The History of Caribbean Communities in London

If you wanted to put a familiar timeline on the presence of Caribbeans in the capital, no doubt it would start with the arrival of Jamaicans on the Empire Windrush.

Windrush Arrivals in London

From 1948, the Windrush arrivals came to what they felt was the "Mother Country" to start a new life.

Dispersing to many parts of the London – mainly Clapham, Brixton and West London, there grew a steady number of Caribbeans – from all over the islands – setting up home and working mainly for London transport or for the National Health Service.

Jamaicans tended to settle in the south of the capital, whereas Trinidadians and Barbadians tended to gravitate to the areas around Notting Hill and Ladbroke Grove.

Caribbean London in the 1960s: the Birth of the Notting Hill Carnival

In the 1960s a group of Trinidadians set up a small community parade to bring the essence of "cultural togetherness" to the Notting Hill area.

1964 has been stated to be the official launch date of the Notting Hill Carnival, which – nearly 60 years on from Windrush – is the biggest Caribbean contribution to the London (and UK) landscape.

It's also Europe's biggest street party, and London is proud to be its home.