This bank holiday Monday, I made the somewhat last minute decision of getting on a west-bound central line train (from Stratford - I have moved somewhere new, but that can wait for a future post). The Notting Hill Carnival has developed a reputation for being a carnival of, well, inescapable crowds. Time Out magazine a week earlier suggested going on the Sunday (family day) to avoid crowds, and I myself had only ever been on a Sunday (is this now some kind of right of passage into adulthood? Monday carnival? Nah, probably not). Anyway, you should go to 'Carnival' on the Monday, and enjoy it for what it is meant to be.
First tip is to get there early. Getting there at midday means you will probably get a front row view of the spectacular parade. You can also walk around the main streets of the carnival pretty easily, getting a feel for what it is all about. Don't expect it to be deserted, but you will be able to move.
The parade will, from then on, keep creeping up on you unexpectedly throughout the day. Don't try and follow it, let it follow you. This year we found ourselves mixed up in a crowd of people on stilts. I think the boundary between spectators and performers is somewhat hazy. Took us a while to work out that it was the parade again.
If you look out for the massive crowds, you can pretty much avoid getting majorly stuck anywhere. Leave yourself enough room to dance.
On the Monday, things start to wrap up about 6pm. It would probably be a good idea to shimmy your way slowly towards a way home at about 5. This is undoubtedly much easier said than done. Most of the stations in the immediate area are exit only. I think we ended up walking a fair section of the central line before giving up and walking to Paddington.
Notting Hill Carnvial, if you live in London or are around that weekend, is an unmissable experience. Great food, music, atmosphere, costumes, people and, of course, bass. Lots of it. It's worth just walking past one of the street sound systems, even if you don't stop and join the party (you should). Bring on next year, fingers crossed for the same sunshine we got last Monday. CARNIVAAAAAAAAAAL.
If you look out for the massive crowds, you can pretty much avoid getting majorly stuck anywhere. Leave yourself enough room to dance.
Notting Hill Carnvial, if you live in London or are around that weekend, is an unmissable experience. Great food, music, atmosphere, costumes, people and, of course, bass. Lots of it. It's worth just walking past one of the street sound systems, even if you don't stop and join the party (you should). Bring on next year, fingers crossed for the same sunshine we got last Monday. CARNIVAAAAAAAAAAL.
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