Europe's largest street festival - the Notting Hill Carnival - returns to the streets of west London on August Bank Holiday weekend.

The easiest way to travel is by bus, Tube, on bike or by foot and we advise all carnival goers to be aware that crowds and road closures could slow you down.

With the area closed off to traffic, the easiest way to enjoy the sights and sounds of Carnival 2008 is to travel by bus or Tube, on bike or by foot.

Transport for London (TfL) advises all visitors to 'check before they travel' and plan their journey to and from the carnival on Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday, 24 and 25 August.

All London Underground lines will be running a normal service over the weekend, with a Saturday timetable on the Bank Holiday Monday. On the two key lines that serve the carnival area, the Central and the Hammersmith & City lines, extra trains will run throughout the weekend.

Ladbroke Grove station, located on one of the busiest sections of the carnival route, will be closed on both Sunday 24 and Monday 25 August.

Station changes

Some stations around the carnival area will close early or be 'exit only' at certain times on both days, to help keep ease congestion. They include:

  • Latimer Road station will close at 23:30
  • Notting Hill Gate will have no interchange between the Central and Circle/District lines; station will be exit only between 11:00 and 19:00 and Circle/District lines will not stop between 11:00 and 19:00
  • Royal Oak will be exit-only between 11:00 and 18:00 and the station will close at 18:00
  • Westbourne Park will be exit-only between 11:00 and 18:00 and the station will close at 23:00

Bus routes

A number of bus routes will run close to the carnival area. The following services will start and end close to the edge of the carnival, but will not enter the immediate area due to local road closures:

  • 7, 18, 23, 27, 28, 31, 36, 46, 52, 70, 94, 148, 295, 316, 328, 390, 452, N7, N18, N28, N31 and N52

Other buses within a comfortable walking distance include:

  • 6, 15, 46, 187, 205, 220, 274, 302, 332, 414, 436, N15 and N207

Some bus routes will be on diversion due to local road closures. Diversions will be in place from the first bus on Sunday morning until around 03:00 on Tuesday 26 August.

Special express service

Two special express routes - 36X and 436X - will be running between south London and the carnival on both days. The 36X will operate between Peckham and Harrow Road 'Prince of Wales' and the 436X will operate between Peckham and Notting Hill Gate. Both services will be non-stopping from central London.

Plan your journey

Mike Weston, Operations Director for London Buses said: 'The carnival is a great annual event and we want everyone going to enjoy themselves.

'We do advise visitors to plan their journeys to and from the event. The easiest way to travel is by bus, Tube, on bike or by foot and we advise all carnival goers to be aware that crowds and road closures could slow you down.

'People should also check options for their return journeys, as these may be easier from an alternative station or bus stop.'

Notes to editors:

  • Notting Hill Carnival leaflets with maps showing the carnival route and providing travel information are available from Tube stations
  • Transport for London issues a weekly 'Check before you travel' press release providing up-to-date information on planned weekend closures on the Tube, London Overground and DLR