Notting Hill Carnival Q&A

Notting Hill Carnival Q&A

27 August, 2009
by: Spoonfed Festivals

Notting Hill Carnival is in 2 days time! But what should you bring? And what should you wear? Tweet your questions on the #nhc09 hashtag, or add them in comments below, and we'll answer the best ones. No question is too daft.

Scroll down for the Carnival Q&A and a live twitter feed. Or check out the buzz from DJs and musicians playing this year. Or our preview, complete with soundsystem listings, after parties and a map. Or our interviews with Carnival stars Gaz Mayall and Norman Jay. Are you getting excited yet?



What time should I arrive? [Meg]:

Carnival officially kicks off at 9am this year, but that's a little bit brisk. To get the most out of it we'd suggest being there by 11am as the floats and soundsystems will be well underway.

Important: If you are planning to spend much time around the northern part of Carnival (Southern Row, home to Aba Shanti and Good Times and adjacent to Sancho Panza, is particularly popular) remember that the police are imposing serious crowd control this year. If you're going that way, be there by 2pm.


Where should I come from? [SteveL]:

Tube: Alight at Maida Vale or Latimer Road or Queensway and walk in. Best option is the buses that go along Notting Hill Gate: 94, 148, 27... there's loads. Alight at Notting Hill Gate and wander north into the action. TFL journey planner


Fancy dress ideas? [Lowri]:

If it's hot, as little as possible. Face paints and gaudy swimming costumes will fit in. There's a Cuban theme around Gaz's Rockin Blues. The sky is the limit. We like the 'speed garage' look – Reebok classics, Moschino polo shirts, sun visors upside down.


What essentials should I bring? [Sam]:

Pound coins and notes. Water bottle. Sunscreen. Mobile phone with a full battery.


Footwear? [Emma]:

Trainers. Old ones. Flip flops are an absolute no no! Someone will tread on your foot at some point.


Where shall I start for procession? [Lowri]:

Er, anywhere? If you want to follow the floats all the way head in from Harrow Road along Great Western Road and join the route at the All Saints Road. Many people follow the procession from the bottom of Ladbroke Grove as that is a fairly wide route. Our preferred technique is to stand on a cross-street like Westbourne Park Road and watch the floats go by. You'll see more and varied floats.


How do I get back to East London in less than 2 hours? [Dom]:

Walk to Queensway tube and take the Central Line. 25 mins on foot, 20 mins to Bethnal Green. Then a short walk to K Hole Warehouse Party.


Where can I get the best Caribbean food? [Meg]:

Hard to say. The best organised food stalls are in Powis Square, along the Portobello Road and around Gaz's Rockin Blues on Talbot Road. There are also front garden BBQs in All Saints Road and Westbourne Grove. The best authentic Caribbean stall? We'll leave that open – any ideas anyone?


Any particular vendors or dishes I should look for? [Meg again]:

Jerk chicken. Goat foot curry. Ribs. Chow Mein.


Red stripe or Jamaican rum? The decision is a tough one... [funnytimeofyear]:

Ha! We always take spirits becaue they taste good when they've been getting warm next to our asses. For beers, hit the over-priced trolley-vendors...


Is there any way they could keep the noise down a little?  [Tom]:

If you're a Notting Hill Resident concerned by noise, go to one of your country houses, probably until Tuesday so that you won't be kept awake by the street cleaners clearing up all the filthy muck and oom-schka

Notting Hill Carnival preview
Norman Jay interview
Gaz Mayall Interview

Click here for ALL pre and after parties on the Carnival tag

Spoonfed Festivals