Notting Hill Carnival – A celebration of multi cultural diversity
A celebration of London multi cultural diversity, the Notting Hill Carnival has its origins in the racial tensions that gripped London during the 1950-60’s. Largely a West Indian import, the carnival which is normally a celebration of freedom expressed through song, dance and flamboyant costumes came to the UK along with the immigrants of Trinidad and aimed at bridging the race divide that most Afro-Caribbean immigrants faced in the UK following their arrival in the country soon after the World War II.
Overview of the Carnival
First held in 1959 in the town hall of St. Pancras with around 500 attendees, the event has over the years gradually grew in stature attracting around a million people every year. Held every year during the August Bank Holiday, the Notting Hill Carnival has even after all this years remained true to its Caribbean spirits with its steel bands, flamboyant and colourful costumes, Calypso and soca music and tempting food stalls. Music forms the core of the carnival and in recent year’s static sound systems ranging from Reggae to R&B, Funk, House to Hip Hop have gained eminence in the event. And if you are lucky, you can end up catching live acts of international artists and local bands also.
Dates of 2013 Notting Hill Carnival
This year the fun filled Notting Hill Carnival is all set to rock on the 25th -26th August 2013. To catch the floats and to be a part of the procession, make sure that you book a holiday apartments in Notting Hill or the surrounding areas along the carnival route should you wish to catch all the action anywhere from 9 am -7pm.
What to expect at the 2013 Notting Hill Carnival
The festivities of the carnival usually begin with a steel band competition held on a Saturday. Sunday is often the Children day where prizes for the best costumes are awarded. A shorter version of the parade route is another highlight of the Sunday event. However it is on Monday Bank Holiday that the actual parade takes place with all the floats and procession taking to the streets.
Route of the Notting Hill Carnival
The festivities of biggest street festival usually take along the streets of West London starting from the Great Road to all the way long to Chepstow Road, on to Westbourne Grove, and then finally to Ladbroke Grove. All these areas are home to some of the best holiday apartments in London and are the best places to seek accommodation for the carnival.
Getting to the Notting Hill Carnival
The best way to reach the carnival if you are unable to rent a service apartment in Notting Hill but are successful in getting a stylish holiday rental in any other part of city is to take the London public transport. However, be aware that the services of the buses and the tube will be somewhat curtailed due to the carnival festivities.
However, do keep in mind:
If coming by bus: To the south of the Carnival area, buses will ply from Notting Hill Gate and from the Prince of Wales in Harrow Road from the north.
If coming by tube: • There will be no interchange between the Central and District/Circle lines on either day. On Sunday and Monday the Notting Hill Gate station will be exit only between 11am and 6pm. On Monday the Circle and District lines will not stop from 12noon to 7.30pm. Likewise the Royal Oak station will be exit only between 11am and 6pm on both Sunday and Monday. After 6pm the station will close and the Hammersmith and City line will not stop at this station.
• Ladbroke Grove Station will be closed on l Sunday and Monday while that of Latimer Road will close at 11.30pm.
• During the carnival Westbourne Park station will close at 11.30pm though exit will be allowed only between 11am and 6pm.
• As opposed Queensway & Bayswater will be open on Sunday and Monday with Paddington been the best option since both Notting Hill Gate/Royal Oak stations will have diversion.
