"Notting Hill Carnival" Portobello Road and Notting Hill Tip by Cham

Every august bank holiday (usually 2nd to last weekend) from saturday-monday Britains biggest carnival hits the strees near notting hill. The event has taken place for a long period of time and people competing with their sound systems to get people dancing is a regular feature. The event used to be notourious for it's stabbings and other criminal activities, but with the organisers now working with the local authorities it has calmed down a lot. That's not to say you can be stupid whilst you're there, the same rules apply as if you were going to a big event in any city, pickpockets are the biggest problem, whilst girls being harrased has been known to happen as well.

Although anyone travelling from brasil wont' find it that impressive, anyone that doesn't regularly go to carnivals or experience something like this will love it. please note though it does get very very crowded (look at second picture) so taking kids may not be a good idea... don't wear open shoes as well as there's always a lot of glass around and people to tread on your toes! Get as many people you know to go down there, and try and get there early, last year 750k people turned up which is a lot for a small area of london

all that's left to say is take care, have fun, and dance the weekend away!

Directions: Notting Hill Gate and Ladbroke Grove tubesl