Historic Notting Hill Carnival Photos Released Ahead Of This Year's Virtual Event

Laura Reynolds
By Laura Reynolds Last edited 43 months ago

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Historic Notting Hill Carnival Photos Released Ahead Of This Year's Virtual Event
Notting Hill Carnival, All Saints Road 21 August 1994 © Peter Marshall and Museum of London

Notting Hill Carnival isn't going ahead in its usual form this year due to the coronavirus outbreak, but that doesn't mean we can't get into the carnival spirit.

Museum of London has just released some archive photos from its collection, showing past Notting Hill Carnival events.

Two uniformed police officers dancing with two carnival goers at the Notting Hill Carnival 1980s © Sydney Orleans Harding Museum of London

The black and white images cover the 1980s-90s and show many similarities to modern festivities — the pre-requisite dancing police officer shot, for one — but also many differences. Notice how everyone's managing to have a great time without taking selfies for social media?

Dancers at Notting Hill Carnival 1992 © Peter Marshall and Museum of London
Revellers at Notting Hill Carnival, Elkstone Road, 1991 © Peter Marshall and Museum of London

Museum of London's historic Notting Hill Carnival photos will feature in upcoming exhibition, Dub London: Bassline of City. The free display celebrates 50 years of dub reggae music and culture in London, looking at its Jamaican roots and how it has shaped culture here in the capital.

Sound System Notting Hill Carnival 1989 © Adrian Boot and Urbanimage

Dub London: Bassline of a City opens at Museum of London on 2 October 2020. You'll need to book a free ticket in advance.

This year's Notting Hill Carnival is completely digital — tune in online to experience the arts, music and food of carnival virtually, with entertainment across several channels.

Last Updated 28 August 2020