Notting Hill was awash with colourful outfits today as tens of thousands blew whistles and horns and cheered on dancers on the carnival’s last day.
Revellers watched on as the 56 masquerade bands paraded through the streets of west London in colourful outfits as this year’s festivities are brought to a close on its ‘adult’s day’.
Meanwhile the sweet, smoky scent of jerk chicken filled the side streets where sound systems played everything from rare groove to house, samba, reggae and ska.
An estimated two million people are expected to attend the festival, one of the largest of its kind, over the weekend.
Notting Hill is one of the longest-running street parties in the UK and celebrates Caribbean culture with vividly costumed performers taking part in a parade through the streets with dancing and music.
Notting Hill was awash with colourful outfits today as tens of thousands blew whistles and horns on the carnival’s last day.
The carnival celebrates Caribbean culture with it culminating today on ‘adult’s only’ day. Pictured here a dancer holds a Coca-Cola bottle as a reveller bends over in front of her
Notting Hill is one of the longest-running street parties in the UK and celebrates Caribbean culture
A reveller poses in a bikini top and knee-high black boots from her window during the Notting Hill carnival procession
Revellers watched on as the 56 Masquerade Bands paraded through the streets of west London in colourful outfits as this year’s festivities are brought to a close on its ‘adult’s only’ day
This year 7,000 police officers have been deployed onto the streets of Kensington to keep order during the festivities.
Yesterday, London Mayor Sadiq Khan hailed the ‘fantastic scenes’ as thousands come out in force to celebrate Caribbean culture.
He wrote on X: ‘Carnival is part of the very fabric of our city and an amazing way to bring communities together.’
In an update last night, the Metropolitan Police said a section 60 order, that provides police officers with additional powers to search people, had been authorised until 2am.
A Section 60AA order was also in place – which allowed officers to order the removal of face coverings being used to conceal a person’s identity.
It came after three people were stabbed – including a 32-year-old mother who was rushed to hospital where she remains in a critical condition.
She was attending the carnival with her child when she was knifed and narrowly avoided being killed. the Met said in an update this morning.
Two men, aged 29 and 24, were also taken to hospital with knife wounds. The former has non life-threatening injuries while the former discharged himself from hospital this morning.
No arrests have been made in relation to the stabbings.
Revellers pass through metal security at Notting Hill carnival the largest street festival in Europe which is expected to attract two million people over the bank holiday weekend
A Samba dancer in feathered costume poses with two smiling police officers ahead of the carnival parade at Notting Hill
Performers in costume take part in the main parade of the Notting Hill Carnival in west London today
A performer wears a colourful headset as dancers take part in the main parade of Notting Hill Carnival
Police officers march past Westbourne Park Underground station heading for the Notting Hill Carnival
Revellers attend Notting Hill Carnival today. The adult parade takes place on Monday featuring floats and dancers
The climax of the carnival sees Mas Bands being judged on their colourful outfits and dances by officials with the winner being announced later on social media
Vividly costumed performers taking part in a parade through the streets with dancing and music
Performers in costume pose for a photo as they prepare to take part in the main parade of the Notting Hill Carnival
Meanwhile, dancers got to to the rhythm as sound systems played everything from rare groove to house, samba, reggae and ska
A performer takes a selfie during the Notting Hill Carnival parade today while clutching onto a bottle as the sun beamed on bank holiday Monday
Tribo drummers wearing handmade costumes inspired by indigenous Amazonian tribes people showcase the authentic samba reggae rhythms
The colourful parade is the climax of the annual Carnival held over the August Bank Holiday weekend
A performer shows off her colourful red, blue, orange and green outfit during the adult’s parade of Notting Hill Carnival
Yesterday, London Mayor Sadiq Khan hailed the ‘fantastic scenes’ as thousands come out in force to celebrate Caribbean culture
Scotland Yard said 103 arrests had been made with 18 officers being attacked.
The arrests made so far are for the following offences: four sexual offences, 10 assaults on emergency workers, 18 possessions of an offensive weapon, eight possessions of class A drugs, 13 possessions of class B drugs, five possessions of other drugs, four possessions of nitrous oxide, eight possessions of drugs with intent to supply, one theft, six assaults, four robberies, one public order offence and eight ‘other offences’.
The Met said in a statement posted on X last night: ‘Hundreds of thousands of people came to Notting Hill Carnival today to enjoy a fantastic celebration.
‘Our officers have been on duty working to keep them safe as part of a very carefully planned policing operation.
‘Regrettably, a minority came to commit crime and engage in violence.’
There were eight stabbings and 275 arrests at the 2023 event.
Speaking ahead of the carnival, Commander Charmain Brenyah, the Met’s spokesperson for this year’s event, said she wanted people to have ‘happy memories’.
A reveller raises both of her arms in the air as she enjoys the parade on the final day of Notting Hill Carnival
This year 7,000 police officers have been deployed onto the streets of Kensington to keep order during the festivities
Participants of Notting Hill Carnival are seen in west London
Musicians and dancers are making their way through the streets of west London as the party atmosphere gets into full flow
The streets of Notting Hill are full of brightly coloured costumes with music being played in a joyous celebration of Caribbean culture
Tribo drummers take part in the adult’s parade, part of the Notting Hill Carnival celebration in west London
Performers in costume take part in the main parade of the Notting Hill Carnival in west London
The Notting Hill Carnival celebrating Caribbean culture has taken place over the summer bank holiday most years since 1966
‘Sadly, however, we know that for a minority of people, Carnival is an opportunity to commit crime or to seek out violent confrontation,’ she said
‘As a police officer on duty in previous years I’ve seen both the Carnival I experienced in my youth, but also the other side of the same event when, later in the day, the atmosphere changes in some parts, with floats and costumes giving way to serious violence.
‘It was a challenging environment to work in and one which over the past two years has seen more than 500 arrests, 15 stabbings including one that was fatal, and more than 125 police officers assaulted. These incidents can’t be downplayed or dismissed.
‘It is for that reason that anyone going to Carnival will see a very significant policing presence. We’re there to keep you safe – if you see us say hello – but we’re also there to intervene decisively against those intent on violence.’
Commander Brenyah continued: ‘The location of Carnival is deeply rooted in its history and we recognise the significance it holds for many. But numbers have grown so significantly over the years that the scale of the modern day event is unrecognisable compared to that which began decades ago.
‘Any event of this size that takes place in a constrained residential area, particularly if un-ticketed, will present a potential safety challenge. In recent years we’ve seen a number of occasions where the movement of huge crowds in already tightly packed residential streets has given us serious cause for concern.
‘In the coming days we’ll be putting out important guidance for actions that those attending Carnival can take if they feel unsafe in a crowd. I’d urge everyone to read and do their best to remember them.’
