30. Notting Hill Carnival

1. The Notting Hill Carnival, in London, is held every August Bank Holiday since 1966, is the world's second largest street party, after the Rio Carnival in Brazil.

2. The theme of this year's event is Set All Free, commemorating the bicentenary of the abolition of the slave trade.

3. The long-awaited sunshine brought out the best of the carnival's colour - but it was thirsty work for the participants.

4. Music has always been at the heart of the Notting Hill Carnival, with traditional and contemporary sounds filling the air for miles around.

5. Sewing, gluing, painting - months of hard work goes into the outlandish costumes to make the Notting Hill Carnival stand out in spectacular fashion. ( All photos by kind courtesy of BBC.)

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