View Full Version : Enjoying Notting Hill Carnival
Is it possible?
I've been four years running and absolutely hated it and this year I'm taking Japanese friends of mine.
Just wondering if anyone has ever had a good experience?
It not, a list of local pubs in the area
PLEASE
I think its hard NOT to have a good time mate! just tell your Japanese friends to keep the camrea at home or it'll most likley get pinched :p
cyberfairy
22-08-2005, 10:57
i hated it when i went-pushed and shoved, was stoned, paranoid and claustrophic, lost all my mates and couldn't find tube open then got lost looking for one. And had phone nicked. have fun! ;)
Stay away from the horrendously busy areas and you'll have a great time.
i went every year for about 5 or 6 years in the early 90s, got a bit tired of it in the end, the notting hill shuffle, when you walk really slowly along the main streets...best to try and hang about in the side streets, and just hang on one place rather than try and move anywhere
I just wander round till I find a sound system playing techno and then stay there. Sooner of later every raver ends up there. Spent two happy days last year in front of the Sonic sound system. The pubs round there are all awful on carnival days so you are better off on one of the less crowded streets with a beer.
"Stay away from the horrendously busy areas and you'll have a great time."
Not possible!
Which is the better day - Sunday or Monday?
Have previously only done Monday
Go on Sunday - less crowds, more chilled atmosphere (imo).
And yeah, as others have said, don't move around too much, find a good sound system and stay for a while. Avoid Good Times - toooooo many people. Have some tasty food. A bit of a drink and a bit of a smoke, if that's your thing. Accept the fact that you're going to have to do quite a bit of walking to get home. Find a nice place to sit and watch some of the procession. If it gets too crowded, go in the opposite direction to the crowds.
gaijingirl
22-08-2005, 11:34
I have to agree.. I haven't really enjoyed it either. I'm lucky enough to have friends with a flat on Ladbroke Grove and they have a party each year, so I can get a good view from there, but I find it all WAY too claustrophobic for my tastes...
Good luck with your Japanese mates though..... they should be used to street festivals with a certain amount of pushing and shoving and drinking... they might find the sound systems and drugs a bit unusual though!!
christonabike
22-08-2005, 11:56
We used to go in a group but then stopped, but last year it was just me and Ms CoaB and we had a brilliant time
Head for Good Times/Sancho Panza/Aba Shanti-I in general but take in the sound systems on the way and you may never need to get to the big ones
Head for back street pubs, with just the two of us we could go where we wanted, when we wanted, stop for food and loos without it becoming a nightmare
Make friends whilst you are there
Superb day out
I always go to the pineapple tribe sound system and stay there :)
christonabike makes a good point - big groups of people can be a nightmare.
shakespearegirl
22-08-2005, 12:10
Been 3 times and hated it every time. Over crowded and lots of people displaying threatening behaviour. Never again
poster342002
22-08-2005, 12:49
I think it's held at the wrong time. By that I mean at the far end of a five-weekend month - but just before payday for most people. A lot of people aren't in the best of moods as a result as the money's running low.
I think there'd be a far better atmospheare at most festivals if they were scheduled the first weekend of a given month, rather than at the arse-end when people are running short of cash.
different peeps get paid a different times... im flush with cash by the time it's Carnival time. we're away tho this year.
dogmatique
22-08-2005, 13:18
Aren't most people paid on the last friday of the month?
Epicurus
22-08-2005, 13:34
... im flush with cash by the time it's Carnival time.
lend me a tenner
I don't think so mate! :D I get paid whilst away so until Friday im broke!
poster342002
22-08-2005, 13:44
Aren't most people paid on the last friday of the month?
I think most people are paid on the last working day of the month - which will be the following Wednesday in this instance.
Gavin Bl
23-08-2005, 07:25
Just wondering if anyone has ever had a good experience?
I went in 1990 I think, and again in 2000 - it was a lot of fun, busy - sure, but what do you expect?
I guess it totally depends what your friends are up for. If they want to see the parade, then Monday is definitely the best time to go, but otherwise Sunday is more chilled out.
Last year I took my Mum – we went on the Sunday and just had a general wander around back streets, had some food, looked at some stalls and tried to stay clear of the crowds.
We went back again on Monday to see the parade. We got there early and stood right at the very start, where all the floats were lining up ready to go. There weren’t any crowds, and you could just walk in and out of street, around the floats, got some really good photos.
Trying to get home we got caught up in one quite scary crush where there was a bottle neck in the pavement between a wall and crash barrier, which freaked my Mum out a bit. However, generally found the atmosphere friendly and Mum had a great time!
I went last year and it was a shit experience. Some goon trying to pickpocket me every five minutes. Stuff that for a laugh.
DJWrongspeed
23-08-2005, 11:57
Been 3 times and hated it every time. Over crowded and lots of people displaying threatening behaviour. Never again
Never had any problems myself. It's always fascinating how one persons hell is another's heaven!
The crime rate is much lower than glasto for example, many more police actually.
Explorer
23-08-2005, 12:25
Also been there 3 times and not too keen on it.
My mates love it, I'm gonna agree with ShakepeareGirl on this though
"Over crowded and lots of people displaying threatening behaviour. Never again"
Won't be catching me there this year :)
Barking_Mad
23-08-2005, 12:35
Im going on the Sunday, I was going to take my rather large Nikon digital camera to take some photos, but reading this Im not so sure! Am I really likely to get mugged and have it stolen, or is just pickpockets I need to watch out for?
I'd buy a disposable camera instead. just to be on the safe side. U might be totally fine or not.
lunatrick
23-08-2005, 20:25
used to go for a few years - last time was about three years ago - my advice is to drink heavily - that way you don't notice / care about the bad vibes which definately lurk here and there, on the whole had a good time - was absolutely blown away by the scale and loudness of the sound systems 10 years ago, don't know if it's not as good as it used to be or I've changed but just doesn't appeal anymore - too many people, and a bit of a darkside atmosphere....
The sound systems are still impressively loud. I'm amazed by the sheer amount of bass every year.
Any time you get that many people in one place you're bound to get a bit of dodgyness, but, imo, it's no reason not to go. If there was no darkside atmosphere people would be saying it had lost it's edge and wasn't as good as it used to be, no doubt.
DO:
Get a map / timeout guide or something before you get there
Buy loads of booze before you get anywhere near the area
Walk in from a distant tube stop / car parking place
Stay at one of the outer soundsystems
Find one of the amazing pub parties, buy a ticket if required, and stay indoors
Go in groups of 2-4 people
DONT:
Co-ordinate large groups
Walk aimlessly through the whole thing
Go where the big crowds are going
Worry about missing X system or Y dj
Even try to enjoy Norman J / Good Times (Best tunes, too small location)
RenegadeDog
24-08-2005, 01:35
It might be the 'children's day'/'wusses day', but I've always had a much better time on the Sunday. Nowhere near as overcrowded, you can just float about, have a few beers, enjoy yourself, and make it onto a tube home easily.
I've always found the Monday a bit hellish to be honest.
Plus you get Monday to recover.
districtline
24-08-2005, 11:38
there were too many murders the year i went. it was my first week in london and i lived in kensal rise which was mobbed by all the festival goers and a huge gang of black youths robbed our local store to which the staff responded by bringing out the baseball bats.
i like this city, i thought. :D
It might be the 'children's day'/'wusses day', but I've always had a much better time on the Sunday. Nowhere near as overcrowded, you can just float about, have a few beers, enjoy yourself, and make it onto a tube home easily.
I've always found the Monday a bit hellish to be honest.
:D
monday's suited me when i was a young teenager, was never a hassle getting home as i could walk....but then they started to piss me off. too crowded. too much attitude and too many shootings :(
so this year, after many years away, i am going on kiddies / wusses day, and really looking forward to it. hope the kiddie i am taking enjoys it! :cool:
chegrimandi
24-08-2005, 12:19
go on sunday, take loads of beers, don't bother with the parade and find a fat soundsystem playing the tunes you like (jungle or dub for me) on the outskirts and you should have a top time.... :cool:
I've been about 4 times and enjoyed it every time...... :)
rutabowa
24-08-2005, 12:28
it's great. I'm going to go on Monday aftrenoon, get off WEstbourne Park Tube and head to channel 1 for a bit then walk (slowly!) towards Aba Shanti, catching whatever's on the way... then last year i found a secret silverlink station near there that wasn't on the carnival map, no problems getting back. I don't take beer with me, it's a hassle to carry and there's about 1000 people selling it for not TOO rip off (ie cheaper than in a club!). And I will go on my own, i don't like compromising where i want to wander. DON'T try and meet up with people once yr there, you'll waste most of the day. i've never seen any trouble, if u stay by a crowded sound system (which is after all the point) then u can't go far wrong. if yuo don't mind crowds and like reggae it's pretty much heaven, you just wander round in a happy daze.
been at the carnival for the last ten years and never got in any serious trouble, but i took me some time to know where to go and what places should be avoided. and i've got the feeling the number of people attending the carnival declined over the last 2 or 3 years, so it's less hassle.
the best thing is going early to see the soundsystems around "all saints road / portobello road -area" like jah observer, gaz's rockin blues, cmc or even rampage (which should be avoided in the later hours especially on monday). you can catch a nice carnival feeling there and when more people arrive i find it more comfortable on the other side of the westway at the aba shanti sound (playing only on monday), sancho panza, rough but sweet.
monday seems to be the day with more trouble. when it gets dark more and more of these "hooded youth gangs" appear and even if they're not seekin directly for trouble the friendly atomsphere can change very fast.
- never go with too many mates. sooner or later you'll lose them so make arrangements for meetingplaces at fixed times in advance.
- bringing your own booze in disposable bags makes things cheaper but this is just an option.
- do not forget a lightweighted raincoat. even if it doesn't rain, it's better to sit on the raincoat than on tons of chickenbones.
I've been going for years and it took a few to start to enjoy it.
I hate crowds attitude etc so for me the tried and teasted method is as follows;
Get the train to Kensal Green (or walk along the canal from Warick Avenue), walk to Middle Row which is where Sancho Panza always are. If you don't enjoy the Tech House thing or the police spotters in the building behind make you nervous, you can pop round the corner to Good Times.
We never venture further than these two stages....you don't see much of the actual carnival procession, but who cares.
Take your sunglasses and a big smile and forget about the attiude of the dick heads around, you can always find loads of other people there who are up for a good time. If you don't belive me just go near the front of the 2 stages mentioned above.
Happy carnival.
Arrgh you lucky bastards!!! :mad:
Having emmigrated I wont be able to go this year, maybe next! Shits on Rio carnival for me!
Saturday warm up, then starting to get high again Sunday, blitzing Sunday night, Monday flying again!
Have fun carnival noshers 3 nights and 2 days of sloshing ahead :D lucky bastards!!!
DJWrongspeed
27-08-2005, 22:43
i hated it when i went-pushed and shoved, was stoned, paranoid and claustrophic, lost all my mates and couldn't find tube open then got lost looking for one. And had phone nicked. have fun! ;)
yeah but come on it's fuckin fantastic event , just needs a bit of exploring, don't bring yer mobile obviously and get pack'a'stellas........
I may choose today due to the dog... There's alway the canal to go down if things are a bit manic
Im going on the Sunday, I was going to take my rather large Nikon digital camera to take some photos, but reading this Im not so sure! Am I really likely to get mugged and have it stolen, or is just pickpockets I need to watch out for?
I've never had my camera nicked but it depends how sure you want to be
The crime rate is much lower than glasto for example, many more police actually.
Who would ever bother reporting a crime at NHC?
Why is everyone on about the attitudes?? I don't go because the noise and crowds aren't for me, but I went when I was a kid and didn't see too many attitudes although I wasn't there for too long.
William of Walworth
28-08-2005, 21:36
Never had any problems myself. It's always fascinating how one persons hell is another's heaven!
Yep no problems over any of the ten years (on the trot! :eek: ) that I went(1991-2001) but I guess a lot of that came from checking the available information, being reasonably sorted about London life aand crowds anyway, and a bit of good luck. I soon worked out how to avoid the worst crushes.
The crime rate is much lower than glasto for example, many more police actually.
I agree there's a lot of Police, but as far as the Carnival/Glasto comparison is concerned, I think you might be out of date. There's been a very low crime rate at Glasto since 2002.
Both events are pretty safe nowadays I think.
William of Walworth
28-08-2005, 21:40
it's great. I'm going to go on Monday aftrenoon, get off WEstbourne Park Tube and head to channel 1 for a bit then walk (slowly!) towards Aba Shanti, catching whatever's on the way... then last year i found a secret silverlink station near there that wasn't on the carnival map, no problems getting back. I don't take beer with me, it's a hassle to carry and there's about 1000 people selling it for not TOO rip off (ie cheaper than in a club!). And I will go on my own, i don't like compromising where i want to wander. DON'T try and meet up with people once yr there, you'll waste most of the day. i've never seen any trouble, if u stay by a crowded sound system (which is after all the point) then u can't go far wrong. if yuo don't mind crowds and like reggae it's pretty much heaven, you just wander round in a happy daze.
This all makes good sense! :cool:
I'm very tempted to revisit for Monday's shenanigans tomorrow (not having been since 2001) but we've had a crazy weekend (just back from Wales where the beer, etc. flowed freely) and I'm not completely decided yet ....
It's going to be hot, or at least pleasant, tomorrow I think, so local inertia may win. But enjoy!! Aba Shanti in particular is awesome, and if you happen by Mikey Dread's Sound System (Studio One) or Jah Observer's, then they're pretty impresive too, but I would say that as I'm a dub and roots head ...
Just got back, via a couple of pubs. Had an excellent day. Bit of a dance at all the soundsystems I wanted to, ate far too much tasty carribean food, drank far far too much lager and cheap whiskey, and a fair bit of pollen and skunk. Feeling...pretty wrecked actually, but probably heading back tomorrow :)
Random One
28-08-2005, 22:06
i went today too...was my first time and i had an awesome day. Music was cool, the food smelt wicked, the weather was really good and there was a good vibe. Hung out watching the parade which was cool but i always thought that it was more consistent than it was-seemed to be a lot of gaps in between each float-bt maybe thats just how it is. Took a fuck load of photos...and never had my camera nicked-was all good fun:)
DrRingDing
28-08-2005, 22:09
pissed
top cats were ace
the bloke that pretended to be gay but then cvracked onto my mrs, boo hiss1
VERY VERY DRUNK
pissed
top cats were ace
the bloke that pretended to be gay but then cvracked onto my mrs, boo hiss1
VERY VERY DRUNK
*wild applause*
me photeees:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bigsky/sets/838732/
me photeees:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bigsky/sets/838732/
Ha see you got a picture of park oposite the Pelican :D ! More photos of today please!
Can't see the pics... I hate flickr! :mad: It's my new pet hate!
Had a lovely time at the carnival, never been before on a Sunday, it's just slightly less busy and chaotic than Monday! We were sat at the square (near the CMC sound system) after it was all finished, and a bunch of teenagers started having a fight, everyone in the square started booing.
Then the fight finished, everyone who was fighting left, but one of the boys came back and grabbed a bottle... He started walking around with this huge vodca bottle and everyone in the square (there were about 300 people in there) started booing and screaming 'DROP THE BOTTLE'. He looked a bit surprised and confused and just stood there staring at everyone. He then just walked off, luckily there were some police around and they had a chat with him. It was a very cinematographic moment! :cool:
We also stayed at Aba Shanty for a bit, their sound system was so loud that when I walked past the speakers my hairs stood on end, and poor Mouse was shaking with the noise.
Wandered around for 15 minutes, couldn't be arsed with the crowds. Went to the pub instead.
tastebud
29-08-2005, 15:47
yeah. it was a great day!
was cool to find some reggae & drum n bass. not too busy either.
and yeah, the fight (as described by iemanja) was really funny.
funny because of the immediate crowd participation.
was really cool that the whole field started booing madly until the guy dropped the bottle and scarpered.
wouldn't have been funny had it got nasty though.
i had a very pleasant day!
the trick is to avoid the crowds as much as you can.
:)
lizzieloo
29-08-2005, 16:07
Is it possible?
I've been four years running and absolutely hated it and this year I'm taking Japanese friends of mine.
Just wondering if anyone has ever had a good experience?
It not, a list of local pubs in the area
PLEASE
I can't understand this kind of thing, if you don't like it don't go.
Seems fairly simple to me. :)
Been 3 times and hated it every time. Over crowded and lots of people displaying threatening behaviour. Never again
this kind of think makes me laugh from the floorboards of me soul. I don't know what people expect at the biggest free cwrnival/festival in Europe... order and co-ordination, ffs get a grip. And as for people displaying threatening behaviour... ffs (again) what Carnival do some of you people go to... I've missed 3 in 16 years and have yet to see anything that would put me off going.
You people need to develop a thicker skin, ffs.
Carnival rocks... go to the Good Times bus and tell me you aren't having a good time.
Don't go in future. ffs.
ffs.
ps: ffs some of you meek freaks
rutabowa
30-08-2005, 10:16
it was great for me, again. Channel 1, Jah Observer, Gladdy Wax, Aba Shanti... everyone that i saw was all smiling at each other, everyone! Like they were all ridiculously happy. The only bad thing was it took me 3 hours to find somewhere selling special brew, but that possibly saved me too. I feel sad now it's over though.
it was great for me, again. Channel 1, Jah Observer, Gladdy Wax, Aba Shanti... everyone that i saw was all smiling at each other, everyone! Like they were all ridiculously happy. The only bad thing was it took me 3 hours to find somewhere selling special brew, but that possibly saved me too. I feel sad now it's over though.
We spent a while at Gladdy Wax, excellent tunes there :)
I can't understand this kind of thing, if you don't like it don't go.
Seems fairly simple to me. :)I loved the first couple I went to but the last few I didn't enjoy at all and I've not been back for the last three or four years.
I'm not sure if it's due to me changing or the festival changing. :confused: Probably a bit of both.
tastebud
30-08-2005, 10:41
i guess if you're traipsing around in huge crowds for hours it isn't much fun, but once you've been a couple of times, you find out where the cool (and less busy) areas are, and it's marvelous! :)
I wonder how many people who say they don't like Carnival for whatever reason are comfortable at free squat parties, unable to walk, choc full of donkey spanker. :rolleyes:
each to their own I know. but I seriously question anyone who can't have a good time at Carnival, it's what you make it yourself.
altho' - maybe there's too many black people there for most honkies. maybe their the ones displaying threatening behaviour.
carnival, imo, symbolises London's multiculturalism at it's best. and I for one love it.
ffs.
I really like the carnival but I've had a couple of scares over the years:
The first ever time I went someone tried to snatch my camera out of my hand, they failed, but it fell on the floor, the film popped out and the camera was a bit fucked... Then it rained...
The second one was terrifying though, I was 5 months pregnant, took a wrong turn and ended up near the bridge (near Ladbroke Grove). I got caught in the crowd, which was going in all directions, but going nowhere at the same time... After about 10 minutes I managed to get out (somehow I managed not to panic too much), by then I had lost my partner, couldn't get through to him on the phone... I ended up walking for about 2 hours before I found a tube station that was open. After that I didn't go for about 4 years! It really put me off...
I've been back twice since that time though, and had a lovely, trouble free time.
Vixen is right, once you learn what to avoid it's a really lovely event!
wrysmile
30-08-2005, 10:57
As mentioned on another thread, I got scared when some fucker yelled 'there's a bomb' and smoke randomly appeared, whereupon hundreds of people, suddenly terrified, started running. It was really brief and I just grabbed my girlfriend and jumped behind a big pole - but it was very scary. I didn't hear what the person yelled, I was just scared by the big surge in the crowd, I thought I'd be crushed. But that was late on Monday afternoon and apart from that I had a fantasic time - loved the music, loved dancing behind the floats and joining the parade, loved the soundsystems in the backstreets which had to be the loudest music I've ever heard. Will definitely be back next year if I'm around. Shame the last bit had to put a dampener on a great weekend. :mad:
rutabowa
30-08-2005, 10:59
I wonder how many people who say they don't like Carnival for whatever reason are comfortable at free squat parties, unable to walk, choc full of donkey spanker. :rolleyes:
err, probably not very many?!!?
I agree with this: "carnival, imo, symbolises London's multiculturalism at it's best. and I for one love it."... but i don't think it makes someone a bad person if they don't want to come, too! some people don't like crowds, and that...there's lots of reasons they might not enjoy it, it's all fair enough. anyway, i had good time, hope u did too.
altho' - maybe there's too many black people there for most honkies. maybe their the ones displaying threatening behaviour.
When we were there on Sunday it was actually a bunch of white kids who were displaying (rather pathetic) threatening behaviour.
When we were there on Sunday it was actually a bunch of white kids who were displaying (rather pathetic) threatening behaviour.When they both took off their belts and started making "snapping" sounds with them I started to think it was some kind of bizarre S+M mating ritual. :D
Louloubelle
30-08-2005, 11:37
I've been loads of times and loved it but the last couple of times I got crushed under a bridge for about 20 mins and thought I might die, got hit in the eye with a lighted cigarette by a drunk woman waving her arms around, got my bag cut open with a knife (they didn't get anything but it was scary to think that someone had used a knife near me), got threatened by a very aggressive gang of girls who were spitting at and randomly attacking women, was punched hard by a metally ill man who was randomly punching people at the TOV rig, got sexually harassed by countless men, and had to go home early because a really drunk bloke dropped a full can of larger on my toe and my toe swelled up like a fat sausage and turned black and was so painful that I couldn't walk let alone dance.
In previous years when I've gone with a group of friends I've had the best times and been hassled less
The times I haven't enjoyed it so much have been when I've seperated from my friends to go to different sound systems and I think it can be tough being a woman alone at carnival as you get a lot of hassle from men
I think carnival has its good and bad points and whether you have a good time or net depends to some extent on luck
I wonder how many people who say they don't like Carnival for whatever reason are comfortable at free squat parties, unable to walk, choc full of donkey spanker. :rolleyes:
each to their own I know. but I seriously question anyone who can't have a good time at Carnival, it's what you make it yourself.
altho' - maybe there's too many black people there for most honkies. maybe their the ones displaying threatening behaviour.
carnival, imo, symbolises London's multiculturalism at it's best. and I for one love it.
ffs.
*yawn*
go to bed then old man...
I just find your opinion rather tiresome and your insinuation of racism quite pathetic.
DrRingDing
30-08-2005, 19:08
.........choc full of donkey spanker. :rolleyes:
.
:D :D :D
I just find your opinion rather tiresome and your insinuation of racism quite pathetic.
show me where I'm wrong then Blags... eh!
going on what you actually quoted..
I know for a fact on this thread alone there are those who enjoy getting spanked on donkey in any one of several 'orrible situations. but yet find carnival uncomfortable. where's the logic in that, where is it tiresome...
and anyone who can't avail of a free afternoon of celebratory carnival culture, be it in the heart of the masses, or on the outskirts, drinking pop, or dinking poteen... there's something for everyone there... everyone. is that tiresome?
I also know people who possess a fear of being a minority amongst minorities, i.e. uncomfortable amongst a group of black people... their problem indeed, but these people do exist, and amongst this existance I'm pretty confident there are those who will not go to carnival for said reason... is that racist... no! maybe tiresome then... you tell me.
and please correct me if I'm wrong thinking that {quote} carnival, imo, symbolises London's multiculturalism at it's best. and I for one love it.{unquote}...please Blags... correct me.
ffs... er... tiresome and/or pathetic. please.
please correct me where relevant tho'.
lizzieloo
30-08-2005, 20:19
err, probably not very many?!!?
I agree with this: "carnival, imo, symbolises London's multiculturalism at it's best. and I for one love it."... but i don't think it makes someone a bad person if they don't want to come, too! some people don't like crowds, and that...there's lots of reasons they might not enjoy it, it's all fair enough. anyway, i had good time, hope u did too.
The thing is the original post was this
Is it possible?
I've been four years running and absolutely hated it and this year I'm taking Japanese friends of mine.
Just wondering if anyone has ever had a good experience?
It not, a list of local pubs in the area
PLEASE
Why oh why is this person considering going to something he'll hate, has experienced before more than once and hated it then too.
Do something else, it doesn't matter if you don't enjoy Carnival.
William of Walworth
30-08-2005, 21:53
Well I'm very sorry I missed it. I blame bone idleness ... :o
When I return though, I know I'll love it, simply through knowing what to look out for and what to avoid :)
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