Notting Hill Carnival is Londons biggest street party
UP TO a million people are nursing a hangover after one of the world’s biggest street parties. Check out epic photos of all the action here.
ITÂS the biggest party in a city that really knows how to party.
Right now, up to a million people are nursing a hangover after the first day of London’s annual Notting Hill Carnival.
The Afro-Carribbean themed street festival is the biggest in Europe filled with epic costumes, massive sound systems pumping out reggae music, steel drums and food stalls.
As the city drinks Powerade and prepares to do it all again, here’s how the first day went down.
The parade covers five kilometres of swanky Notting Hill — an area that became home to thousands of Carribbean immigrants arriving in the city in the 1950s.
The carnival began in 1964 and has gained a reputation as one of the best and brightest street parties in Europe, although it has been plagued with violence as well.
Everything you never knew about Carnival: http://t.co/gDx8CTS8bk pic.twitter.com/Tn5GheEjMd
London mayor Boris Johnson said it highlights what the Caribbean community brings to the city.
But everyone really comes to slam down chicken and beers on the side of the road.
Drumming from the top of the world. #nottinghillcarnival pic.twitter.com/ShsiygXJHb
There are an extra 6000 police on the streets, with 95 arrests made by Sunday night for theft, assault, weapons and public disorder.
But most of the cops just want to have a good time.
Things inevitably get messy.
And now they’re getting ready to do it all over again.