The Notting Hill Carnival parade is one of the Summer Bank Holiday’s crowning jewels.
Every year on the August Bank Holiday Monday, scores of people take to the streets of west London to celebrate all things Afro and Indo Carribbean.
If you’re one of the two million people planning to join the vibrant parades, dance to pulsating beats, and indulge in mouthwatering street food this weekend, then here’s everything you need to know about what routes to follow to stay on top of the biggest street party in Europe
The Notting Hill Carnival takes place in the streets of west London and primarily spans the neighbourhoods of Notting Hill, Ladbroke Grove, and Westbourne Park.
Celebrations start on Saturday, August 24 and continue until August 26, with the main parade taking place on Bank Holiday Monday and spanning around three and a half miles, taking place over most of W10.
Although you can join in on the fun at any point along the route, the parade starts near Westborne Grove Tube Station at 9:30am and heads down Great Western Road, making its way through Westbourne Park Road, Chepstow Road and then up to Ladbroke Grove.
You can easily reach the Carnival area by taking the Tube, although some stations will open and close at different times in order to deal with the increased traffic. The affected stations are as follows:
Buses will operate extra services during the festivities, although a number of routes will face diversions throughout the weekend.
The following routes will be affected by diversions: 2, 7, 16, 18, 23, 27, 28, 31, 36, 46, 52, 70, 94, 98, 148, 205, 220, 228, 295, 316, 328, 332, 414, 452, N7, N16, N18, N28, N31, N98, N205, and N207.
The first event of the weekend comes courtesy of the UK National Panorama Steel Band Competition, which will take place between 4pm and 11pm on Saturday, August 24 at Emslie Horniman’s Pleasance Park, W10 3DH.
Among the acts competing this year are the Croydon Steel Orchestra, Mangrove Steelband, Metronomes Steel Orchestra, Real Steel and defending champions Ebony Steelband.
On Sunday, the Official Opening Ceremony will take place between 10am and 10.30am at MAS Judging Point, Great Western Road.
This will be followed by the Children’s Day Parade, Dutty/Fun Mas, and Sounds Systems from 12pm to 7pm.
There will also be two live stages on the day – Red Bull Selector at Emslie Horniman’s Pleasance Park, W10 5DH, and Powis Square Stage at Powis Square, W11 2AY. Both will run from 12pm to 7pm.
The Red Bull Selector will allow carnival goers to vote for how the set is played using red and blue voting tools, while boasting a lineup which includes Lil Silva, Shy One, Izzy Bossy, Sir DJ Corey, Jordss B2B p-rarrel, Heartless Crew, Frisco & DJ Oblig, Alicaì Harley and DJ Tate.
The main parade will take place on Bank Holiday Monday, and will be accompanied by sound systems playing from 12pm to 7pm.
BBC Radio 1’s Kenny Allstar & Friends are confirmed at one of the live stages, along with dancehall superstars DJ Larni and Rachel Anson and Native Soundsystem.
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