As cities like Toronto and New York grapple with large street festivals, residents in Notting Hill are boarding up ahead of the annual Notting Hill Carnival. Dozens of locals and business owners have installed plywood barriers and metal railings as two million people prepare to descend on the west London district.
Resident preparations in Notting Hill
The carnival, Europe's largest street festival, celebrates Caribbean culture each August and this year marks its sixtieth edition. Similar celebrations in Toronto's Caribana and New York's West Indian Day Parade also draw massive crowds and generate comparable concerns about noise and litter.
Locals have previously voiced complaints about noise, litter, and even revellers defecating or fornicating in front gardens.
Last year, 55 complaints were filed to the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, covering noise, disturbance and environmental health issues. Eighteen of those complaints occurred in the Dalgarno Ward, outside the carnival footprint, and an additional 11 were made in the Golborne Ward.
Such behaviour has prompted dozens to board up their homes in anticipation.
One resident who lives near Portobello Road admitted she had to deal with the fallout every year and had been forced to consider plywood blockades. "Every year we have to deal with people being sick in our garden or leaving their rubbish," she said. "It's not really fair." She added that while she "loves carnival and what it does for the community," she was "sick and tired" of "the mess and noise."
Another local who lives in a flat block close to Ladbroke Grove said she was "happy" that the council had installed metal barriers. "It keeps the kids safe," she explained.
Impact on local businesses
Both Tesco Express and Sainsbury's Local on Portobello Road and Ladbroke Grove respectively have boarded up their shopfronts as they prepare for the festivities. The shops are expected to stay open despite the barriers.
In the heart of Portobello Market, one trader said that while the carnival "brings good customers", it is "too busy and stressful" for small businesses. He said it was easier to board up the shop "for peace of mind".
Others argue that the inconvenience is part of living in Notting Hill and that residents should expect noise and litter, or consider moving elsewhere. "If you're living in Notting Hill, then it's just part of the package, part of the culture," said one long‑time resident. He urged anyone troubled by the carnival to "live somewhere else".
The council is understood to have installed railings in certain areas. Last year, there were no noise limits set for the festivities, but this year limits have been established and will be monitored by the council. As per carnival rules, sound systems and mas bands must wind down the noise by 7 pm. In 2025, no equipment was seized or confiscated as a result of breaches of curfew time or non‑compliance.