Notting Hill Carnival

The Notting Hill Carnival (now in its 51st year) is Europe’s largest street festival. Up to 2 Million people attend the weekend end long festivities in the leafy West End borough of London. The Notting Hill Carnival is a vivid spectacle celebrating the cultures and traditions of London’s Afro-Caribbean communities.

The Notting Hill Carnival is spread across the August Bank Holiday Weekend (Sat 26 Aug — Mon 28 Aug) with various celebrations and activities for all ages. The Family Day is held on the Sunday, allowing kids to participate and experience the Carnival atmosphere.

The Bank Holiday Monday is where the main parade is held and where the true carnival spirit kicks in. It’s a spectacular procession featuring innumerable community groups, clubs and some 60 bands, all exuberant, energetic and dressed in costume. Away from the procession, 38 static sound systems scattered throughout Notting Hill will broadcast diverse genres of music and accommodate performances.

Many revellers at this years Notting Hill Carnival wore green to the event as a mark of respect for those who died in the Grenfell Tower tragedy on June 14.

As the first day of the carnival got underway, multi-faith leaders from across London, including Mayor Sadiq Khan, freed birds into the sky amid prayers for peace over the party weekend.

The streets of Notting Hill paused for a minute’s silence at 3pm in respect for those who died in the blaze, and many were photographed with their heads bowed as they paid their respects.

Performers were also encouraged to lower their music when travelling past the burnt out tower