The Notting Hill Carnival and the Fun It Brings to Everyone in London

Perhaps it’s not news to you that street festivals in the UK are highly anticipated by locals, London-based party goers, and even tourists the world over. One, in particular, is the Notting Hill Carnival, led by the West Indian community, which takes place for 3 days every August of the year since 1966. If you wish to immerse yourself in a dazzling, colorful, and one-of-a-kind tradition, you ought to show up on the streets of Notting Hill in the summer months.

Music

Over the course of 3 days, everybody is inspired to be in the mood to be festive with contemporary and traditional music all around. From urban vibes, reggae, and R&B, to funk and club music, you’re sure to enjoy yourself and feel like joining in on the merry-making. International artists including Burning Spear, Jamiroquai, and Wyclef Jean have had a history of making appearances and when you’ll be around, they just might be there too.

Good Food

Aside from the street party, the Carnival is famous for its smell. It’s as if you can taste the smoky, sweet, and spicy appetizers simply by being around the areas of Ladbroke Grove, Royal Oak, and Westbourne Park. Jerk chicken, Goat curries, rice and peas as well as other treats from Caribbean, Indian, and exotic cuisines are featured. You could indulge yourself to all these and get to chit-chat with fresh faces to talk about how bizarre yet delicious the flavor of the different kinds of food is.

Hotels and Residences

When you show up for the street party in London, it is recommended for you to lodge in a suite, hotel, or a holiday apartment. Marylebone, Kensington, and other Burroughs in London are as thrilling to explore as well. While you’re present for the lively festival, you might as well make the most out of your stay in the area.

With Notting Hill being among the largest and most vibrant street festivals in the world, you don’t want to miss out on the excitement. Though there is no official group in charge of the street festival, it is still celebrated annually and surprisingly enough, it attracts more and more people as each year goes. If you want to know why this is, you should be there to experience what it’s like.

3 Techniques to Find the Best London Short Let Apartments

Finding the perfect apartment to lease for a few days might be challenging. There are lots of options and you might not get one of the best if you are impulsive to make reservations and down payment.

Where to Find an Apartment?

A single search using Google or your favorite search engine would give you probably hundreds if not thousands of results; options. Take time to look at the images, read reviews, research on the location and facilities. Normally, you don’t have to spend a fortune in the Buckingham Palace but you can surely find some short let apartments London nearby.

Are Reviews Really Helpful?

The problem with searching for an apartment in London while you’re in New York or Tokyo is that you cannot evaluate the unit. You rely only on the images yet you cannot risk flying to London without any reservation especially on peak season. A solution is to check for reviews of the apartments in which you plan to stay.

While most travelers go to hotels, you can absolutely find some budget-conscious individuals who have tried an apartment for short term stay. They can give details about their experience. Most of them are very straightforward whether they recommend an apartment rental or not.

Should You Negotiate?

Negotiation is a big reason why you should choose an apartment over a hotel for short term stay in London. You can negotiate with apartment lease operators. You should definitely negotiate if you feel that the price is unreasonable. A point of negotiation usually has something to do with the location. You can get discounts if you will argue that the apartment is not that close to the metro.

However, not all apartments, particularly the popular ones, are open for negotiations. Some of them get a lot of calls for inquiries and even reservations every day that they can get a unit rented even if you don’t choose them.   Note that a negotiation can also be done in non-financial stuff such as whether or not pets and smoking are allowed in the premises.

Staying in London for a few days or weeks should not be a nightmare. Start by choosing a good apartment. Search online, read reviews and negotiate if appropriate.