The streets of west London come alive with music, food, and vibrant costumes at the annual Caribbean festival

The streets of Notting Hill were filled with colour, rhythm, and excitement on Monday as the Notting Hill Carnival reached its thrilling climax. Thousands of revellers danced and celebrated, many atop vibrant floats, followed by energetic mas bands adorned in feathers and glittering costumes, all part of the lively adult parade marking the culmination of Europe’s largest street festival.

The air was thick with the mouth-watering aroma of jerk chicken as music blared from sound systems set up along the streets, playing a mix of everything from reggae, ska, and samba to house and rare groove. Notting Hill Carnival, which celebrates Caribbean culture and history, is expected to have attracted more than two million people by the end of the long weekend.

This year’s festivities were particularly significant, marking two key anniversaries: 50 years since the introduction of sound systems and mas bands that transformed the event into a massive street celebration, and 75 years since the Empire Windrush arrived, beginning the wave of Caribbean immigration to the UK.

Despite the celebrations, there were increased security measures, with the Metropolitan Police imposing a Section 60 order, which grants extra search powers to officers, after reports of people bringing knives into the area. However, the police noted that the atmosphere remained “good-natured throughout the day.” By Sunday evening, 85 arrests had been made, including 11 for sexual assault and 10 for assaulting a police officer, as the authorities continued to monitor the event. Officers were also seen searching local parks and public spaces for any suspicious items.

Nevertheless, the carnival remained a joyful and vibrant tribute to Caribbean culture, with music, dance, and food filling the air well into the night.