London going out guide on London Events,London nightlife, London shopping,London Parks, Restaurants in London and Pubs and Bars guide

The Notting Hill Carnival, which is sometimes called the Notting Hill Festival, is the largest street festival in Europe having originated in 1964.  The aim of the Notting Hill Festival is to celebrate Afro-Caribbean culture in the UK. Taking place every August Bank Holiday weekend in the streets of London W11, the Notting Hill Carnival is an amazing amalgamation of sounds, colourful sights and communal harmony.

This is the biggest street carnival in London – so as a traveller ask yourself this: who would want to miss this? Every year the Notting Hill Carnival party just gets better and better, with top performers, amazing floats and loads of partying people, all taking to the streets in bursts of glittering colour. It’s London’s most famous street party, attracting immense crowds of people each August to the Notting Hill area. Dance, party or just people watch. You won’t see anything like it elsewhere.

The very first day of the Notting Hill Carnival is a Children’s Day, with a shorter parade route so little feet can keep up. This day is normally a little bit less hectic than the main carnival event, so families with small children can rest easy knowing that the crowds won’t be as massive or quite as loud.

And then, of course, there’s the main carnival event. Featuring a Bank Holiday bonanza of the best of the Caribbean communities of London, the Notting Hill Carnival is a perfect place for people of all ethnicities to come together and party the day away. People from all over the world will be flocking to the capital to witness the Notting Hill Festival, so take the opportunity to say hi to a friendly face or two.

Entertainment includes the extravagantly colourful carnival parade, filled with feathered costumes and plenty of dancers. Feel like dancing? Throw some shapes to the sounds of steel bands, hip-hop beats, reggae favourites and modern dance hits, all blasting out through the streets courtesy of some serious sound systems.

There really is fantastic atmosphere throughout the two days, as London’s Caribbean communities entertain the whole of the capital in one of London's most scenic areas. Visitors to the Notting Hill Carnival can expect stream after stream of colourful floats, sparkling dancers, and musicians blasting out tropical party sounds as the carnival parade winds through its route of streets. It’s as close to the Caribbean you can get without having to fork out for plane fare and leaving London.

And then, of course, there’s the food – stall after stall of Caribbean delicacies that make perfect festival flavours, from spicy sauces to sweet desserts. Kick back, relax and find a corner where you can happily munch away at the best jerk chicken in London.

The best places to catch all the action are Holland Park, Ladbroke Grove, Latimer Road, Notting Hill Gate, Royal Oak or Westbourne Park. Transport to these areas are available via Tube or Railways.