Notting Hill Carnival 2016: Dates, times, map, route, weather forecast, Tube stations – everything you need to know

More than a million expected at annual celebration of music and multi-culturalism

This year’s Notting Hill Carnival is the fiftieth incarnation of Europe’s biggest street party.

Widely known simply as 'carnival, the annual celebration of music and multiculturalism will be attended by more than a million revellers over the weekend.

First organised in 1966 by resident Rhaune Laslett as a way to improve race relations in the area, it grew in popularity and became increasingly associated with Caribbean and sound-system culture.

It was marred by public disorder in some years – particularly during the turbulent seventies and eighties – but is now become a firm public favourite.

A police officer joins the fun (Frank Barratt/Getty Images)

When does it take place?

Sunday 28 August – Family day has a more relaxed atmosphere more suited to young children.

Bank holiday Monday 29 August – The main parade, featuring dancers, performers and steel bands, is more lively.

What time does carnival start?

The carnival parade begins at 9am on both days. Around the same time, 38 sound systems and at least 60 bands will get going. Officially, festivities wind down from 8.30pm but there are numerous after-parties in the area.

What will the weather be like?

Sunday - It will mostly be hot and dry, with temperatures hitting up to 24C. However, showers are possible later on in the day and these could turn into thunderstorms overnight. Air pollution is expected to be low throughout the day.

Monday - Sunshine is expected on the the second and final day of carnival, with the temperature again expected to reach 24C. There is a chance of rain, but less so than on Sunday. Again, low levels of air pollution are expected.

Performers in the children's day parade at Notting Hill Carnival (Reuters)

Tube stations and travel

The following stations will be exit-only most of the day and are likely to be extremely busy:

Notting Hill Gate (Central, Circle and District lines) Exit only 11am – 7pm

Royal Oak (Circle and Hammersmith and City lines) Exit only 11am – 6pm, closed from 6pm Monday.

Westbourne Park (Circle and Hammersmith and City lines) Exit only 11am – 6pm.

Nearby tube stations without disruptions include High Street Kensington, Shepard’s Bush, Bayswater, Holland Park, Queen’s Park and Paddington. These will also be very busy.

Buses will also be severely disrupted but extra services will be laid on. ‘Boris bike’ stations in the area will be suspended.

Authorties urge people not to try to drive to the event.

More information can be found at Transport for London’s dedicated page.

Performers dance through heavy rain during the Notting Hill Carnival in London. (Mary Turner/Getty Images)

How many people are expected at carnival?

Usually, a million people attend carnival over the course of the weekend and are concentrated in a relatively small area. Do not underestimate how hard it is to find people once they have been lost.

If meeting friends, also be aware that phone reception will likely be limited due to the number of people converging on the area.

Also bear this in mind if arranging to move to a certain place – travelling through large numbers of people is difficult.

It is wise to pre-arrange a meeting point to go to in the event of losing members of the group. Consider downloading a map of event to a phone before going.

What food and drink will be available?

There will be a wide variety of food, from Caribbean dishes like jerk chicken to stalls which sell only vegetarian options. There are also numerous places to buy alcohol.

A street trader cooks chicken on a barbecue at Notting Hill Carnival (Oli Scarff/Getty Images)

Will there be toilets?

There will be toilets dotted around the area, varying from ‘portaloos’ to urinal troughs. Some residents in the area also charge revellers for access to toilets in their homes.

What is the carnival route?

Spread between areas of Notting Hill, Westbourne Park and Ladbroke Grove, the carnival parade route can be seen below. Along the way and at many streets in between, there will be sound systems paying tribute to Caribbean influenced music, new and old, and some other genres entirely.

Sound system line-up

Aba Shanti-I

"Arts-A-Light"

Bass by Any Means Necessary

Belgrave, Ricky : Bass Chairman

CMC/Matrix Sound System

Channel One Sound System

Disco Hustlers

Disya Jeneration

4Play Sound System

Gaz's Rockin Blues

GI Roadshow

Gladdy Wax Road Show

Good Times Sound System

GT Flex Roadshow/Mayhem Crew

Jah Observer

KCC and the Rocking Crew

King Tubby's

Latin Rave Street Jam

Lord Gelly's

Love TKO (Ramjam Radio)

Mangrove Sound

Mastermind Roadshow

Mellotone Sound System

Metro Glory (Science of Sound)

Nasty Love (Mixin Lab)

People's Sound - Featuring: Sufferer

Pineapple Tribe

Rampage

Rapattack

Rough But Sweet

Sancho Panza

Saxon Studio

Showtime Blackstar

Sir Lloyd

Sir Valdez

Solution

The Fun Bunch

Virgo International