Head to London for crazy carnival fun this summer

Starting as a small local festival, offered to the community by the first West Indian immigrants to the UK in 1966, it was hard to imagine this would become the capital’s major carnival extravaganza. Notting Hill Carnival is now visited by more than 1.5 million people each year from all over the world and growing every year.

Summertime in the UK means carnival time, and what better way to celebrate than in true Caribbean style at the Notting Hill Carnival. London comes alive on the 26th and 27th of August (Bank Holiday weekend), and with the streets closed the party can begin.

Sunday’s celebrations kick off at 12 noon with a more reserved children’s day carnival, with all the same magnificent colourful floats and costumes, usually made by the children themselves, parading through the streets. Children’s steel bands and wannabe youthful DJs mix the record decks, impressing visitors with their tunes and personal style, waiting for that record deal to fire them to stardom.

Monday’s carnival is definitely not for the faint-hearted. Scantily dressed individuals have waited all year to celebrate their cultural roots. Jumping, stomping and gyrating along the parade is a must. Small pieces of brightly coloured sequins and tassels are placed carefully over their bodies, covering as little as possible.

The vibrant colours are spectacular with many massive 'sound systems' along the route, blasting the very best Soca & Calypso tunes into the air. Keeping you well fed are the hundreds of stalls lining the streets of the area selling all sorts of food and drink including Caribbean specialities such as jerk chicken with rice and curried goat.

Notting Hill is well known for the eponymous 1999 blockbusting film with Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts, set in the famous Portobello Road. With a small book shop on one corner and a cosy cafe spilling over onto the pavement on the other, it’s a place Londoners can gather to chat and catch up on the latest gossip. This is definitely not the scene that will greet you on carnival weekend. It’s almost as if coming to London has beamed you over to an extravagant Caribbean party, full of exotic dancers, good home-made food and music that will have you dancing for hours. This friendly multi-cultural carnival has a fantastic atmosphere making you feel welcome from the moment you arrive.

The nearest Underground Stations are Notting Hill Gate (on the Circle & District line) and Westbourne Park on the (Hammersmith & City line). The procession runs from the Great Western Road, Chepstow Road, along Westborne Grove, Kensington Park Road and Ladbroke Grove.

The carnival is a perfect stop-off point, in a fun-packed family weekend trip to London, so why not take advantage of the affordable easyJetHotels.com across the city and book a hotel for the night under the city lights.