Notting Hill Carnival

The words “peace, love and harmony” usually conjure up a hippy commune or Glastonbury’s earlier days, but add the words “dancing, music and fun” (with a funky bit of mayhem on the side) and you get a whole new picture… Imagine this… You’re standing in the middle of a road – all around you there are people – as far as the eye can see (between 2 and 3 million to be nearly exact in an estimative kind of way!) As you stumble about in the throng of people you look up and see legs dangling out of every window and off every porch and roof, all of them attached to happy smiley people who are wiggling ...  Read the complete review

Yes folks, I got up Monday, had a wash & threw on my glad rags before hooking up with 5 of my home boys to take a trip down the Harrow Road into Notting Hill. Now on a August Bank Holiday this ain't the type of place you'd expect to see Juia Roberts & Hugh grant having a snog on the street corner, or his sidekick opening the front door in his Y fronts, noooo, this is party time! The music, not all desirable, is booming - admittedly some of those guys need to invest some cash into their sound systems, I've heard cars that sound better! - The streets are awash with colour, scantiliy clad females of every description dodge in & out of the paths ...  Read the complete review

This little celebration is getting way out of hand. I went to the Notting Hill Carnival two years ago and had a great time. I travelled light, boogied like there was no tomorrow, drank tropical concotions, eat god knows what, and got home (eventually!) exhilared and enlightened from a veritable whirlwind of cultural experiences. I went again last year. Different story. I was planning to meet a friend there - so I took my mobile. This then led to me taking a rucksack - so I could keep my hands free. The journey was sheer Hell as several million travellers packed onto the underground - all heading the same way. It was hot and ...  Read the complete review

Before I start, I realise that this may not be a very popular opinion, but I hope that you will hear me out! (Please don’t just NU me simply because you disagree!) I am a resident of Notting Hill, London and this opinion is written from a resident’s point of view! Every year 1-2 million people descend on a tiny area of Notting Hill to celebrate the Notting Hill Carnival. The Carnival itself is one huge street party mainly involving participation by the local Afro-Caribbean community. They put on huge exotic floats with people wearing amazing outfits. The idea is to have a peaceful celebration of culture where everyone has a good time. The ...  Read the complete review

The Notting Hill Carnival takes place on August Bank holiday Sunday and Monday every year. Being a local resident, I used to join in the fun and dance in the streets. Now, the Carnival has become the biggest street event in Europe attended by two millions people. The event is just getting too big to be held in residential streets. On Monday when the main Carnival is held, some parts of the streets can be dangerously overcrowded. Due to concerns of crowd safety, the live stages featuring Radio 1, MTV and Gorillaz have already been cancelled. And because of the serious crimes of fatal stabbing and shooting in previous years, more police resources are now needed for the ...  Read the complete review