This year’s Notting Hill Carnival takes place over the August Bank Holiday weekend, from the 29th to the 31st. Most Morshead Mansions residents will know that although not directly in the carnival zone, there can usually be some disruption to the local area. So why does this carnival exist and what should residents be aware of?
How the Notting Hill Carnival Began
In August of 1966, local social worker Rhaune Laslett organised a multi-ethnic children’s street fayre. This was initiated to counter the Notting Hill race riots that had been taking place over previous years, fuelled by anti-immigration tensions. Post-war Caribbean immigrants had settled in Notting Hill, and faced severe housing shortages, racism and social exclusion.
So, the event was put on to bring people from different ethnicities together and promote inter-racial harmony through shared music, food and dance. It has continued ever since and this year, the carnival celebrates its 60th year.
What area does the Notting Hill Carnival cover?
Attracting roughly two million people each August Bank Holiday weekend, the Notting Hill Carnival is an annual, community-led street festival that takes place around Notting Hill, Ladbroke Grove and Westbourne Park. Morshead Mansions is to the east of the carnival zone and once the event is underway, access westbound beyond the Harrow Road isn’t possible. It should still be possible to drive through the area on Saturday the 29th, however, during Sunday 30th and Monday 31st multiple roads will be closed off completely to vehicle access.
So, if you need to travel to parts of West London over the Bank Holiday weekend, you will need to plan your route avoiding the carnival area completely. It’s worth bearing in mind that there are also often restrictions to the A40 Westway, as police tend to use this as a a vantage point to view the carnival activity below.
As a rough guide to the areas the carnival covers, the 2025 carnival map is highlighted below. Closer to the event, an official 2026 map will be available on the Notting Hill Carnival website, which you can access by clicking here.
Local Disruptions
If you need to travel over the Bank Holiday weekend, it’s a good idea to allow more time for your journey. Roads around the area are likely to be a lot busier than usual, as will public transport. Local stations, including Maida Vale, are likely to be especially busy in the early evening and there will be no entry to Westbourne Park station from 11am on Sunday and Monday. Night Tube and Night Overground in the local area will not run on Sunday or Monday nights.
Bus routes that will be disrupted include 7, 18, 23, 27, 28, 31, 36, 52, 70, 228, 295, 316 and 328 during the day and the N7, N27, N28 and N31 night buses. Cycle docking stations in the carnival area will be temporarily suspended from 2pm on Saturday the 29th to 8am on Tuesday 1st September.
It’s also worth bearing in mind that most of the carnival’s surrounding areas tend to get used for parking by people who drive to the event. Maida Vale is no exception. You can expect Morshead Road and the surrounding streets to be a lot busier than usual and parking spaces more difficult to find. If you need to go out locally, it may be worth considering walking instead of driving so that you don’t lose your parking spot.
To find out more about the Notting Hill Carnival and what is planned for the weekend, you can visit the official website here.
If you’d like to find out more about living in Westminster generally, take a look at our previous post here.
