West London prepares to welcome some 50,000 parade performers this weekend as over two million people descend on the technicolour roads of Notting Hill for London’s largest street party.
Notting Hill Carnival is just days away, returning bigger and better than ever for 2025’s exuberant festivities.
The community-led celebration of history and Caribbean culture started in 1966, and the iconic parade champions a procession of dancing to soca and calypso music. Three days of live stages with a lineup of steel and mas bands, elaborate floats and dozens of sound systems greet carnival attendees sparkling in prints, patterns and neon brights.
Sunday’s family day draws crowds of excited children while Monday’s adult parade puts on the ultimate show – both events are free to attend.
Food stalls pepper the route with offerings of fiercely flavoured Jamaican jerk chicken and Trinidadian roti, and pre- and post-carnival parties keep the good vibes going well into the night.
Here’s our guide to the Notting Hill festivities, including where to go, how to get there and where to stay if you’re visiting.
Read more: The most beautiful places in London you have to visit
When is it?
Notting Hill Carnival 2025 spans the August bank holiday weekend from Saturday 23 to Monday 25 August, and most of the celebrations are free for anyone to attend.
Saturday 23 August
Saturday is the Panorama Steel band competition, a national contest to crown the best from a ten-minute pan composition.
From 4-11pm at Emslie Horniman’s Pleasance Park, W10 3DH, tickets £20pp.
Sunday 24 August
J’Ouvert – the traditional celebration to ring in the carnival with colourful paints and powders before sunrise – is back for 2025, starting at Sainsbury’s by Canal Way Roundabout from 6am to 9am.
The carnival opening ceremony officially kicks off at 10am on Sunday at MAS Judging Point on Great Western Road.
New this year, the Judging Zone Grandstand is open to the public with tickets available from £30.
Sunday is “family day” with a children’s parade dancing the streets, Dutty Mas – a mayhem of brightly coloured paints or even melted ‘chocolate’ – and live sound systems of reggae and house music.
At 3pm on both Sunday and Monday, a 72-second silence…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at The Independent Travel…