MIH TEAM
05/09/25
Generation Rent
020 3637 7968
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The Notting Hill Carnival 2025
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A Resident’s Perspective
The Notting Hill Carnival is one of London’s annual spectacles. A celebration of Caribbean culture, heritage, and traditions, it has made a colourful contribution to London life since the mid 1960s.
CELEBRATING DIVERSITY
21st Century London is noted for its cosmopolitan population; a rich blend of many different nationalities makes it the most ethnically diverse region of the UK. It offers a vibrant mix of solid British heritage with a flavouring of many different cultures – a unique blend of world art, music, theatre and food. The fact that important festivals are celebrated for each ethnic group e.g. Diwali, the Chinese New Year and Eid makes London a champion of cultural fusion.
THE CARNIVAL
The Notting Hill Carnival takes place every year over the August Bank Holiday weekend (the last Sunday and Monday of August). This year it runs from Saturday 23rd August – Monday, 25th August.
Timetable
Saturday 23rd August 2025
Panorama Steel Band Comp
Panorama Steel Band Comp
Sunday 24th August 2025
Family & Children’s Day
Monday 25th August 2025
Adults Parade & main Carnival
Sunday is generally considered family day and is more relaxed, while Monday is known for its party atmosphere and is the main day for the parade.
THE PARADE ROUTE
The 3.5 mile route starts near Westbourne Park tube station and proceeds along Westbourne Grove before turning into Ladbroke Grove.
Much of W10 is closed over the weekend, including Ladbroke Grove all weekend. Holland Park is entry only from 11am and closed after 3pm. Royal Oak is also entry only from 11am and will close at 6pm. Notting Hill Gate will only service Central line trains and is exit-only from 11am to 6pm. Westbourne Park is also no entry from 11am.
RESIDENTS PERSPECTIVE
If you live along the route or in the vicinity, there is no doubt that the Carnival is inescapable. It’s one of the largest street festivals in Europe, drawing around two million visitors over the weekend. Residents can expect noise and activity from 6am on Sunday morning onwards, (though the event official begins at 10am). It is known for being busy, bustling, colourful, musical, loud and, with food stands and plenty of alcohol, also full of cooking aromas and revelry.
You either love it or hate it. If you love it, you’ll embrace all that comes with it and take practical steps to ensure the safety of your home, (if you feel in any way at risk), whilst soaking up the atmosphere. If you hate it you might choose to be away, or you may feel that you need to stay to ’defend your territory’ – and tolerate the cacophony.
Local councils and official organisations do much to support residents to manage safety, litter, loos and the clean up after the event. Here’s the official guide.
PRACTICAL STEPS
Your home
If your home is along the route, you may wish to either decorate it, offer a service such as water or food, or potentially fence it off. It’s your choice, which may be dependent on previous experience or how you want to participate in 2025.
All fencing, bracing or weights must be located within the housing boundary and not on pavements/the public highway.
ID for local access and guests
If you live on any of the parade roads, you will be asked to present a form of ID at the barrier point showing your name and address.
If you have planned visitors during Carnival who need access, you will also need to present your ID, such as a bank statement, council tax statement, utility bill or driving licence.
Selling from your home – rules and regulations
There are strict guidelines about selling from outside your property, and in particular, besides these rules, you must consult your managing agent or Landlord if you are a tenant:
You must ensure that you have permission from the landowner, landlord, or housing provider to engage in commercial activities from within your home, communal areas and/or external gardens.
You must comply with the various requirements of food hygiene, food trading standards and health and safety legislations.
The customer must be standing inside of the property’s garden wall or boundary at the time of trading and not on the public highway, otherwise a Street Trading Licence is required.
A licence from the Council is required for selling alcohol or playing live or recorded music. The Council’s enforcement team will be inspecting licences during Carnival, so please make sure you have the appropriate one.
Noise curfew
Music is an important part of the carnival and provided at many points along the route by musicians, bands and DJs besides the floats moving along the route. There are rules around the noise levels which will be monitored by council staff, and all sound systems must be switched off by 7pm.
General safety
With so many people in the area there is a higher than normal potential for a (minor) emergency, be that a health issue such as someone collapsing in the street, fire from food stalls, or drunken behaviou etc… There is a useful list of helplines and contact on pages 31-32 of the event guide.
PREPARE AND ENJOY
For residents, the best approach is to be well prepared, be aware of the rules, road closures and transport restrictions, and enjoy the festival spirit. It is, afterall, a once a year event that, whilst dominating and immersive for the weekend, is also an important celebration for the Caribbean community and all those that travel to London to soak up the atmosphere.
