Notting Hill Carnival Tips

The Notting Hill Carnival is very quickly coming back around again this year, and as always at this time of year, the weather can’t make it’s mind up and there are flying ants everywhere during the day and gnats everywhere at night! Other than that British summer can be pretty amazing, especially as it holds Europe’s biggest street festival. This street festival attract at least 2 million people every single year and has been running since 1988! It celebrates and showcases London’s magnificent, multicultural past and present, with magnificent displays of colour and dance you don’t want to miss out! The entertainment, the food, the colours, everything ties in to be an amazing weekend for all ages. However considering all of this, the carnival can be very overwhelming, it’s a busy long weekend, so here are a few tips to help you get through and have the most fun weekend with your friends!

What’s amazing about the carnival, is that because it’s a street carnival all of the entertainment is entirely free! For Saturday evening, and Sunday and Monday you can go for free! You don’t have to queue to get in, because it’s all around the streets, and even though they have entertainment from 8am-9pm you can go whenever you want during the day! There is some cool after parties though in the evening of all three nights, most of them you do have to pay for entry and as this carnival is usually very busy maybe have a google and if you find one you want to go, just book in advance!

At this carnival it doesn’t matter if the weather is 30 or 15, you need to bring water with you. There will be a lot of walking, dancing, chatting, shouting to get your friend’s attention that’s walked off a bit too far. No matter the situation you should have water anyway, but this is probably the most important tip on here. Staying hydrated means you can stay out longer, and have more energy. Also helps if you have a forgetful friend who looks like their having a rough time. It’s best to bring it out with you rather than having to take a break later in the day to long walks and long queues to go and get it!

With this event being Europe’s biggest street festival, it’s going to be very busy, very crowded and very loud. The perfect situation for most pickpockets so is careful in your ventures. Seen as dodging the crowds around the central area of the carnival isn’t an option if you’re really struggling you can walk outwards of the carnival, down and back in depending on where you want to go.

Another good way to enjoy the carnival is to keep your group small, the fewer people you have with you the fewer people you will lose. Some will want to go to the toilet, some will want food, some want to see different artists. It’s very difficult to find someone again after you’ve lost them in the crowds, and just a heads up - the signal will be absolutely terrible, so good luck trying to call them again to find them. If you can try and make a meeting point that may help too. Don’t try to spend all of your days stressing over who’s with you and who isn’t keep it small, and have fun.

Have cash with you! Even though the actual entertainment is free, if you’re wanting to eat any of the amazing street food that you will definitely smell all day then you will need cash. Most of the street vendors won’t have card machines so cash is the way to go. If you do forget cash you will most likely be hit with long walks to the nearest cashpoint that has a twenty-minute queue and once you get there you’ll see that is a charged cash point! That said, remember a card as well, just in case you end up anywhere where you need your card, obviously!

If you’re really stuck for what to wear to this festival, then the easiest thing to do is have a look at years previous’ photos! They are very bright, vivid colours, lots of feathers, lots of skin. However, really anything goes, where whatever you feel comfortable in! Just be prepared for whatever the weather and the best bet is to be wearing comfortable shoes as you will be doing a lot of walking. Also, bring a compact umbrella just in case it absolutely pours down which isn’t unlikely for London at any time of year, let alone now.

So here’s hoping these tips will help you out with being prepared for the amazing weekend that Notting Hill carnival will bring you! Stay hydrated, and keep ahold of your group, you don’t want to be doing the day alone!