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A grass fire near Scrubs Lane in North Kensington caused an electricity outage that stopped all rail lines between London Paddington and Heathrow on Saturday afternoon. London Fire Brigade and TfL evacuated 380 stranded passengers, and National Rail confirmed full restoration by Sunday morning.
Karnell Kelly, 25, died after leaping into the Grand Union Canal off Kensal Road during a police pursuit at the Notting Hill Carnival on 31 August 2026. The Metropolitan Police confirmed the chase began near Harrow Road, and the Independent Office for Police Conduct is now reviewing video evidence while seeking public assistance.
More than 300 tonnes of waste were removed from North Kensington after the Notting Hill Carnival. The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea led a two‑night operation with 200 staff and 30 vehicles, while Met Police recorded 636 arrests and a fatal chase.
A man in his 20s has died after entering a canal near Meanwhile Gardens during the Notting Hill Carnival. Police had attempted to stop him before he fled and entered the water. The Independent Office for Police Conduct will investigate.
Policing costs for the Notting Hill Carnival have increased significantly, reaching £15.7 million in 2025. The Metropolitan Police deployed over 7,000 officers and banned more than 330 individuals from attending the event.
The Mayor of London has committed an additional £4.66 million to the 2026 Notting Hill Carnival. The three-day event celebrating Caribbean culture will take place from Saturday 29 August to Bank Holiday Monday, with its 60th anniversary expected to be a significant celebration.
More than 100 roads in West London will be closed for the Notting Hill Carnival bank holiday weekend. Notting Hill Gate will be shut to all traffic except buses for the first time, with extensive Tube and bus diversions expected.
The Notting Hill Carnival, expected to draw two million attendees, faces a forecast of rain and thunder over the bank holiday weekend from August 29-31. Forecasters warn of potential washouts, particularly on Sunday and Monday.
The average asking price for newly listed homes in Kensington & Chelsea fell by £95,000 between July and August, Rightmove reports. London recorded the steepest regional decline, with a 4.4% drop, as the number of available properties reached a 16-year high.
Four London boroughs have told Chancellor John Healey that their residents will pay £270m of the £430m annual mansion tax, due to start in April 2028. The levy of £2,500 to £7,500 on homes worth over £2m will not fund local services, council leaders said.
A Metropolitan Police officer drove a seized Ferrari Monza SP2, worth £3.7 million, through Mayfair after it was confiscated at a supercar event near Hyde Park Corner. The vehicle, one of just 499 made, was part of a haul retrieved from uninsured drivers linked to anti-social behaviour complaints.
Brompton Cemetery in Earl’s Court will open its gates for an annual open day on 6 September, offering guided catacomb tours, themed walks, and stalls. Tickets for the catacomb tours cost £11.55 and run from 11 am to 5.30 pm, with other tours available throughout the day.

A new Neighbourhood Plan for Notting Hill East sets out 13 projects, including a pedestrian crossing modelled on Oxford Circus. The plan covers 4,500 residents and follows years of community consultation. Residents can now respond before it is finalised.
Queensway Market, home to 18 independent businesses including Normah’s Malaysian restaurant, will close in four months to make way for a Whole Foods store. Tenants were given six months’ notice after negotiations with landlord Bourne Capital, which states redevelopment plans were long expected.
Walthamstow, Southwark, Tower Hamlets, Wandsworth, Hackney and Kensington & Chelsea offer free events this weekend, including Aperol Spritz giveaways, Pokémon GO celebrations and a Latin American dance party at Tate Modern.
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