Notting Hill · Ladbroke Grove · North Kensington · August bank holiday
Carnival: an event with no edges
Every other event on this site has a gate. Carnival does not. It happens along residential streets across W10 and W11, with no perimeter, no ticket and no address you can be dropped at, and that one fact determines everything else about planning the day.
No entrance, no perimeter and nowhere to say we will meet you at. Instead there are wide rolling road closures across a large part of west London, which is why a Carnival booking is arranged completely differently from a festival one.
There is nothing to drop you at
This is not a limitation of our service. It is the nature of a street carnival.
Streets, not a site
The route moves through residential roads. There is no boundary and no gate to aim for.
Very wide
Roads shut and reopen across the day over a large area of west London.
Two different days
Sunday is Children's Day and considerably calmer. Monday is the big one.
Before anything else
We agree a named spot outside the closures. Everything else is built around it.
Kent to west London
Across the whole city on a bank holiday. Longer than the mileage suggests in both directions.
| Pick-up area | Distance | Bank holiday journey |
|---|---|---|
| Bromley & Orpington | 17 miles | 55–90 min |
| Bexleyheath & Welling | 18 miles | 60–95 min |
| Dartford & Bluewater | 24 miles | 65–100 min |
| Sevenoaks & Tonbridge | 30 miles | 70–105 min |
| Gravesend & Northfleet | 30 miles | 75–110 min |
| Rochester & Chatham | 39 miles | 85–120 min |
| Maidstone & Aylesford | 40 miles | 85–125 min |
| Canterbury & Ashford | 63 miles | 110–150 min |
Sunday or Monday
Two very different days, and worth choosing deliberately rather than by default.
| Day | Character | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday, Children's Day | Family focused, calmer, and easier to move around | Families, first visits, older groups |
| Monday | The main parade. Far larger and far busier | Groups who want the full thing |
| Both | Some people do | Two separate returns, since there is no staying over |
| Either way | Closures are wide on both days | We drop and collect outside them |
Doing Carnival properly
Agree the meeting point before the day, not on it
Mobile networks in Notting Hill on the bank holiday Monday are overwhelmed, and a phone that will not connect is no use for arranging a pick-up. We agree a named, specific point outside the closure area when you book, along with a time and a fallback. It is a ten-minute conversation and it is the single thing that makes the day work.
Expect to walk, in both directions
The closures are wide, and there is no version of this where a vehicle gets close. Twenty minutes on foot at each end is normal and should be planned for rather than discovered. Comfortable shoes matter more here than at most events, because you will also be walking a great deal once you are inside the area.
Sunday is a genuinely different day
Children's Day on the Sunday is family focused, calmer and far easier to move around, and a good many people who assume Carnival is not for them find that it is. Monday is the main parade and considerably bigger. Neither is the wrong choice; they suit different groups, and it is worth deciding rather than defaulting.
Our Carnival guide covers the rest
Closures, meeting points, timings and what to expect on the ground are set out in more detail in the guide, which is worth reading before you book. This page is about getting there and back; the guide is about the day itself.
Notting Hill Carnival questions
No gates, wide closures.
Can you drop us at Carnival?
Not at it, because there is no venue, gate or perimeter. It takes place along residential streets with wide rolling closures. We drop outside the closure area, which usually means around twenty minutes on foot.
How do we arrange the pick-up?
We agree a named point, a time and a fallback when you book. Mobile networks in the area are overwhelmed on the day, so arranging it on the spot does not work.
What is the difference between Sunday and Monday?
Sunday is Children's Day, family focused and considerably calmer. Monday is the main parade and far busier. Both have wide closures.
How long does it take from Kent?
Around an hour from Bromley to two and a half hours from east Kent, and longer than usual because it means crossing the whole city on a bank holiday.
How much walking is involved?
Twenty minutes or so at each end to reach the closure line, plus a great deal of walking once you are in the area. Comfortable shoes matter here.
Can we do both days?
Yes, as two separate returns. There is no staying over involved, since it is a London street event rather than a camping festival.
Is it suitable for children?
Sunday particularly so, which is why it is called Children's Day. It is calmer and much easier to move around than the Monday.
Is the fare fixed?
Yes, agreed at booking, including the collection point and any waiting.
London events and guides
Street events and park festivals.