7 things you didn't know about the Notting Hill Carnival

Bright costumes, fiery food and the echoes of exotic music through London’s streets… But do you really know the Notting Hill Carnival? Here are 7 interesting facts about our favourite festival.

By Laura Anne BrownPublished: 22 August 2014

Monochrome, Hat, Street, Headgear, Tradition, Carnival, Costume, Public event, Parade, Festival,

Carnival history

It’s now Europe’s largest street festival – but where did it all begin? Carnival celebrations were emerging in Britain as early as 1959. The same year saw the first Caribbean carnival at St Pancras Town Hall in Euston. It was televised by the BBC and, just seven years later in 1966, the Notting Hill version was born.

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Famous faces

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More than one million visitors are expected to descend on the Notting Hill area this year. And it’s not just members of the public – the past few years have seen celebrities such as models Cara Delevingne and Jourdan Dunn strut their stuff on the bustling city streets.

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Family fun

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The mission is not just to have a good party: it’s to promote unity and cultural exchange between community members and the public. The highlight of the weekend is the Monday Parade, where 60 bands swirl down the streets in dazzling dress. And don’t forget about Sunday! The 24th of August is ‘family day’, where costumed youngsters will parade along the carnival route to the calypso beats.

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Carnival chaos

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The carnival reached an impasse in 1976. Although a massive 150,000 people attended the event, riots clouded the otherwise positive atmosphere. The carnival could have been suspended but, luckily, public figures backed its existence. One of these was Prince Charles.

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Map happy

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A Notting Hill Carnival app is available for iPhone or Android. It uses GPS to pinpoint your location and shows a variety of maps so you don’t miss a thing. Plus, visitlondon.com also has a groovy guidebook and checklist.

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Tube travel

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Don’t forget your comfy shoes and a Tube map! Some Underground stations will be closed to avoid congestion and others will be disrupted. Organisers advise you to plan journey routes home to ensure you’re not wandering the streets late at night.

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Exotic eats

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It’s not all about the street parades – don’t forget your stomach! There’s a huge array of amazing Caribbean carnival food being served. Choose from curries, fried plantain, jerk chicken and fresh fruit juices. Yum!

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