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Notting Hill Carnival is an annual event known all over the world for its celebration of Caribbean culture and its rich history.
From food and drink to music and entertainment, this incredible event is a spectacle that everyone should experience at least once in a lifetime.
Located in central London, Notting Hill Carnival is easy to get to. This is especially true when you travel with Avanti West Coast trains.
How to get to Notting Hill Carnival by train
No matter where you’re coming from, it’s easy to jump on a train to London and immerse yourself in the Notting Hill Carnival. As the celebration is held in various destinations around West London, you’re never too far from the action.
With Avanti West Coast, travel to London Euston before journeying onwards to any of the following rail and tube stations.
London Overground Stations:
- Kensal Green
- Kensal Rise
- Paddington
- Queen’s Park
- Shepherd’s Bush
London Underground Stations:
- Bayswater
- High street Kensington
- Holland Park
- Kensal Green
- Ladbroke Grove
- Latimer Road
- Notting Hill Gate
- Paddington
- Queen’s Park
- Queensway
- Royal Oak
- Shepherd’s Bush
- Westbourne Park
With Notting Hill Carnival being such a busy event, some tube stations operate on a restricted basis to avoid overcrowding. You’ll also find several road closures in place. Always check your route before you travel to ensure you can get to your destination.
What to do at Notting Hill Carnival
Notting Hill Carnival is a cultural event full of things to do for the whole family.
It’s held on Sunday and Monday, so there are plenty of chances to see everything. Sunday is traditionally a family-friendly day with the children’s parade, while Monday hosts the adult-only parade.
Once you’re there, you can listen and dance along to live music. There are performances from steel pan bands, mas bands, Brazilian performers, and more. Or visit the live stages located around the city and watch show-stopping displays and family-friendly entertainment.
The costumes on display are a sight to behold themselves. It’s easy enough to follow the crowds through West London. Just follow the sound of the steel bands and look for the glitzy costumes worn by the performers.
As the event is held on August bank holiday weekend each year, the weather isn’t usually a problem when parading through the streets of London.
There are also plenty of food options to consider. You can try something new or grab your Caribbean favourites from over 300 food vendors, including several vegetarian and vegan choices.
About Notting Hill Carnival
For over 50 years, Notting Hill Carnival has been a community-led event highlighting the roots of Caribbean culture in London.
The first festival was held in 1966 when several community members organised an event for local children as a way to celebrate freedom and Caribbean culture.
The Notting Hill Carnival, or Carni as it’s known to locals, has become much bigger. It’s a more diverse and extremely vibrant celebration, especially in comparison to its humble beginnings.
It’s considered the largest street event in Europe and is second only to Brazil’s Rio Carnival in size. To give you an idea, over one million people attend the event every year.
Ways to save on your train ticket to Notting Hill Carnival
When you are ready to book your trip to Notting Hill Carnival, there are plenty of great ways to save with Avanti West Coast.
Book your train tickets directly with Avanti West Coast and you won’t have to pay any booking fees or be subject to more expensive tickets from third-party vendors.
You can also buy your tickets in advance for bigger savings. If you’re flexible on your travel times, you can book off-peak journeys and ride before or after rush hour to save.
Railcards offer another good way to save, especially if you’re a frequent rail traveller. With a Railcard, you can save a percentage of your train fare up to a third of the cost.
You can even reduce family fares with the Family and Friends Railcard. Travel in a group of up to four adults and four children and save a third of the price of adult fares and 60% on children's fares.
If there’s just you and one more person, you could benefit from the Two Together Railcard, which offers similar savings for you and your partner, friend, or family member. Travel together and save a third on fares for only £30 per year.
Get the app
Ready to get your train tickets to Notting Hill Carnival? Download the Avanti West Coast app today to find the best deals on your commute.
For ultimate convenience, you can buy your tickets at low prices, pay with Apple Pay or Google Pay and access your e-tickets straight from your phone.
The Avanti West Coast app also lets you pick your seat, make changes, or even cancel and get a refund if your plans change. Ride with convenience when you choose Avanti West Coast trains.
