As Notting Hill Carnival rolls into town for another year, stunning archive pictures have been unearthed which show Europe's biggest street party through the years.
For more than 50 years, the Carnival has drawn in party-goers from all over the city, the UK and the world for a vibrant celebration of Caribbean culture.
Millions of people descend on W11 for the Bank Holiday event, taking advantage of bucket loads of jerk chicken, gallons of rum, mammoth sound systems and incredible street parties.
The festival also includes stunning parades, calypso music, steel bands and some of the best feel-good vibes of the year.
To celebrate this year's event, the Standard has unearthed stunning archive pictures in the gallery above of the west London Carnival through the years.
One archive picture from 1972 shows party-goers dancing to music from steel drums, while another from 1980 shows a boy sitting on a policeman's shoulders wearing his hat.
Another black and white image shows the streets packed with people in 1984 and a colourful sign shown during a 2004 parade to mark the festival's 40th year.
As tradition dictates, Notting Hill Carnival takes place over August bank holiday weekend.
Sunday is the more chilled-out family day, welcoming children to attend and enjoy the parade, while Monday is known as the bigger day for partying.
This year, the festivities begin bright and early with the J'ouvert celebration at 6am on Sunday August 25, officially ending at 10pm on Monday August 26.
The route for this year’s parade is the same as it has been in past years. The 3.5 mile route begins on Great Western Road and comes to a close at the top end of Ladbroke Grove, close to Kensal Green Cemetery.
Click here for all you need to know about this year's event.
