Carnival guide

I know, I know! Being practical just takes the fun out of it all. But whether you’re a Carnival-veteran or an eager virgin you’ll thank us for our Carnival hints and tips.

Times:

Sunday 30 August - Children’s day
Monday 31 August - Adult day


Getting there:

Tube services:
Ladbroke Grove station is closed both Sunday and Monday.

Latimer Road will close at 11.30pm both Sunday and Monday.

Notting Hill Gate is exit only between noon and 7pm on Sunday and noon and 6.30pm on Monday. Circle/District line trains will not be stopping between noon and 7pm on Monday, and there will be no Circle/District line and Central line interchange all day.

Royal Oak is exit only between 11am and 6pm on Sunday and Monday, and will close at 6pm on both days.

Westbourne Park is exit only between 11am and 6pm both days, and will close at 11.30pm.

Other stations close to the Carnival area which visitors can use are Bayswater, Paddington, Holland Park, High Street Kensington, Queen’s Park and Kensal Green.

Bus services
Bus routes 7, 18, 23, 27, 28, 31, 36, 46, 52, 70, 94, 148, 295, 316, 328, 390 and 452 all run close to the Carnival area. Routes 6, 15, 187, 205, 220, 274, 414 and 436 are also within comfortable walking distance.
Night buses N7, N18, N28, N31, N36, N52 and N207 will run throughout Sunday and Monday night.


Plan your arrival and escape route
Driving is just plain foolish! You won’t be able to park, trust us. Take public transport, and be sure to take a look at our transport guide before you leave so you know which stations are closed and what bus to take.


Dressing down or up:
Face it, you’re not going to outdo those wonderful costumes so concentrate on comfort, wear trainers to keep your feet blister free and dry (even in the summer - not everyone uses the portaloos you know), layer up whatever the weather so you can take stuff off when it gets hot in the crowds and keep warm in the evening. Also remember to take sunscreen, a waterproof, and tissues to wipe up after sticky jerk chicken.


Maps and plans:
Have a map of the carnival route and plan ahead what you want to see and where the best places are to see the parade. It’s also worth knowing where toilets, police and first aid will be located.
Click here for a map of the carnival route
Click here for a map of all sound systems


Mobiles and mates:
You won’t be able to hear your mobile phone above the noise of the Carnival so keep it tucked away out of the view of pickpockets. Arrange a meeting point with your friends just in case - somewhere easy to find and relatively crowd free - but try and stick together as much as possible.


Toilet nightmares:
The queues for the toilets are ridiculous so make sure you plan your toilets stops well, and don’t try to find a loo when you’re busting. Try not to turn Notting Hill gardens and basements in toilets, but be prepared to lose your dignity in an emergency, yes, the girls too. Just another reason to have tissues with you and mates who don’t mind shielding you from the crowd.


Better safe than sorry:
Keep keys, money, phones and cameras in different pockets and bags and as well hidden as you can. Make sure you don’t carry around hundreds of pounds with you and if your camera is of any value think about taking a disposable instead. Finally, be aware of what’s going on around you. Sadly, not everyone is here just to see the parades.