STORY: Revellers, dancers and musicians filled the streets of West London on Monday (August 25) for the annual Notting Hill carnival, one of the world's largest street parties.

Notting Hill resident Cristianne Bukhari says the community pours their hearts into the event and it is an important reminder of tolerance and diversity at a time when the UK sees anti-migrant protests spring up around the country.

"Look around me," said Bukhari, "there are people from all over the world, white, black, Asian, coming together and celebrating. And we need more of this."

The 57th edition of the carnival - which celebrates the city's diversity and how generations of migrants and their descendants have contributed to British society - was expected to attract more than one million people.

The carnival has been facing financial challenges, with its chair Ian Comfort telling the Guardian newspaper the event came close to not happening this year.

A review commissioned by the organisers highlighted safety concerns, particularly around crowd management, which required additional funding. There are also worries about violent incidents involving a minority of attendees.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

Revellers celebrate tradition and diversity at Notting Hill Carnival

VIDEO SHOWS: PERFORMERS DURING NOTTING HILL CARNIVAL / SOUNDBITES FROM CARNIVAL-GOERS

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (AUGUST 25, 2025) (REUTERS – Access all)

1. VARIOUS OF PERFORMERS PARTAKING IN PARADE DURING NOTTING HILL CARNIVAL

2. CARNIVAL-GOERS WAVING FLAGS, SOME WEARING FLAGS, AS PARADE PASSES BY

3. PERFORMER WITH LARGE SKIRT AND FLAG DURING PARADE

4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) 35-YEAR-OLD NOTTING HILL RESIDENT CRISTIANNE BUKHARI, SAYING:

“It means everything. I think people don't understand the sense of community that is so important to carnival. There's so many people, but it brings so many people together. Like when you see the costumes, people that spent months making them...people do with their whole hearts. It means everything."

5. CARNIVAL-GOERS WALKING DOWN STREET WRAPPED IN FLAGS

6. CROWD OF PEOPLE WALKING

7. (SOUNDBITE) (English) 27-YEAR-OLD CARYANNE FELICIAN, SAYING:

“It's part of our culture. The Caribbean culture is what we celebrate as part of our heritage."

8. CROWD DURING CARNIVAL

9. DRUMMERS PERFORMING DURING PARADE

10. (SOUNDBITE) (English) 35-YEAR-OLD NOTTING HILL RESIDENT CRISTIANNE BUKHARI, SAYING:

"You only have to look in the news and like, become pretty depressed at how the news is telling us we're so divided, you know, there are so many problems and yeah, there are issues. But you look around me, I'm there are people from all over the world, white, black, Asian, coming together and celebrating. And we need more of this."

11. PERFORMER DURING PARADE

12. VARIOUS OF PERFORMERS WEARING ROLLERBLADES, REPRESENTING THE WINDRUSH-GENERATION

13. (SOUNDBITE) (English) REDRICK SAMUEL (AGE NOT PROVIDED), SAYING:

"Well, coming from the Caribbean, you know, like carnival is all part of the culture and stuff. And then like some people who live abroad, they don't get you know like to go back home and enjoy the culture and the celebrations and stuff to have it over here in England, they tend to get together and come and enjoy and embrace (the culture), you know, like and just have fun."

14. LAW ENFORCEMENT WATCHING CARNIVAL PROCEEDINGS

15. VARIOUS OF PERFORMERS DURING CARNIVAL

16. CARNIVAL-GOERS WATCHING PARADE

17. CROWD ON STREET DURING CARNIVAL