Every year at the very end of summer in the capital of Great Britain, London, one of the largest and most colorful carnivals in the world takes place. This is Notting Hill Carnival, which is named similarly to the West London district, the traditional venue. According to the world ranking, the British carnival ranks second after the Brazilian one.
To watch this carnival without leaving your home, you can use the possibilities of television and the Internet. If you have cable or satellite TV, look for the broadcast of the holiday on thematic channels. Many videos can be found on video portals such as YouTube. There is also the official website of the carnival, through which you can find a lot of videos, articles and just useful information.
But no video can compare with the opportunity to see the carnival with your own eyes. It is usually held in late August in Notting Hill, London, UK. Before traveling, check the date and time of the holiday, as due to various circumstances the date may be postponed. The carnival takes place on the streets of the city, so you can watch it for free.
Get there first by plane to London. It is approximately four hours' journey. Then take public transport, metro or taxi to Notting Hill. If you take the tube, your stations are Westbourne Park and Ladbroke Grove. Moreover, the metro is the most preferred mode of transport, since during the carnival the western quarter is completely clogged with cars. You can go by bus or taxi. An English taxi is the same public transport as a bus, so there will be no problems on the road. Maybe traffic jams.
If you come with children, it is better to visit with them only on the first day of the festival. On the second day, Londoners gather to relax and dance until late at night. Of course, this in no way means that you may be in for trouble - the police are leaving all their personnel to enforce order and law at the carnival. So far, there have been no major incidents.
However, there are a few simple safety rules you should keep in mind. Meet in advance with your friends and family at the entrance to the festival. Also, discuss in advance the place where you will meet if any of you get lost in the crowd. In case of any incident, if you find forgotten things, immediately contact a policeman. It is better not to get into the crowd, as a large crowd of people attracts pickpockets. If you are already hit, move with people, without trying to make your way towards them. Keep your personal belongings with you, keep valuables, large sums, bank cards and expensive jewelry at the hotel.
When getting to the carnival venue, keep in mind that many roads may be blocked. Add an additional half hour-hour to the estimated travel time. Arrive and leave early. In many cases, it is much easier to leave a nearby station or stop, and in some cases it is even easier to walk if you are not far. Transport companies in London issue leaflets in advance, with detailed descriptions of the operation of the metro and buses on the days of the holiday, as well as descriptions of additional routes. Also, the organizers provide everyone with memos with safety tips during the carnival.
