The easiest way to enjoy the Notting Hill Carnival - the biggest event of its kind in Europe attracting over one million visitors - is to travel by bus and Tube.

The easiest way to travel to the Carnival and back is by bus and Tube

Transport for London (TfL) advises all passengers to plan their journeys and to check before travelling to the Carnival, on Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday 27 and 28 August.

The key Tube lines serving the Carnival area, the Central and Hammersmith & City lines, will run as normal with some extra services. But as part of TfL's £10bn Investment Programme, a major increase in work is being carried out on the Tube at weekends and public holidays across London.

This work, being carried out by Metronet and Tube Lines, is essential to meet London's transport needs now, and in future.

But it means that some stations and sections of other lines across London will see some disruption.

TfL advises passengers to check before travelling via the following options:

  • The TfL website: www.tfl.gov.uk/tubeworks
  • The London Travel Information 24- hour telephone helpline 020 7222 1234
  • BBC Ceefax, page 436, or ITV's Teletext, page 164
  • Information on posters, leaflets and "Good Service" boards at Tube stations

Mike Brown, LU's Chief Operating Officer, said: "The Carnival is a massive annual event - the biggest of its kind in Europe - and we want everyone going to enjoy themselves.

"This year, as with every other, we at Transport for London are working with Carnival organisers to make sure we all enjoy another successful year.

"The easiest way to travel to the Carnival and back is by bus and Tube.

"But plan your journey, check before you travel, and be aware that crowds and road closures could slow you down.

"For safety reasons some stations may close temporarily if they become overcrowded.

"Travelling back may be easier from another station or bus stop, so check the options for your return journey before you go.

"Notting Hill Carnival leaflets with maps showing the Carnival route and providing helpful information are available from Tube stations."

Bus services:
Two special express routes - 36X and 436X - will be running between south London and the Carnival on both Carnival days.

Numerous other bus routes will run close to the Carnival but will not enter the immediate Carnival area due to some road closures.

The routes serving the area are; 7, 18, 23, 27, 28, 31, 36, 52, 70, 94, 148, 295, 316, 328 and 390.

Night routes will operate throughout Sunday and Monday night - N7, N18, N28, N31, N36, N52 and N207.

Bus routes 6, 15, 187, 205, 220, 274, 414 and 436, all operate within a comfortable walking distance.


Tube Services:
Normal Saturday services will run on all lines except on the Central line, where extra trains will run on all sections, and the Hammersmith & City Line, where extra trains will run on some sections.

Due to planned improvement works as part of TfL's £10bn Investment Programme, certain parts of the Tube listed below are not running services as follows.

But there are alternative routes using other Tube lines, rail replacement buses or local buses.

Northern line:
No service between CamdenTown and East Finchley, and between Finchley Central and Mill Hill East on both days.

Piccadilly line:
No service between Acton Town and Uxbridge all weekend including Monday.

District line:
No service between Ealing Common and Ealing Broadway on both days.

Waterloo & City:
No service

There are no services in and out of King's Cross National Rail station on Sunday 27 August.

For more information contact www.nationalrail.co.uk or call 08457 484950. But King's Cross St Pancras Tube Station will be open.

Stations in the Carnival area:
Ladbroke Grove station is closed on Sunday and Bank

  • TfL is investing £10bn to improve and expand London's transport network, over half of that of being spent on the Tube
  • Tube Lines is responsible for the maintenance and renewal of Jubilee, Northern and Piccadilly lines
  • Metronet Rail BCV is responsible for the maintenance and renewal of the Bakerloo, Central, Victoria and Waterloo & City lines
  • Metronet Rail SSL is responsible for the maintenance and renewal of the sub surface lines - the Circle, District, Hammersmith & City, Metropolitan and East London lines