Notting Hill Carnival

Carnival fever sets London on fire on 24 to 25 August in a blaze of Caribbean spirit as extravagantly costumed dancers, calypso and soca musicians, giant sound systems and steel bands are joined by over a million revellers of all ages.

Held since 1966, and originally a local affair for west London's homesick Caribbean community, this annual event has evolved into Europe's biggest street party. Sunday is officially Children's Day, but there are family and children of all ages throughout the weekend enjoying the bright colours of the floats and the dancers' feathered costumes. Adults can shake and grind at dozens of stages and moving floats, including jazz-reggae, hip hop and Rockin' Blues acts, but there are tunes for all tastes, from house to dance.

The carnival’s three kilometre route takes in a huge area both in and around the Notting Hill vicinity, and can get very crowded, so be prepared for an exhausting day out, but for anyone who loves a party, the Notting Hill Carnival remains the absolute highlight of the London summer!

Plan your Visit to the 2008 Notting Hill Carnival

Accommodation:

The 2008 Carnival is expected to be as big and busy as ever, and you can book
hotels in and around the Notting Hill area for close proximity to the fun.

For accommodation throughout the rest of London, check our London Hotels Guide for a complete list of accommodation throughout the capital.

Getting There:

From Central London:
Visitors can take the London Underground to the carnival areas local tube stations of Notting Hill and Bayswater, but during the carnival weekend, many stations are closed or operating ‘exit only’ policies, so revellers should check before they travel. Local buses also serve the area from other London boroughs and are subject to special diversions throughout the weekend.

From Abroad:
Visitors can book flights to London with partner ebookers. Visitors from North America can book flights to London here.