Notting Hill

Held annually in August, the Notting Hill Carnival draws upon the city’s Caribbean community to lead a street festival that attracts millions of visitors to the area. The traditional began in the 1950s, and is expanded to a national celebration to this day.

Formally beginning in the late 1950s, the event expanded from a traditional Afro-Caribbean celebration into an event that drew Londoners of all types. By the 1970s over 100,000 people regularly attended the event, even drawing the support of the British Royalty as a testament to England’s underlying diversity. As the event has expanded to feature live music, dancing and local merchants, the Carnival came under the care of the Notting Hill Carnival Trust, which worked with the London Development Agency and government officials to help ensure public safety.

Leading off the event, the National Champions Steel Band competition marks the musical highlight of the event – steel bands compete for the top prize, and bring the area to live with the rhythms of traditional music. In recent years, the band competitions have expanded to other related genres, such as calypso and soca music, as well. The formal Carnival begins with a family parade, featuring traditional Caribbean costumes, as well as floats, bands and processions. Groups from throughout London travel to the idea to participate in the parade, which carries over into a complete 3 mile event on Monday, the final day of the carnival.