, restaurant, room service and free Wi-Fi.

 

Queens Park Hotel

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3-star hotel 4 km from the city center. Facilities include breakfast, room service and free wifi.

We recommend you use Booking.com to book hotels at a good price, check more information here:.

 

Booking.com

 

Thanks for reading

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