Notting Hill Carnival

With all the Olympic hype, it's easy to forget that the Notting Hill Carnival, Europe's largest street festival, is upon us once again already!

For the Carnival novices among us, Sunday (26th August) is children’s day with smaller floats and costume awards, while Bank Holiday Monday (27th August) is for the big dogs with the main Carnival procession. 

While many people avoid The Carnival like the plague, other people's view is that it should be on everyone's Bucket List. The infectious samba beats, bustling atmosphere and sizzling rhythms get people hooked for life.  For those of you who decide to brave it, I thought I would share a few hints and tips that people have picked up along the way:

- It may sound geeky, but wear comfortable shoes.  No-one wants to be party pooper because their compeeds have run out.

- Get there early in order to get good views.  

- Take a hipflask (and some water), and drink spirits, not beer, unless you want to be searching for a loo all day.  Drinks can also be quite pricey, so bringing your own booze should save a few pennies.

- Don't bring too many valuables with you - this way, you can relax all day and you don't have to worry if you end up having one, or two, or five too many bevvies.

- Most importantly, go with a positive attitude.  People are there to let loose and party, so you should do the same.

For more information on good sound systems, carnival parties and places to eat, the Notting Hill Carnival website and Time Out London have a comprehensive list of recommendations.  Here is handy map from Time Out which marks out the route of the procession and good places to grab a drink, party on down or simply people watch.

Transport for London also have a dedicated transport page for the Carnival, so be sure to check it out before you head off.  Blow that whistle, get those salsa hips swinging and enjoy!