UK BLOG

The Notting Hill Carnival is a summer fixture on every Londoner's calendar; high-camp Marmite covered in sequins and feathers, either you love it or hate it. It is a glorious, garish, noisy affair with a tropical heart and a very British soul. I've been a regular since my youth and still can't get enough. It's a great place to bank some London memories - I can chart my coming of age through the various trinkets I've collected over the years. In 1993 it was a whistle (I still have it), and now it's usually a hangover.

Every year brings a mix of colourful costumes, 40 static sound systems and hundreds of food stalls. Wall-to-wall music means you can take your pick from traditional carnival beats or throw some shapes to drum n bass, house tunes or home-grown grime and hip-hop (avoid the microphones unless you want to be coerced into a spot of spontaneous mc-ing.)

The parade itself is worth a look if you haven't been to Carnival before, but for the real deal you need to leave the procession behind and head into the depths of Notting Hill.

Here are my five top tips for avoiding any carnival carnage and enjoying a stress-free experience:

Dress: where clothing is concerned, less is more. I guarantee you will see some eye-popping attire. Dress comfortably, but bear in mind it is a celebration so wear something fun to get into the festival spirit. Ladies, leave your heels at home.

Food: Dragons' Den success-story Levi Roots started off selling his hot Reggae Reggae Sauce at the Notting Hill Carnival. This is the place to sample Caribbean favourites such as jerk chicken, rice and peas and plantain. Dig in.

Go with the flow: Getting lost is part of the fun, and Carnival weekend is ideal for meeting new people. Get involved - and maybe indulge in a dance-off or two. Keep an eye on the local pubs as the sun goes down, too - these are the places to party after hours and maybe spot a local celeb.

Calls of nature: Portaloos are stationed around Notting Hill but the queues are always huge. For a more pleasant experience, try one of the many independent shops and cafes that open their lavatories to the public for a small fee. 

Safety: As with any event of this scale, thefts do occur. Security has been tightened in recent years but it is still wise to keep an eye on your valuables (or leave them at home).

For more information visit: thenottinghillcarnival.com/