Double Dutch's Guide to Notting Hill Carnival

Notting Hill is a neighborhood with two distinct vibes. Most of the year, it’s the charming, quaint spot made famous by the likes of Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant. But for one weekend each year, it transforms into a lively, joyful celebration of Caribbean culture—and we absolutely love it!

What is Notting Hill Carnival?

If we had to hashtag Notting Hill Carnival, we’d choose #SteelBand #JerkChicken #RedStripe and #Caribbean. Launched in 1966, it’s one of the oldest street parties in the world, created by London’s Caribbean community. It celebrates their rich culture and contributions to the city. In 2024, organisers expect two million people to celebrate at the Carnival!

What to expect at Notting Hill Carnival

There’s so much to enjoy it’s hard to know where to start!

Carnival Custumes

At the heart of Carnival is Mas, it’s a uniquely Caribbean blend of masquerade, slave emancipation stories and satire, which originated in Trinidad. Every year at the parade organisers create 15,000 costumes, and they’re not just full of sequins and feathers. They convey a rich and often bitter history of oppression and resistance.

Steel Bands

Notting Hill Carnival is the ultimate place to experience the magic of steel bands. Central to Caribbean culture, the bands are integral to the carnival parade. There are 56 bands registered for the 2024 Carnival event. They have plenty to prove, with prizes for costumes, best band performance, composers and more.

Fancy joining in? You can sign up to participate with a Mas band—just be ready to attend some training sessions before the big day!

The UK’s largest steel band competition. Held at Emslie Horniman’s Pleasance Park, it starts at 4 PM on Saturday, August 24, and runs until midnight. Six bands compete to be the ultimate champion and then there’s a DJ set. This keeps the party flowing until the official Carnival opening at 10am on Sunday morning.

Sound Systems

Carnival wouldn’t be complete without its sound systems. 30 locations along the parade route blasting everything from House music and Reggae to Hip Hop, Dub, Jungle, and Samba. Whether you want to dance or just soak up the vibes, these sound systems run from noon to 7 PM on both Sunday and Monday.

J’Ouvert

J’Ouvert is a dawn event, happening between 6-9 AM on Sunday. Known as Dutty Mas or Fun Mas, it’s a lighthearted prelude to the official 10 AM opening ceremony. Expect a lot of paint, powder, and other colourful elements as you dance along with the crowd!

Jerk Chicken, Red Stripe and so Much More

Photo by Jopopz Tallorin on Unsplash

No Carnival is complete without the incredible array of Caribbean street food. With over 300 food stalls, you’ll find everything from jerk chicken and goat curry to rotis and, of course, Red Stripe beer.

Rum is the drink of choice at the Notting Hill Carnival. So take along some Double Dutch Pomegranate & Basil and make yourself a For The Life and Soul on the go!

Who’s headlining at the 2024 Notting Hill Carnival?

Who knows? In 2022 we had Sean Paul show up, Shaggy headlined in 2023. Back in 1999 it was Beyoncé who made a last minute appearance to the absolute delight of the crowds who went into a frenzy.

But the carnival organisers tend to keep their star guests under wraps until the last minute. So, as of right now, we don’t know exactly who to expect, which is part of the fun. Confirmed performers are Lil Silva and Shy One on the Red Bull stage, but there’s definitely more news to come.

What’s the timetable for Notting Hill Carnival 2024?

Unofficially, the 2024 carnival kicks off with the battle of the steel bands on Saturday 24 August.

Unofficial Timetable

Unofficially, J’Ouvert starts at around 6 AM on Sunday, August 25. It continues until about 9 AM on Canal Way in Ladbroke Grove.

Official Opening

The official opening ceremony starts at 10am on the Great Western Road. Launched by the Children’s Day parade. The Carnival Parade then sets off, running until around 5 PM.. On This day you can expect Mas, Salsa, Calypso and many other traditional Caribbean activities. Sunday is definitely family day, so if you’re visiting with kids, this is the day for you.

Monday's Timetable

Monday is the Adult's Day Parade which runs from 10.30am to 8.30pm across the same parade route. It’s the final day of Carnival, where the winning bands celebrate and the sound systems crank up the volume. Packed live stages in Emslie Horniman’s Pleasance Park and Powis Square with performances from noon until around 7 PM.

What’s the Notting Hill Carnival Parade route?

The parade route doesn’t change much, and it travels right across the W10 postcode, taking in much of West London. While we don’t get the final route until about a week before the event, it usually starts around Westbourne Grove tube. It then makes its slow way down the Great Western Road to Westbourne Park and then finishes in Ladbroke Grove.

Here is the official Notting Hill Map.

How should I prepare for Notting Hill Carnival?

Here are our top tips to help you make the most of this August Bank Holiday weekend:

Travel:

roads are closed for the whole weekend so catch the tube. Notting Hill Gate, Royal Oak and Westbourne Park are all ‘exit only’ stations between 11am and 6pm. Both Ladbroke Grove and Holland Park close on both Sunday and Monday.

Tickets:

Panorama - the steel band competition on Saturday evening is a ticketed event. £7 will get you an evening of unforgettable live music, with the competing bands sharing the income.

Notting Hill Carnival Parade itself is free - all are welcome.

If you want to be part of the parade, you have to be a member of one of the authorised groups. Or pay to join the procession.

If you want to party into the night, you’ll need a ticket for one of the many after-parties. These take place across West London.

What to Wear

Dress for success - be as funky as you like but remember to pack sun-screen in case it’s hot and a rain cape in case it chucks it down, which happened in 2018.

Hydrate

Carry some water, as it sells out really fast in the W10 area during Carnival.

Take Cash

Cash is vital for some vendors so make sure you’ve got some in your pocket.

Wet Wipes

Wet wipes are useful if you’re going to be eating street food, and also if you’re attending J’Ouvert. Because you can end up pretty plastered in paint and may want to wipe off your hands and face.

Be Prepared

Tissues are essential because you’re going to be using portaloos. Within a couple of hours they have always run out of toilet paper!

Enjoy Your Carnival Experience and Let Us Know if Our Carnival Guide has helped

Finally, and most importantly, enjoy! Notting Hill Carnival is a joyous occasion where everybody gets to mix, dance, sing and laugh together. It’s an amazing opportunity to let go and party, so make the most of it!