The great Notting Hill clean-up begins!

The great Notting Hill clean-up begins! Council teams swarm west London to tidy up mounds of rubbish after two million revellers took to the streets to enjoy carnival spectacular

Hundreds of thousands of revellers massed for a ‘carnival climax’ on Monday
After two days of flamboyant scenes, a massive clean up operation is underway

After two days of steel drums, barbecues and flamboyant headdresses, Notting Hill Carnival drew to a close last night.

Hundreds of thousands of partygoers massed in Kensington for a sunny ‘carnival climax’ yesterday, which saw the adults’ parade kick off in the morning before a feast of music took over the streets.

Celebrities including Lily Allen, Nick Grimshaw and Idris Elba, who hosted his own DJ set, were spotted enjoying the vibrant annual celebration of Caribbean culture and history.

Council teams are now swarming across west London to sweep up and tidy mounds of rubbish after two million revellers descended en masse to enjoy this year’s carnival.

There was also a heavy police presence. Scotland Yard said it made 85 arrests on Sunday, including ten for assaults on an officer, 26 for possession of an offensive weapon, 11 for sexual assault and 18 for drugs-related offences.

After two days of steel drums, barbecues and flamboyant headdresses, Notting Hill Carnival drew to a close last night

Council crews are now swarming across west London to tidy up mounds of rubbish after two million revellers took to the streets

Hundreds of thousands of partygoers massed in Kensington for a sunny ‘carnival climax’ yesterday but the clean up operation now begins

Yesterday, the adults’ parade kick off in the morning before a feast of music took over the streets. Pictured: Rubbish left over from the carnival

Colourfully-costumed revellers paraded through the streets of west London on Monday – the final day of the carnival

Colourfully-costumed revellers paraded through the streets of west London on Monday, marking the climax of what was being hailed as a ‘momentous and historic’ Notting Hill Carnival.

People were partying atop floats followed by drummers and feathered mas bands dancing to the beat, while stilt walkers strutted around.

Meanwhile the sweet, smoky scent of jerk chicken filled the side streets where sound systems played everything from rare groove to house, samba, reggae and ska.

The introduction of sound systems and mas bands 50 years ago transformed it into a large-scale event and the docking of the Empire Windrush 75 years ago heralded mass immigration from the Caribbean.

One DJ set this year was hosted by Luther star Elba, 50, who has been DJing for years and had a residency in the Club Room at HI Ibiza in 2022.

Among the most memorable additions to the parade was a Windrush-themed double-decker bus seen travelling up Ladbroke Grove.

The ‘beautifully designed’ vehicle told the story of the Windrush generation and their ‘impact on carnival, the transport network and our city’, according to London mayor Sadiq Khan.

Deborah Klass, of the Windrush Generation Legacy Association, who was on board, told the BBC: ‘It’s a landmark moment for us – this year is significantly momentous.’

Bins were overspilling in Notting Hill as millions paraded through the streets for a memorable carnival

Police and council workers are pictured as revellers made their way home as the clean up operation got underway

Shops had been boarded up while carnival took place. Today, the vibrant area of west London will return to normality

On Sunday the Metropolitan Police said the mood at the carnival had been ‘good-natured throughout the day’

A group of revellers can be seen hugging each other in the background as they make their way home

Bins were completely full as councils now prepare for a massive clean up operation in west London to get the streets back to normal

Mounds of rubbish accumulated throughout the day as hundreds of thousands of revellers took to the streets

A heavy police presence is seen at Notting Hill carnival on Monday. Officers are stood behind a man with a panda mask on

Revellers congregate as ambulances make their way through the carnival on Monday night

Met Police officers detain a man on the floor at Notting Hill carnival. On Sunday, 85 arrests were made

Singer Lily Allen who is starring in West End show The Pillowman, was also seen partying.

The 38-year-old posted a selection of photos and videos to her Instagram which were captioned: ‘Dipped in to carnival.’

In one she wears slouched denim trousers, a multi-coloured crop top and a denim jacket.

Radio presenter Grimshaw, 39, also made it to the carnival and partied with TV and radio personality Miquita Oliver, who used to present T4.

Grimshaw posted some photos and videos to his Instagram with the caption: ‘BEST time at carnival with the besties.’

One of the videos posted by Grimshaw showed crowds of people bouncing up and down to music.

Fellow radio presenter Clara Amfo also partied at the carnival and posted a video to her Instagram story which showed her dancing in a group with Grimshaw.

Other celebrities at the carnival included grime artist Dizzee Rascal, known for hit singles Bonkers and Holiday, and Little Mix’s Leigh-Anne Pinnock, who was photographed wearing traditional carnival dress.

Dizzee Rascal reposted videos to his Instagram story which showed him performing on stage to a bustling crowd.

One DJ set this year was hosted by Luther star Idris Elba (left), 50, who has been DJing for years and had a residency in the Club Room at HI Ibiza in 2022.

Singer Lily Allen (pictured) who is starring in West End show The Pillowman, was also seen partying

The carnival started as an indoor celebration from 1959 to 1966 by Trinidadian communist Claudia Jones in response to the Notting Hill race riots in 1958

The People of Paradise – The Monday of the Notting Hill Carnival, traditionally the main paradeday

Performers parade in costume on the final day of Notting Hill Carnival on August 28

Performers in costumes standing on an ancient Egyptian style float participate in the Notting Hill Carnival

(L to R) Ogd, Eddie Kadi, Mo Gilligan, Javan Miller and Kwame Kwei-Armah Jr aka KZ attend the Notting Hill Carnival

Performers on a float prepare to join a parade on the final day of Notting Hill Carnival on Monday

Revellers were dressed in colourful outfits as they paraded through the streets for the carnival

Revellers dance by a sound system during the final day of the popular festival which attracts millions each year

Notting Hill is one of the most exciting weekends for Londoners and draws in millions of pounds as people enjoy the cultural celebrations, music, food and eccentric costumes

On Sunday the Metropolitan Police said the mood at the carnival had been ‘good-natured throughout the day’ as they announced that a Section 60 order, providing officers with additional search powers, would be imposed overnight until 2am.

The force described it as a ‘precautionary step’ following ‘information’ that some people had travelled to the area carrying knives.

In an update released just before midnight on Sunday, the Met said 85 people had been arrested, including 11 for sexual assault and 10 for assault on a police officer.

Officers could be seen combing through bushes and bins in parks searching for suspicious items on Monday after a section 60 order, providing police with additional search powers, came into effect at 11.30am.

The second section 60 order in as many days, which followed new ‘intelligence’ about weapons in the area, will expire at 2am on Tuesday.

In an update on Twitter, Met Police deputy assistant commissioner Ade Adeleken who is leading the policing operation, said: ‘The introduction of today’s s60 order does not change the policing style we have adopted for the event, and our officers will continue to provide a professional, respectful presence and sensitive approach to crowds to ensure the event can be enjoyed safely by all.’

The carnival started as an indoor celebration from 1959 to 1966 by Trinidadian communist Claudia Jones in response to the Notting Hill race riots in 1958.

The murder of aspiring Antigua lawyer Kelso Cochrane spurred on Rhaune Laslett to organise a children’s street fayre that ended up being the first outdoor carnival in 1966.

Now, it is one of the most exciting weekends for Londoners and draws in millions of pounds as people enjoy the cultural celebrations, music, food and eccentric costumes.

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