Experience the Notting Hill Carnival in London This Summer ( VIDEOS )

By Victoria Cochrane

The city of London is renowned for countless attractions - from an array of museums and galleries, to a range of iconic city sights. London is also well known for its assortment of seasonal events and festivals. Each year, countless events are hosted in the city, ranging from music and theatre festivals, to food, beer and wine fairs. So no matter what season you choose to visit London, you can look forward to experiencing some of these exciting events.

Summertime is a particularly popular time of year for events in London and this summer is certainly no exception. The city is already brimming with festivals of all types, with a host of events still lined up over the coming months. One such event is the Notting Hill Carnival, due to take place in West London on 30 and 31 of August.

Having started in 1964 as an offshoot of the Trinidad Carnival, the Notting Hill Carnival is a celebration of London's multi-cultural diversity - although it's now dominated by the Caribbean culture. It is the second-biggest street festival in the world, and features everything from ethnic music and dance to a range of exotic cuisines and crafts. Families are also sure to enjoy the colourful floats that make their way through the streets of London, accompanied by music, dancing and more.

However, 30th August is officially a children's day, with a shorter parade route and a family atmosphere. The main Notting Hill Carnival parade takes place on Monday 31 August, with the usual route covering a three-mile loop around West London - including Westbourne Grove, Ladbroke Grove and Kensal Road.

When the Notting Hill Carnival first started, about 500 people attended the event. However, it now attracts hundreds of thousands to London, with more attending each year. Last year's event saw around 50,000 performers, 38 sound systems and more than two million revellers head to the streets of West London.

If you're planning to visit London during the Notting Hill Carnival, you might want to choose a hotel close to the festivities. However, with so many heading to that particular region of the city, you'll want to book your hotel in London as soon as possible.

Another thing to bear in mind is that, while public transport is the best way to travel to the carnival, you should always allow yourself extra time for your journey due to crowds and closed tube stations.

Keeping these few tips in mind, you'll be ready to enjoy this year's exciting Notting Hill Carnival.

Victoria Cochrane writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.

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