THE Notting Hill Carnival 2025 is almost upon us, marking one of the biggest and best free festivals on the planet.
Here’s everything you need to know about when and where you need to be to enjoy every minute of the perennial prodigious party.
Jeff Moore/PA WireThe Notting Hill Carnival fills the streets of our capital with colourful outfits, music, food, and so much more[/caption]
Alamy Live NewsThe carnival is the biggest of its kind in Europe[/caption]
London News PicturesThe festival attracts millions of revellers every year[/caption]
Full event schedule and start times
The Notting Hill Carnival 2025 is open for free to the general public on Sunday, August 24, and Monday, August 25.
Saturday, August 23
However, the carnival kicks off on Saturday evening with the UK National Panorama Steel Band Competition from 4pm until midnight.
But this is a ticketed event — not ticket, no entry — featuring steel band performances at Emslie Horniman’s Pleasance in Kensal Road.
Sunday, August 24
The traditional J’Ouvert — from the French words “jour ouvert” meaning “opening of the day” or “daybreak” — celebration starts early from 6am to 9am at Sainsbury’s, Canal Way, Ladbroke Grove.
Opening Ceremony runs from 10am to 10:30am.
The Children’s Day Parade and Carnival runs from 10am to 6pm along the parade route.
Adults’ ‘Dutty Mas’ parade kicks off at 12pm and goes on until 8.30pm.
Static Sound Systems operate from 12pm to 7pm.
The parade route judging zone is at Great Western Road.
Monday, August 25
The big Adults Day Parade and Carnival runs from 10am to 8.30pm on the parade route.
Static Sound Systems again run from 12pm to 7pm.
The judging point closes at 8.30pm on Great Western Road/Westbourne Park.
Road street trading is open from 10am to 8pm in Kensington and Chelsea and until 7pm in Westminster.
Parade route
The Notting Hill Carnival parade route traditionally spans about three miles.
It starts near Westbourne Park underground station, winds down through Westbourne Grove, moves along Great Western Road and then up Ladbroke Grove.
The route covers much of the W10 and W11 postcode areas including streets in Notting Hill, Ladbroke Grove, Westbourne Park, Westbourne Grove and Bayswater.
The route is pedestrianised for the event and the area becomes a busy festival zone with over 2.5 million attendees expected.
The parade route and event maps are published closer to the event by the official carnival organisers and host councils, with interactive maps available online to help visitors navigate.
Several nearby tube stations provide access to the carnival — Notting Hill Gate, Westbourne Park, Royal Oak, Queensway and Ladbroke Grove stations.
Some stations may become exit-only during peak times due to crowd control.
Roads will be closed or pedestrianised and buses rerouted.
This massive cultural street festival is free to attend (aside from the Saturday steel band competition event).
It offers a vibrant mix of music, dancing, costume and food across west London.
The key streets for the parade and festivities will be well signposted during the weekend.
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