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Westbourne Park
Closest tube: Ladbroke Grove, Notting Hill Gate, Bayswater
Hotels: Bayswater Inn (3*), Notting Hill Hotel (2*), Shaftesbury Notting Hill (4*)
Every year over the bank holiday long weekend the stylish and very wealthy district of Notting Hill hosts a 2 day long street festival in celebration of the West Indian / Caribbean community who have been in the area since the 1950's - and since the 60's the streets of Notting Hill have become a playground of colourful costumes, music, dancing, drinking, eating, culture and a whole of fun.
As Europe's largest street party, Notting Hill Carnival attracts an average of 1 million people every year - only rivalled by the world famous Carnival in Rio. Traditionally starting on the Saturday with 'Panorama', a steel-band competition, followed by 'kids' day' on the Sunday with a shorter parade, the main event is Monday when the masses converge and the party almost gets out of control! The famous procession begins around 10am and it really is fantastic with some of the most amazing costumes you will ever see, riding on or jiggling behind each float until the parade finishes up around 10pm at night. All day outside in the streets there are Mobile DJ's blasting out fabulous tunes from enormous sound systems, steel-bands entertaining crowds with traditional music, there are also areas for reggae, drum 'n' bass and garage music, the food stalls are delicious and people are literally dancing everywhere and anywhere.
Don't fight the crowd; just shuffle, bump and move along with it. You can grab a map of the festival to find who is playing what and where, or you can just wing it and have a day full of wonderful surprises. If you are planning to meet friends there, do it early in the day, have a good meeting spot or forget about it - you'll either bump into them by chance or chat about your experiences the next day. Once the carnival has finished up in the streets, the many bars in the area keep the party spirit alive until very late.
If you don't like crowds you should probably avoid this event or find a spot you like and stay there for the day, people watching from the sidelines (which is enough fun in itself). Driving in the are is extremely difficult over this weekend and we suggest to take the tube to Notting Hill Gate (Central, District & Circle lines) or Ladbroke Grove (Hammersmith & City line) stations. There are also several bus routes that service Bayswater and Notting Hill. Allow yourself plenty of time to get to the carnival and for leaving when you've finally had enough as there will clearly be a lot of people doing the same.
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| HOTEL / APARTMENT | POSTCODE | MILES | STAR | 24 May | 25 May | 26 May | 27 May | 28 May | 29 May | 30 May | 31 May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Plaza Serviced Apartments | W2 4AD | 1.02 | 4A | £157.25 | £165.75 | £250.75 | £97.75 | £148.75 | £157.25 | £182.75 | £157.25 |
| Shaftesbury Premier London Notting Hill | W2 4NP | 1.02 | 4G | £99.00 | £99.00 | £99.00 | £69.00 | £75.00 | £79.00 | £79.00 | £79.00 |
| Notting Hill Hotel | W2 4EW | 1.06 | 2 | £105.00 | Full | Full | £55.00 | £55.00 | £55.00 | £55.00 | £65.00 |
| Royal Hyde Park Hotel | W2 3RR | 1.17 | 2 | £99.00 | £119.00 | £89.00 | £59.00 | £59.00 | £59.00 | £59.00 | £79.00 |
| The Abbey Court Notting Hill | W2 4DU | 1.19 | 4G | £119.00 | Full | £125.00 | £119.00 | £108.00 | £108.00 | £119.00 | £119.00 |
| Shaftesbury Hyde Park International | W2 3LB | 1.25 | 4G | £129.00 | £229.00 | £229.00 | £75.00 | £85.00 | £89.00 | £89.00 | £89.00 |
| 39 Suites | W2 3SY | 1.40 | 3S | £89.00 | £89.00 | £99.00 | £89.00 | £79.00 | £79.00 | £79.00 | £79.00 |
| Leisure Inn Hotel | W2 3AN | 1.40 | 2 | £128.00 | £258.00 | Full | £59.00 | £67.00 | £45.00 | £85.00 | £45.00 |
| Hotel 43 | W2 3SY | 1.40 | 2 | £139.00 | £159.00 | £139.00 | £89.00 | £79.00 | £89.00 | £79.00 | £79.00 |
| Hyde Park Executive Apartments | W2 3HU | 1.43 | 4A | £119.00 | £129.00 | £119.00 | £99.00 | £79.00 | £79.00 | £70.00 | £70.00 |
| Park Grand London Hyde Park | W2 6QA | 1.43 | 4G | Full | Full | Full | £129.00 | £129.00 | £129.00 | £129.00 | £129.00 |
| Caesar Hotel | W2 3BD | 1.45 | 4 | £184.00 | £114.00 | £119.00 | £89.00 | £124.00 | £184.00 | £104.00 | £144.00 |
| Central Park Hotel | W2 3SY | 1.45 | 3 | £108.00 | £108.00 | Full | £89.00 | £79.00 | £79.00 | £53.00 | £53.00 |
| Byron | W2 3SH | 1.46 | 4G | £109.00 | £145.00 | £135.00 | £69.00 | £79.00 | £79.00 | £75.00 | £75.00 |
| Apollo Hotel | W2 3SH | 1.52 | 2 | Full | Full | Full | £77.00 | £77.00 | £77.00 | Full | Full |
| Shaftesbury Premier London Paddington | W2 6QA | 1.55 | 4G | £149.00 | £89.00 | £129.00 | £75.00 | £79.00 | £79.00 | £79.00 | £79.00 |
| The London Hyde Park Hotel | W2 4RT | 1.60 | 4 | Full | £159.00 | £159.00 | £99.00 | £169.00 | Full | Full | £139.00 |
| Hotel Royal Eagle | W2 3QB | 1.69 | 3 | £130.00 | Full | Full | £99.00 | £108.00 | £99.00 | £108.00 | £108.00 |
| Mina House Hotel | W2 3BU | 1.71 | 2 | £82.00 | £147.00 | Full | £85.00 | £82.00 | £82.00 | £82.00 | £82.00 |
| The Paddington Hotel | W2 3DH | 1.74 | 2G | £80.00 | £110.00 | £110.00 | £75.00 | Full | Full | £65.00 | £80.00 |
| Comfort Inn Edgware Road | W2 1EG | 1.80 | 3 | £109.00 | £99.00 | £109.00 | £49.00 | £89.00 | £89.00 | £89.00 | £89.00 |
| The Royal Park Hotel | W2 3UL | 1.81 | 4 | £310.80 | £238.80 | £238.80 | £226.80 | £226.80 | £191.04 | £191.04 | £226.80 |
| Best Western Mornington | W2 3LG | 1.81 | 4G | £175.00 | £145.00 | £199.00 | £100.00 | £149.00 | £119.00 | £119.00 | £119.00 |
| Corus hotel Hyde Park | W2 3LG | 1.88 | 4 | £136.81 | £124.80 | £124.80 | £124.80 | £136.81 | £184.81 | £136.81 | £112.80 |
| Quality Crown Hyde Park | W2 1TS | 1.91 | 4G | £159.00 | £129.00 | £160.55 | £99.00 | £109.00 | £169.00 | £169.00 | £99.00 |
| London Elizabeth Hotel | W2 3PF | 1.93 | 3 | £118.00 | £104.00 | £161.00 | £68.00 | £68.00 | £194.00 | £194.00 | £68.00 |
| Hyde Park Court Hotel | W2 1RT | 1.94 | 2 | £89.00 | £145.00 | Full | £69.00 | £65.00 | £65.00 | £65.00 | £75.00 |
| Lancaster London | W2 2TY | 1.97 | 4 | £214.80 | £142.80 | £166.80 | £142.80 | £214.80 | Full | Full | £214.80 |
| Norfolk Plaza | W2 1RX | 1.99 | 3 | £105.00 | £105.00 | Full | £70.00 | £70.00 | £70.00 | £70.00 | £70.00 |
| The Gresham | W2 1UA | 2.04 | 3 | £250.00 | £90.00 | £350.00 | £60.00 | £70.00 | £70.00 | £80.00 | £65.00 |
| The Pacific Hotel | W2 1UA | 2.06 | 3G | £300.00 | £300.00 | Full | £75.00 | £95.00 | £95.00 | £95.00 | £115.00 |
| Darlington Hyde Park | W2 2RU | 2.07 | 3 | £226.00 | £158.00 | Full | £89.00 | £180.00 | Full | £140.00 | £95.00 |
| Orchard Hotel | W2 1UH | 2.07 | 3 | £115.00 | £410.00 | Full | £410.00 | £113.00 | £113.00 | £113.00 | £113.00 |
| Belmont Astoria Hotel | W2 1UH | 2.08 | 3 | £300.00 | Full | Full | £300.00 | £94.00 | £94.00 | £94.00 | £94.00 |
| Milestone Hotel - A Red Carnation Hotel | W8 5DL | 2.32 | 5 | £402.00 | £402.00 | £420.00 | £402.00 | £486.00 | £600.00 | £504.00 | Full |
| Kensington House Hotel | W8 5PQ | 2.36 | 4 | Full | Full | Full | £102.00 | £108.00 | £114.00 | £114.00 | Full |
| Kensington Close Hotel | W8 5SP | 2.49 | 4 | £82.80 | £82.80 | £94.80 | £82.80 | £94.80 | £94.80 | Full | £94.80 |
| Copthorne Tara Hotel London Kensington | W8 5SR | 2.49 | 4 | £168.00 | £198.00 | £132.00 | £120.00 | £120.00 | £264.00 | £144.00 | £144.00 |
| The Landmark London Hotel | NW1 6JQ | 2.59 | 5 | £276.00 | £238.80 | £262.80 | £238.80 | £276.00 | £348.00 | £348.00 | £238.80 |
| Marble Arch Inn | W1H 5QR | 2.75 | 2G | £125.00 | Full | Full | £100.00 | £80.00 | £80.00 | £80.00 | £90.00 |
| 146 Suites | NW1 6DT | 2.77 | NC | Full | Full | Full | £99.00 | £89.00 | £119.00 | £89.00 | £89.00 |
| London Lodge Hotel | W8 6JE | 2.80 | 3 | Full | Full | Full | £116.00 | Full | £134.00 | £99.00 | £125.00 |
| Dalmacia Hotel | W6 7LS | 2.81 | 3 | £87.00 | £87.00 | Full | £65.00 | £87.00 | £87.00 | £65.00 | £65.00 |
| Rose Court Hotel Marble Arch | W1H 7DS | 2.85 | 2 | £134.00 | £129.00 | £119.00 | £66.00 | £80.00 | £86.00 | £86.00 | £129.00 |
| Montagu Place Hotel | W1H 2ER | 2.85 | 4 | £156.00 | £144.00 | £144.00 | £144.00 | £252.00 | £240.00 | £240.00 | £156.00 |
| The Georgian Hotel | W1U 6JF | 2.87 | 3G | £400.00 | Full | Full | £85.00 | £95.00 | £115.00 | £90.00 | £90.00 |
| The Parkcity Hotel | W8 5JE | 2.88 | 4 | £199.00 | Full | Full | £129.00 | £189.00 | £149.00 | £149.00 | £149.00 |
| HOTEL OLIVER | SW5 0SN | 2.88 | NC | £100.00 | £140.00 | £160.00 | £65.00 | £65.00 | £65.00 | £65.00 | £65.00 |
| Hotel82London | W1U 6HN | 2.89 | 3 | Full | Full | £99.00 | £99.00 | £99.00 | Full | £89.00 | £89.00 |
| Abba Queens Gate London Hotel | SW7 5JA | 2.90 | 4 | Full | £185.00 | £165.00 | £150.00 | £150.00 | £150.00 | £150.00 | £150.00 |
| Station | Zone | Line(s) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Westbourne Park Station | 2 | Hammersmith & City | 0.05 miles |
| Ladbroke Grove Station | 2 | Hammersmith & City | 0.77 miles |
| Royal Oak Station | 2 | Hammersmith & City | 0.85 miles |
| Warwick Avenue Station | 2 | Bakerloo | 1.25 miles |
| Bayswater Station | 1 | District - Circle line | 1.29 miles |
| Station | Distance |
|---|---|
| Queens Park London Station | 1.54 miles |
| London Paddington Station | 1.68 miles |
| Kilburn High Road Station | 1.97 miles |
| Kensal Green Station | 2.01 miles |
| Kensal Rise Station | 2.08 miles |