Notting Hill Carnival: parade route, start time and where to watch

Every year on the last weekend of August, west London gets shut down for Notting Hill Carnival. Two days of drums, costumes, street food and loud music on the streets of Notting Hill. In 2026, the carnival took place on August 30 and 31.

This festival has no tickets and no single stage. The parade route loops through the whole neighborhood, and the tube around it runs under special rules. Without a plan, you'll hit a closed station and see nothing but people's backs.

We've put together the official route, start times and transport schedule. Below you'll find where to watch the parade, what to bring into the crowd and how to get home without the crush.

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Schedule: when the carnival runs

💡 In short:

• The carnival takes two days: Sunday and the bank holiday Monday.
• Sunday is the children's parade, Monday is the adults' parade.
• J'ouvert, the earliest event of the weekend, starts at 6:00 on Sunday.
• Schedule and start times: 09/2026, checked on the carnival website.

The carnival date moves. It's the last Sunday of August and the Monday that follows, which is a public holiday in the UK (as of 09/2026, program by day).

The start times and order of days are confirmed by the organizer, dates checked on 12.09.2026 on the official website (nhcarnival.org).

Sound systems, stages and street food stalls run on both days. The full day-by-day program is published in advance on the program page, but the lineup is sometimes announced only in the final weeks. If you're traveling from far away, check the schedule a couple of days before you leave.

Parade route: from Westbourne Park to Elkstone Road

Both parades follow the same loop. The procession starts near Westbourne Park station on Great Western Road and returns to the same area, so the route is a closed circle.

© Oast House Archive · CC BY-SAPhoto: Oast House Archive, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0), Wikimedia Commons

• Great Western Road, near Westbourne Park station: parade start.
• Westbourne Park Road.
• Chepstow Road.
• Westbourne Grove.
• Ladbroke Grove, with a detour onto Kensal Road and Golborne Road.
• Elkstone Road: end of the procession.

The organizer publishes an interactive version of the map and the full list of road closures: official carnival maps (as of 09/2026). Streets along the route are closed to cars for the whole weekend, so taxis and rental cars won't help you on those two days.

Good to know: the parade moves in a circle, and you don't need to follow the procession. Pick a spot early and stay there: road closures make it hard to cross to the other side of the route.

Getting there: which stations close

On carnival days, transport in the area works differently. The organizer recommends traveling to Paddington and then walking, following the signs: that's the fastest way without the crush (as of 09/2026, organizer's transport tips).

All station and time changes are collected on the Travel page (as of 09/2026).

For carnival weekend, express buses with a limited number of stops are introduced: 148X, 7X, 18X and others. Check the schedule for these routes on the organizer's website before you travel. Santander Cycles bike rental in the carnival zone is suspended: docking stations are switched off on Saturday afternoon and switched back on Tuesday morning (as of 09/2026, bike rental terms).

You get home the same way: follow the signs back to Paddington. Elizabeth line and National Rail trains depart from there, and separate entrances lead to the Bakerloo, Circle and District lines (as of 09/2026, how to get home via Paddington).

Where to watch and how not to get lost

The main rule: arrive before 11:00. From eleven o'clock, Notting Hill Gate, Westbourne Park, Holland Park and Royal Oak stations close their entrances, and you'll be stuck in the crowd with no platform nearby (as of 09/2026, source).

• Who it's for: those who want to see the costumes, listen to the sound systems and try the street food. The entire route is free to access.
• Not for: those who don't like dense crowds and long walks. The area leaves almost no free space on these two days.
• The catch: after 11:00, nearby stations close their entrances, and you'll have to walk to Paddington.

You can watch the parade from any sidewalk along the route. It's more practical to stand closer to Paddington: this station stays open, and you'll leave without a crush in the evening. The stretches near Westbourne Grove and Ladbroke Grove are good for costumes: the loop is closed, and the procession passes some streets twice.

How much the carnival costs and what to bring

No tickets needed, entry is free. You'll only pay for food, drinks and souvenirs from vendors along the route.

• Bring water and comfortable shoes: you'll walk several kilometers between closed streets.
• Keep your phone charged and agree on a meeting point with friends in advance: mobile signal in the crowd is unreliable.
• Toilets and street food stalls are set up along the route, but find them in advance, not at the moment you need them.

Important: don't leave your belongings unattended and don't carry unnecessary valuables. Stewards and police work at the carnival, but the crowd is huge.

⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

Do you need tickets for Notting Hill Carnival?

No tickets needed. The carnival takes place right on the streets of Notting Hill, so entry is free for everyone. Check the program and start time on the organizer's schedule, it changes by day.

What time does the procession start?

Both parades start around 10:00 (as of 09/2026, schedule and start time). On Sunday, children's groups go first; on Monday, adult costume troupes take to the route.

Which tube stations are closest to the route?

The closest are Westbourne Park, Ladbroke Grove and Latimer Road. Ladbroke Grove is closed all day during carnival days, Westbourne Park stops admitting passengers from 11:00, and Latimer Road only closes at 23:00 (as of 09/2026, station changes). It's easier to go to Paddington and walk following the signs, as the organizer advises.

Can you come to the carnival with children?

Yes, the children's procession takes place on Sunday, and part of the program is designed for families. For strollers, Paddington is the most convenient: it has step-free access to the Elizabeth line and a level path to the route (as of 09/2026, step-free route from Paddington). The crowd is still dense, so keep children close.

Are roads closed to cars?

Yes, streets along the route are closed for the entire carnival weekend, and some blocks become pedestrian-only. Santander Cycles bike rental in the carnival zone is also suspended (as of 09/2026, road closures and bike rental). It's best not to drive into the area on these two days.

In short: what to book

Notting Hill Carnival is experienced on foot: there are no tickets, the route is free, and the tube stations right by the area are closed for two days. Your plan: arrive at Paddington by 9:00, follow the signs to the start of the route and pick a spot near Westbourne Grove or Ladbroke Grove. Before 11:00 you'll have time to secure a good vantage point and enjoy the costumes at your leisure.

If you're traveling for the carnival weekend from Germany or Austria, book your hotel in advance: late August in London is high season. Look for rooms in London on Trip.com, and city walks before the parade on GetYourGuide.