Your hostel guide to the Notting Hill Carnival 2016

Dancing, music and street food – join the Carnival fun in London this August

Notting Hill Carnival is Europe’s biggest street festival and attracts up to one million people for a weekend of Caribbean music, food and dance. London’s most popular summer festival is the must see party event of the Bank Holiday Weekend.

The multi-cultural festival dates back to the 1960s and was first created by Caribbean immigrants who arrived in Notting Hill after the Second World War.

Image by Kalexander2010 (Flickr/Creative Commons)

Read our guide and get the information you need to survive the Notting Hill Carnival 2016. If you’re looking for details on the parade and tips on how to save money on food and budget hostels, then you’ve come to the right place.

When is Carnival?

Image by Kalexander2010 (Flickr/Creative Commons)

Carnival takes places from Sunday August 28 until Monday August 29 2016. Get up at 6am for the traditional Caribbean carnival opener, Jouvert (French for ‘day break’), and follow the procession dance fill the streets with music and dancing.

It's a riotious occasion full of colour and soca music, and one you'll remember for a very long time.

The main parade starts at 10am and continues until 8.30pm. If you can only make one day, then the Carnival grand finale on August 29th is the place to be. Check out the 38 sound systems and calypso and soca artists as they get the party in motion.

There will be nearly a million people at this event so be prepared and remember to bring enough cash in advance.

Jamaican street food and drinks will be available from the mobile vendors in the area.

Where does Carnival take place?

Carnival is spread throughout west London, in the areas of Notting Hill, Ladbroke Grove and Westbourne Park.

How to get to Carnival?

The nearest tube stations without disruptions are Holland Park, High Street Kensington, Queen's Park, Shepherd's Bush, Bayswater and Paddington, while the following have amended operating times:

Notting Hill Gate (exit only from 11am-7pm)

Royal Oak (exit only from 11am-6pm; closed from 6pm on Mon)

Westbourne Park (exit only 11am-6pm)

Street food at Carnival

Image by Hélène Ressayres (Flickr/Creative Commons)

Carnival has a sizzling reputation for street food. If you love traditional Caribbean food, then you should get introduced to jerk chicken, rice and peas and rum punch.

There will be Jamaican patties, curries, jerk chicken and fried plantain on sale across various street stalls. You'll also be able to eat BBQ ribs and other cuisines from around the world too.

Budget hostels close to Carnival

Image by Janusz Kaliszczak (Flickr/Creative Commons)

Notting Hill Hostel is a highly convenient budget hostel in the heart of Bayswater. It has safe and comfortable dorms and is in the perfect location for Carnival.

Likewise the Acacia Hostel offers you a superb place to stay in one of London's most fashionable boroughs, Kensington and Chelsea. Again this hostel is ideal for travellers as its in walking distance of the Carnival parade.

*Header image by Janusz Kaliszczak (Flickr/Creative Commons)