London's Notting Hill Carnival

The Notting Hill Carnival is an annual event which since 1964 has taken place on the streets of Notting Hill, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea , London, UK each August, over two days (the August bank holiday Monday and the day beforehand). It is led by members of the West Indian community, particularly the Trinidadian and Tobagonian British population or 'Trinis', many of whom have lived in the area since the 1950s. The carnival has attracted up to 2 million people in the past.

The carnival, Europe's largest street festival, began successfully with few problems reported on Sunday (August 28 2011). The festival closed before dark this year to discourage any repetition of the arson and looting which erupted in London and other cities earlier in the month. Metropolitan Police described the opening day of the two-day festival as peaceful, and reported only 33 arrests, including six for assault and one for an offensive weapon.

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