For weeks the front rooms, church halls and community centres of W11 have been humming with the sound of sewing machines as the final sequins and feathers are sewn on to elaborate costumes in preparation for Europe's biggest street Carnival.
At noon that quiet hum will be replaced by the throbbing beat of soca, calypso and reggae as the 36th Notting Hill Carnival gets underway.
The event has come a long way since 1964 when the local Afro-Caribbean community took a small steel band procession onto the streets as a way of celebrating their culture. Carnival today is a major enterprise attracting big-name sponsors and thousands of tourists. More than two million people are expected to take to the streets of west London this weekend, making it second only to the Rio Carnival in size.
So what can first-timers expect from Carnival? Rum punch in plastic cups, cute kids in papier-maché bumble bee costumes, the smell of spicy jerk chicken hanging in the air, big crowds, gyrating dancers in sparkly thongs, long queues for the Portaloo and a pulsating soundtrack of music from around the world. And it's all free. Our guide shows you how to get the most from your day.
Quick guide to Carnival
1 Mas' Short for Masquerade, the costumed parades which form the backbone of Carnival. This year more than 50 mas' bands will pulsate and gyrate their way around the three-mile circular parade route, picking up followers along the way and hoping to impress the judges with their interpretation of a chosen theme: aliens, the Wild West and a celebration of black hair are just a few of the storylines to look out for this year. Music will be provided by live soca, calypso and steel bands. The parades take place between noon and 7pm on Sunday and Monday. The Sunday event is designated as a children's parade.
2 Static Sound Systems Originally frowned on by Carnival purists, the sound systems are now recognised as an important element of the Carnival experience and this year there are more than 50 systems to choose from each playing their own selection of soca, reggae, jazz, soul, hip-hop, house, garage and Latin. The best ones will attract big crowds. Just look for a huge stack of speakers and follow the noise.
3 Live stages BBC Radio 1 is hosting the biggest outdoor stage at Horniman's Pleasance with acts such as Wookie, Shola Ama and Jamelia appearing on Sunday and an all-day rap show broadcast live on Monday with a bill topped by De La Soul. In Powis Square the Resurrected Stage will feature live acts and DJs playing everything from samba to reggae and drum and bass.
4 Food stalls Hundreds of licensed street stalls will be selling delicious food including West Indian specialities such as jerk chicken, Jamaican patties and curries.
Five survival tips
1 Plan your travel carefully as some London Underground stations will be closed and bus routes diverted. Don't even think about driving to Notting Hill and allow extra time for train connections. It may be worth walking to a tube station further away from the action for a chance of even getting on a train.
2 The Carnival Route is three miles long, so comfortable footwear is vital.
3 Don't take valuables or expensive jewellery.
4 Agree on a rendez-vous point in case you lose your companions in the Carnival crush. If you should become separated from your kids there are lost and found children centres at Lancaster Road and outside the bus depot in Great Western Road.
5 Two of the best vantage points to watch the parade are the Kensal Green end of Ladbroke Grove and near the judging point halfway along Westbourne Grove. Those wanting to avoid the crush should head for Horniman's Pleasance or Powis Square where you can sit on the grass and watch the acts on the live stages.
Getting there and getting home
London Underground: Ladbroke Grove station will be closed on both days. Westbourne Park, Notting Hill Gate and Latimer Road stations may be closed for short periods due to overcrowding.
Last trains: There will be a normal Sunday service and on Monday trains will operate to a Saturday timetable.
Notting Hill Gate station will be exit-only from 10am to 7pm on Sunday and Monday. At these times there will be no interchange between Central Line and Circle/District Line. Circle/District Line trains will not stop here from 10am to 7pm on Monday.
Royal Oak station will be exit-only from 11am until closing time on both days.
Westbourne Park station will be exit-only between 11am and 7pm and entrance only from 7pm to 11pm on both days.
Other nearby stations: Bayswater, High Street Kensington, Holland Park, Kensal Rise, Maida Vale, Paddington, Queensway, Queen's Park and Warwick Avenue.
Buses: The following routes run close to Carnival: 7, 12, 18, 23, 27, 28, 31, 36, 52, 70, 94, 295, 316 and 328.
There will be a special express route 12X running on both days until 10pm between Notting Hill Gate and Victoria.
Night buses N12, N18, N23, N28, N31, N36, N52, N94 and N207 will operate throughout Sunday and Monday evenings. Additional buses will operate on some routes.
The London Transport Information service is available 24 hours a day on 020 7222 1234.
Bare essentials
Today: Kids' day
Tomorrow: Adults' day
Details: Entertainment from 10am. Processions start at noon and events continue until 7pm.
Information: 020 8964 0544
Web site: www.nottinghillcarnival.net.uk
... and elsewhere in the south
London International Balloon Festival
Trent Park, Enfield, London
A series of mass balloon launches from Trent Park
today and tomorrow, plus a funfair, a display by the
London Fire Brigade Freefall Parachute Team,
stiltwalkers and live bands. Open: Today, 11am to
midnight. Tomorrow 11am to 11pm.
Adults £4, children aged 16 and under £2. Families
£10. (020 8379 5125)
Going Wild in London
Camley Street Natural
Park, Camden, London NW1
Part of a summer-long series of events organised by
the London Wildlife Trust across 50 of the capital's
nature reserves. Families are invited to meet at Camley
Street Natural Park near King's Cross to explore this
nature reserve on the banks of the Regent's Canal.
Children will be able to help build a monster using
recycled goods. Also happening today: a family
pond-dipping event in Dagenham , meadow mowing in
Hillingdon and an evening batwalk along the Thames
in Richmond . Noon-4pm. Free (020 7261 0447).
The IWA National Waterways Festival and Inland
Boat Show
Lea Valley Showground, Waltham
Abbey, Essex
Some 400 river boats take part in the largest
waterways festival in the country. Attractions include
motor-cycle stunt riders, vintage vehicles, a Victorian
fun fair, miniature steam train, craft fair, food courts,
dog shows, falconry displays, Punch and Judy show,
circus and quad bikes. Today and tomorrow: 10am to
6pm. Adults £5, children aged under 16 with parents
free. (01992 700522)
King Arthur's Greatest Victory
Old Sarum, near Salisbury, Wiltshire
King Arthur's victory over marauding Saxon warriors is
re-enacted for the first time with knights on horseback,
sword-wielding infantry and archers. There will be living
history encampments with displays of weapons, period
crafts and cookery, as well as axe and spear throwing.
Open: Today and tomorrow from noon. Battles take
place at 3pm each day. Adults £4, children £2.
(01722 335398)
The Wind in the Willows
Richborough Roman Fort, Sandwich, Kent
Toad, Ratty, Mole and Badger will be brought to life in
a new adaptation of the classic children's story.
Livewire Theatre Company will invite children on stage
to help in a forest scene. Adults £3.50, children £1.80,
under-fives free.
Performances take place on Sunday and Monday at
12.30pm & 3pm.
(01304 612013)
