It’s the August Bank Holiday weekend, which can only mean one thing- it’s time for the Notting Hill Carnival!
Held every August since 1966, the two-day party has become the largest festival of its kind in Europe.
Now in it’s 49th year, more than a million people are expected to attend the Caribbean-style carnival, which kicks off on Sunday 30 August.
Dust of your dancing shoes - it's time for the Notting Hill Carnival
[Sadly you will have to pack that brolly as showers are expected…]
We’ve collated a list of must-read websites before you go - giving you the most up-to-date information on travel options, live music, parties and food.
- The Notting Hill Carnival official website should be your first port of call for information on what, when and where.
- More than a million people are expected to visit the carnival over the weekend - check TfL's website for advice on getting there and any line and station closures.
- London Live will be broadcasting live from the carnival for two hours on each day between 4-6pm.
- Have a misty-eyed flick through these snaps by the carnival's official photographer Timothy N Holt, who has been snapping the celebration for the last ten years.
- TimeOut has rounded up a decent selection of useful tips on how to manage the crowds and general safety advice.
Notting Hill Carnival 2014
Notting Hill Carnival(01 of33)
Woman smiling during the Notting Hill carnival, London, 25th August 2014 (credit:Inga Rasmussen via Getty Images)
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Female dancer enjoying the Notting Hill carnival, London 25th August 2014 (credit:Inga Rasmussen via Getty Images)
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Woman smiling to the camera during the Notting Hill carnival, London, 25th August 2014 (credit:Inga Rasmussen via Getty Images)
Britain Notting Hill Carnival(04 of33)
Revelers dance in the rain during the last day of the Notting Hill Carnival in London, Monday, Aug. 25, 2014. The Notting Hill Carnival is the largest festival celebration of its kind in Europe. (AP Photo/Bogdan Maran) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Britain Notting Hill Carnival(05 of33)
Revellers dance in the rain during the last day of the Notting Hill Carnival in London, Monday, Aug. 25, 2014. The Notting Hill Carnival is the largest festival celebration of its kind in Europe. (AP Photo/Bogdan Maran) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Britain Notting Hill Carnival(06 of33)
Revelers shelter from the rain during the last day of the Notting Hill Carnival in London, Monday, Aug. 25, 2014. The Notting Hill Carnival is the largest festival celebration of its kind in Europe. (AP Photo/Bogdan Maran) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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Notting Hill Carnival parade, London 2014 (credit:Paul Mansfield/Flickr via Getty Images)
The Annual Notting Hill Carnival Celebrations 2014(08 of33)
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 25: A bedraggled reveller escapes the rain outside a Costcutter store at the end of the Notting Hill Carnival on August 25th, 2014 in London, England. Despite the bad weather over 1 million visitors are expected to attend the two-day event which is the largest of its kind in Europe. The event has taken place on the West London streets every August Bank Holiday weekend since 1964. (Photo by Mary Turner/Getty Images) (credit:Mary Turner via Getty Images)
Red Bull Music Academy Sound System At Notting Hill Carnival(09 of33)
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 25: JME performs live at the Red Bull Music Academy Sound System at Notting Hill Carnival at Notting Hill on August 25, 2014 in London, England. (Photo by Tristan Fewings/Getty Images for Red Bull) (credit:Tristan Fewings via Getty Images)
Red Bull Music Academy Sound System At Notting Hill Carnival(10 of33)
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 25: Full capacity crowds enjoy a dj set by Basement Jaxx at the Red Bull Music Academy Sound System at Notting Hill Carnival at Notting Hill on August 25, 2014 in London, England. (Photo by Tristan Fewings/Getty Images for Red Bull) (credit:Tristan Fewings via Getty Images)
Red Bull Music Academy Sound System At Notting Hill Carnival(11 of33)
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 25: Full capacity crowds enjoy a dj set by Basement Jaxx at the Red Bull Music Academy Sound System at Notting Hill Carnival at Notting Hill on August 25, 2014 in London, England. (Photo by Tristan Fewings/Getty Images for Red Bull) (credit:Tristan Fewings via Getty Images)
Red Bull Music Academy Sound System At Notting Hill Carnival(12 of33)
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 25: Guy Lawrence of Disclosure backstage at the Red Bull Music Academy Sound System at Notting Hill Carnival at Notting Hill on August 25, 2014 in London, England. (Photo by Tristan Fewings/Getty Images for Red Bull) (credit:Tristan Fewings via Getty Images)
Red Bull Music Academy Sound System At Notting Hill Carnival(13 of33)
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 25: A carnival dancer performs on stage during a dj set by Basement Jaxx at the Red Bull Music Academy Sound System at Notting Hill Carnival at Notting Hill on August 25, 2014 in London, England. (Photo by Tristan Fewings/Getty Images for Red Bull) (credit:Tristan Fewings via Getty Images)
Notting Hill Carnival in London(14 of33)
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 25 : Performers attend the Notting Hill Carnival despite the heavy rain on August 25th, 2014 in London, England. (Photo by Tolga Akmen/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images) (credit:Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
The Annual Notting Hill Carnival Celebrations 2014(15 of33)
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 25: Performers take part in a rain soaked Notting Hill Carnival on August 25th, 2014 in London, England. Despite the bad weather over 1 million visitors are expected to attend the two-day event which is the largest of its kind in Europe. The event has taken place on the West London streets every August Bank Holiday weekend since 1964. (Photo by Mary Turner/Getty Images) (credit:Mary Turner via Getty Images)
Notting Hill Carnival in London(16 of33)
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 25 : Performers attend the Notting Hill Carnival despite the heavy rain on August 25th, 2014 in London, England. (Photo by Tolga Akmen/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images) (credit:Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Notting Hill Carnival in London(17 of33)
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 25 : Performers attend the Notting Hill Carnival despite the heavy rain on August 25th, 2014 in London, England. (Photo by Tolga Akmen/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images) (credit:Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Notting Hill Carnival in London(18 of33)
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 25 : Performers attend the Notting Hill Carnival despite the heavy rain on August 25th, 2014 in London, England. (Photo by Tolga Akmen/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images) (credit:Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Notting Hill Carnival in London(19 of33)
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 25 : Performers attend the Notting Hill Carnival despite the heavy rain on August 25th, 2014 in London, England. (Photo by Tolga Akmen/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images) (credit:Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Notting Hill Carnival in London(20 of33)
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 25 : Performers attend the Notting Hill Carnival despite the heavy rain on August 25th, 2014 in London, England. (Photo by Tolga Akmen/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images) (credit:Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Notting Hill Carnival in London(21 of33)
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 25 : Performers attend the Notting Hill Carnival despite the heavy rain on August 25th, 2014 in London, England. (Photo by Tolga Akmen/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images) (credit:Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Notting Hill Carnival in London(22 of33)
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 25 : Performers attend the Notting Hill Carnival despite the heavy rain on August 25th, 2014 in London, England. (Photo by Tolga Akmen/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images) (credit:Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Notting Hill Carnival in London(23 of33)
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 25 : Performers attend the Notting Hill Carnival despite the heavy rain on August 25th, 2014 in London, England. (Photo by Tolga Akmen/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images) (credit:Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Notting Hill Carnival in London(24 of33)
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 25 : Performers attend the Notting Hill Carnival despite the heavy rain on August 25th, 2014 in London, England. (Photo by Tolga Akmen/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images) (credit:Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Notting Hill Carnival in London(25 of33)
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 25 : Performers attend the Notting Hill Carnival despite the heavy rain on August 25th, 2014 in London, England. (Photo by Tolga Akmen/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images) (credit:Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Notting Hill Carnival in London(26 of33)
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 25 : Performers attend the Notting Hill Carnival despite the heavy rain on August 25th, 2014 in London, England. (Photo by Tolga Akmen/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images) (credit:Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Notting Hill Carnival in London(27 of33)
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 25 : Performers attend the Notting Hill Carnival despite the heavy rain on August 25th, 2014 in London, England. (Photo by Tolga Akmen/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images) (credit:Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
The Annual Notting Hill Carnival Celebrations 2014(28 of33)
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 25: A performer dances through heavy rain during the Notting Hill Carnival on August 25th, 2014 in London, England. Despite the bad weather over 1 million visitors are expected to attend the two-day event which is the largest of its kind in Europe. The event has taken place on the West London streets every August Bank Holiday weekend since 1964. (Photo by Mary Turner/Getty Images) (credit:Mary Turner via Getty Images)
The Annual Notting Hill Carnival Celebrations 2014(29 of33)
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 25: Performers dance through heavy rain during the Notting Hill Carnival on August 25th, 2014 in London, England. Despite the bad weather over 1 million visitors are expected to attend the two-day event which is the largest of its kind in Europe. The event has taken place on the West London streets every August Bank Holiday weekend since 1964. (Photo by Mary Turner/Getty Images) (credit:Mary Turner via Getty Images)
The Annual Notting Hill Carnival Celebrations 2014(30 of33)
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 25: Revellers dance through heavy rain during the Notting Hill Carnival on August 25th, 2014 in London, England. Despite the bad weather over 1 million visitors are expected to attend the two-day event which is the largest of its kind in Europe. The event has taken place on the West London streets every August Bank Holiday weekend since 1964. (Photo by Mary Turner/Getty Images) (credit:Mary Turner via Getty Images)
The Annual Notting Hill Carnival Celebrations 2014(31 of33)
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 25: Performers dance through heavy rain during the Notting Hill Carnival on August 25th, 2014 in London, England. Despite the bad weather over 1 million visitors are expected to attend the two-day event which is the largest of its kind in Europe. The event has taken place on the West London streets every August Bank Holiday weekend since 1964. (Photo by Mary Turner/Getty Images) (credit:Mary Turner via Getty Images)
The Annual Notting Hill Carnival Celebrations 2014(32 of33)
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 25: A performer changes into a more glamorous set of shoes during the Notting Hill Carnival on August 25th, 2014 in London, England. Despite the bad weather over 1 million visitors are expected to attend the two-day event which is the largest of its kind in Europe. The event has taken place on the West London streets every August Bank Holiday weekend since 1964. (Photo by Mary Turner/Getty Images) (credit:Mary Turner via Getty Images)
The Annual Notting Hill Carnival Celebrations 2014(33 of33)
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 25: Members of the 'Dance Police' perform on the streets of West London during the Notting Hill Carnival on August 25th, 2014 in London, England. Despite the bad weather over 1 million visitors are expected to attend the two-day event which is the largest of its kind in Europe. The event has taken place on the West London streets every August Bank Holiday weekend since 1964. (Photo by Mary Turner/Getty Images) (credit:Mary Turner via Getty Images)