Preparing for Carnival

Carnival takes place just over the canal next weekend and the parking restriction signs went up in Queen’s Park more than a week ago.

Whether you intend to embrace or avoid the event, you may want to check out some of the information available at the Westminster website.

Download a map of the Carnival route and a more detailed,  Notting Hill Carnival resident booklet.  There will be road closures at various points. View a map of the affected area.  TFL have a specific page, detailing station closures and diverted bus routes here.  Their special Carnival map is here.

There’s an official website is here and you can follow their Twitter feed, Instagram and Facebook for the latest updates, or get the app.

The floats assemble just over the bridge in Kensal Road and there are several events in the lovely Emslie Horniman Pleasance Park and if you don’t mind getting a colourfully dirty, you can get really involved by attending Jouvert early on Sunday morning.

The other day, The Cow launched a new beer brewed locally, especially for the carnival. To quote the Morning Advertiser :

Portobello Brewing Company is brewing up a new ale for the Notting Hill Carnival, Carnival Pale.
Proceeds from sales of the beer will go to four charities selected by the London Notting Hill Carnival Enterprises Trust. The charities will be: The Ebony Steel Band Trust, the NSPCC, Leukaemia Care and the Sickle Cell Society.  The brew will be officially launched at an event at The Cow (Westbourne Park Road W2) on August 4 featuring DJs Gaz Mayall (of Gaz's Rockin' Blues) & Cow resident Harlem Redneck.     
Carnival Pale will be available at pubs and bars across London until September and can be found during the carnival at the bars around Gaz's Rockin' Blue's Soundsystem.