Notting Hill Carnival, one of the biggest cultural events in the UK, is returning to London this weekend.
The annual carnival sees more than two million people descend on the west London borough over the August Bank Holiday weekend.
From parades and musical performances, to family-fun events and food stalls offering delicious food like Trinidadian roti, Guyanese pepper pot and Jamaican jerk chicken, it's a summer event not to be missed.
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Here is everything you need to know about the Notting Hill Carnival:
What is happening at Notting Hill Carnival 2025?
A better question might be what isn't happening at this year's Carnival? For those looking to immerse themselves into the beauty culture of the Caribbean, the Charlotte Mensah Braid Bar, which is located in the heart of the festivities on Portobello road will be offering carnival-goers various quick braid styles.
The Braid Bar will be open on Sunday August 24 and Monday 25 of August from 12pm-6pm, and prices are dependent on hairstyles and accessories.
On Sunday and Monday, the parades (which are approximately three and a half miles long) will begin at 10am, with the judging coming to an end around 6:30pm. While the Carnival officially ends at 7pm, after-parties are known to take place following the official proceedings in the area. We'll see you there...
What is the Notting Hill Carnival 2025 schedule?
Sunday August 24
One of the busiest days of the festival will welcome the J’Ouvert Carnival, which starts around 6am and will feature steel bands and African drummers.
The Notting Hill Carnival 2025 official opening ceremony will start at 10am, whilst the children’s parade starts at 10:30 am and will include performances from young people, family workshops and Caribbean food stalls.
Monday August 25
On Bank Holiday Monday, events begin around midday and will see more than 80 bands walk through the streets to entertain the crowds. Following the procession 40 sound systems are expected to continue bringing the music.
What's the Notting Hill Carnival line-up?
Over the years everyone from Sean Paul, Koffee and even Beyoncé have appeared at the festival.
Steel bands like Ebony and Mangrove, two of the oldest bands at Carnival, will make an appearance at the Carnival, as well as soundsystem must-sees like Channel One Soundsystem, Disya Jeneration, Gladdy Wax and Love TKO.
Do I need to buy a ticket for Notting Hill Carnival?
Not at all! The NHC parade is free for everyone (some family events are ticketed, though).
However, to take part in the parade, you need to be part of an authorised group. In order to attend the afterparties across the city, you'll likely need a ticket.
What is the Notting Hill Carnival?
The Notting Hill Carnival first began in the 1960s following the London Caribbean Carnival, which began at St Pancras Town Hall in January 1959, to celebrate West Indian culture and traditions in London.
It came after the Notting Hill race riots in the late 1950s, which involved racially motivated attacks by white nationalists, including a group called the Teddy Boys, who were critical of West Indian immigration to the North Kensington area and interracial relationships.
The Carnival, known at the beginning as the 'Notting Hill Fayre', was founded by Notting Hill resident Rhaune Laslett as a way of celebrating the integration of the neighbourhood’s diverse community. Laslett invited the musician Russell Henderson and his Trinidadian Steel Band to perform for the crowd at the first Carnival.
In its early days, around 500 people attended the Notting Hill Carnival, but it has since transformed into a world famous celebration attracting millions of celebrants.
‘There was no route, really – if you saw a bus coming, you just went another way,’ Henderson told the Guardian in 2015.
On an average year, Carnival goers may see up to 50,000 performers in the parade, numerous colourful floats, around 40 sound systems, 10 steel pan bans and live sets from the likes of musicians Rudimental and Paloma Faith.
The line-up for the Carnival isn’t usually announced until days before it begins, but it’s not just about the music. Delectable Caribbean cuisine is also sold from street vendors to hungry revellers.
The main parade usually involves 'mas bands' (meaning masquerade bands), dancers and musicians and stages like Horniman’s Stage and Powis Square Stage.
When does Notting Hill Carnival usually take place?
Notting Hill Carnival happens every year on the last weekend of August.
The ‘children's day’ commonly takes place on the Sunday and sees a vibrant parade especially targeted at children and young families.
Meanwhile, The Grand Finale – involving bands, floats and colourful Carnival celebrations – takes place on the Monday.
The celebrations usually kick off around 10.30am and finish from anything between 6.30pm to 8.30pm.
In 2019, a 72-second silence was held on the Saturday and Sunday at 3pm in memory of each of the 72 people who lost their lives as a result of the Grenfell Tower fire.
Where is Notting Hill Carnival?
The Carnival moves around the streets of London W10 and W11 but is largely located in the areas of Notting Hill, Ladbroke Grove, Westbourne Grove, Westbourne Park and Kensal Road.
The parade circuit is approximately 5.6 kilometres (3.5 miles) long and loops around from Ladbroke Grove and ends around Westbourne Park.
What is the Notting Hill Carnival route?
The official parade makes its way through Notting Hill, North Kensington and Westbourne Green.
Along the way, it will pass along the river by Kensal Road, where lives stages and food stalls can be found, and a safety zone is usually located on the Westway.
Several First Aid points and communal toilets (think portaloos and urinals) are also dotted around the area, but toilets have been known to be an issue with celebrants over the years, given the large number of attendees at the event.
As a result, some residents in the area have been known to allow festival-goers access to toilets in their homes for a small fee. Find out more information about toilets at the Carnival here.
You can check the official Carnival website for full details and download the official app to see the Notting Hill Carnival map.
Where are the nearest tube stations to the carnival?
It’s worth noting that during the weekend of the Carnival, stations will likely be exit only and can become overly crowded.
The Tube stops close to the Carnival include:
- Holland Park
- Notting Hill Gate
- Royal Oak
- Westbourne Park
- Ladbroke Grove
Buses may also be disrupted but extra services are usually put on.
