Revellers at Europe's largest street festival enjoyed sunshine, booming sound systems and increased safety during the finale of Notting Hill Carnival on Monday.
Although there were spots of rain during the afternoon the weather was mainly sunny and warm, with hundreds of thousands flocking to the capital to join the party's headline event on Bank Holiday Monday.
They enjoyed the float parade, danced in the streets and admired striking costumes under the gaze of an additional 2,000 police officers drafted in for the Caribbean-inspired festival, bringing the total to 7,000.
Monday's festivities remained largely peaceful, with police saying they had made 67 arrests at Carnival since midnight, mainly for drug and public order offences as well as robbery and assault.
A group of people was detained this afternoon at Kings Cross underground station to prevent them from travelling to Notting Hill.
Police said they suspected the 34 individuals, who are believed to have been travelling by train from north London, were heading to the carnival to cause trouble.
Fifteen members of the group were arrested to prevent a breach of the peace.
In a statement, Scotland Yard said: "All will be detained at an appropriate location where they will be held until police are satisfied that there is no longer a risk they will commit disorder at the carnival."
Officers have been granted stop and search powers within the area where the carnival takes place and have advised visitors to only use mobile phones when absolutely necessary.
Some carnival-goers said they felt the increased police presence was unnecessary.
Jade Walker, a stable worker who had travelled from Middlesbrough with her 13-year-old daughter Deena, said:
"There's not a lot of need for it.
"This is my second time here and I've never felt threatened, but maybe that's just because I'm from Middlesbrough and it's rough there."
Mrs Walker's husband Gary, a managing director at a garage, agreed.
He said: "It's just a fun, friendly, happy vibe.
"I don't feel uncomfortable with the amount of police, but there are certainly a lot of them here and I'm not sure they would be able to do much if there was trouble."
On Monday a 20-year-old man was left in a serious but stable condition after being stabbed in the back and buttocks in Ladbroke Grove.
Metropolitan Police said a 14-year-old boy was slashed with a sharp object in Golborne Gardens.
And a 16-year-old girl was also treated but discharged herself from hospital after sustaining what police described as a superficial leg wound in Wornington Road.
Three men were also stabbed in a fight in North Pole Road - close by but outside the carnival's footprint.
Scotland Yard said two men were arrested and one was left in a critical condition.
Forensic officers continued to inspect the scene on Monday.
Carnival-goers watched on as floats full of young performers in feathers and jewellery danced to the sound of steel drums.
They draped themselves in flags from Caribbean countries such as Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados as they enjoyed jerk chicken and rice from street stalls.
Missy Joos, an occupational therapist from Chicago, America, said the food smelled great but complained about the long queues.
The 42 year old, who is on holiday in the UK, said she found carnival "overwhelming".
"I had heard about it and that it was the second largest carnival after Rio de Janeiro, and it is something I wanted to do.
"The music is wonderful and it is something that everybody should experience, it's a chance to get to know other cultures."
Participants in the float parade said that they were "proud" to have taken part in Carnival.
Brent Forbes, 52, said he had been parading at Notting Hill for the 14th time, after first attending in 1998.
The unemployed school worker, who lives in Croydon, south London, but is originally from Trinidad, said his black and purple costume referred to the recession.
"This year our theme was the economy, we wanted to make it a sign of the times.
"The theme was recession and greed."
Asked about the police presence, he said officers had been "wonderful".
"I haven't seen any violence and the police only get involved when there's trouble, they are never heavy-handed," he added.
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PA | Posted: 27/08/2012 21:46 Updated: 28/08/2012 09:25