Starting its life as a local festival set up by the West Indian community of the Notting Hill area, it has now become a full-blooded Caribbean carnival, attracting millions of visitors from all over the globe.

Every year in August the streets of West London come alive, with the sounds and smells of Europe s biggest street festival. Twenty miles of vibrant colourful costumes surround over 40 static sound systems, hundreds of Caribbean food stalls over 40,000 volunteers and over 1 million Notting Hill carnival revelers. Every year in August the streets of West London come alive, with the sounds and smells of Europe s biggest street festival. Twenty miles of vibrant colourful costumes surround over 40 static sound systems, hundreds of Caribbean food stalls over 40,000 volunteers and over 1 million Notting Hill carnival revelers.

Sunday is Kids Day, when the costume prizes are awarded.

On Bank Holiday Monday, the main parade takes place. It generally begins on Great Western Road, then winds its way along Chepstow Road, on to Westbourne Grove, and then Ladbroke Grove.