Your Student Guide to Notting Hill Carnival 2025
Every August Bank Holiday weekend, Notting Hill comes alive with the flavours, the sights, and sounds of the Caribbean.
Since it started in the 1960s, the carnival has grown year on year and is now attended by over 2 million people each year.
Come rain or shine, it’s one of the standout events in the capital city, London. We’re always happy to let you know what’s on in London each summer, and this will always be near the top of the list.
This post will explore everything to do with Notting Hill Carnival 2025, giving you all the info you need if you plan to attend the festival this summer, including where it is, when it’s happening, and how best to get there.
What is Notting Hill Carnival?
Notting Hill Carnival 2025 is the latest August Bank Holiday event that celebrates the West Indian communities of London every single year.
It is a joyful expression of colour, with steel pan drummers, mas, calypso, the loudest of basslines and soundsystems, and feather-decked dancers making the streets a fantastic place to be.
You’ll also find the most delicious street foods, live music stages, and an awe-inspiring parade that makes the entire are the party place to be over the weekend.
When is Notting Hill Carnival 2025?
Notting Hill Carnival 2025 takes place over the bank holiday weekend, as it does every year. This time round, the dates for the bank holiday weekend and the carnival are Sunday, 24th August and Monday, 25th August.
The whole of Notting Hill, in West London is taken over by the events of the carnival, when you get off the tube at Notting Hill Gate, Royal Oak, or Westbourne Park, you’ll soon hear the sounds and smell the delicious food on the go. So, follow your ears and nose!
What is the lineup for Notting Hill Carnival 2025?
Every year is different, with surprise guests always expected somewhere along the route. Some incredible names have turned up to Notting Hill Carnival over the years, including Sean Paul in 2022, Idris Elba, Lily Allen, and even Beyonce way back in 1999.
The organiser’s always leave it until the last minute to announce the lineup, keeping you on your toes.
What you can expect this year though includes:
Panorama – The biggest steel pan competition in the country, taking place at Emslie Horniman Pleasance Park on Saturday., 23rd August.
The Opening Ceremony – A 10am start on the Sunday, involving local residents and carnival officials to kick off the party.
Children’s Parade – A morning event on Sunday, 24th August, where local kids parade in their homemade Carnival costumes.
Dutty Mas – All the colours of carnival come together on the Sunday, with attendees splashed with colourful powder and paints. A vibrant and joyous part of the whole weekend!
The Traditional Parade – The Sunday parade features soca, calypso, and mas.
Adult’s Day Parade – The main parade is on the Monday, travelling along a three and a half mile route that takes over the majority of W10.
There isn’t a confirmed parade route for this year yet, but usually it begins near Westbourne Grove station around 9.30am and takes in Great Western Road, Westbourne Park and finishes up at Ladbroke Grove.
Along the parade route you can expect over 30 soundsystem spots to dance away for hours, to everything from reggae and dub to samba and house music.
Alongside the music, there are hundreds of street food stalls to keep you going through the day, the best of Jamaican jerk, roti from Trinidad, and a melting pot of Caribbean cuisine.
Carnival starts at about 10am each day, with the music beginning around midday and everything wrapping up by 8.30pm each night before the after parties begin.
What’s the history of Notting Hill Carnival?
The very first Notting Hill Carnival was back in 1966. It was a celebration put together by the Caribbean communities of London and was at first a small event for the city.
The 30,000 attendees that first year had grown to 0ver 100,000 people by 1974, and modern Notting Hill Carnival weekends welcome over 2 million people.
The idea behind the event was to celebrate the West Indian communities who had made London home, showcasing the food, the music, the dance, and tradition of the Caribbean islands.
It was in 1979 that the first stages were introduced, allowing live performances of reggae, dub, ska, and punk bands, as well as the traditional calypso music that could be heard throughout the streets of West London.
How to get to Notting Hill Carnival 2025
It’s so busy that you shouldn’t assume that you’ll be able to catch a bus or get a taxi to where the action is over the weekend, as all the roads will be closed off all.
We advise that if you’re going with friends, pick a meeting spot that’s just outside a busy area and walk in together. If you are getting the tube, Notting Hill Gate, Royal Oak, and Westbourne Park stations are all ‘exit only’ from 11am to 7pm, so get there in the morning.
Do I need a ticket for Notting Hill Carnival 2025?
Anybody and everybody are welcome to attend the parade and the festivities around the streets, so you do not need a ticket to join in.
However, if you want to be part of the parade officially, you do need to part of one of the organised, sanctioned groups that are taking part. There are also many after parties that take place late into each night, and some of those events are ticketed.
For those of you already living in London as a student and looking to make the most of living and studying in the capital or if you’re planning a trip to London during the summer break., Notting Hill Carnival 2025 is one to look out for!
If you’ve been to Notting Hill Carnival before, you’ll know how much fun it is. If this is going to be your first time attending, we hope this guide has been helpful to get you started on your plans and preparation.
It’s events like these that male London such a great city to live in and to visit. Are there any other big events going on in London over the next few months that you’d recommend?