Yes, the 2010 Notting Hill Carnival is upon us once again. Taking place on Sunday 29th and Monday 30th August, from 9am to 8.30pm each day (obviously events at bars and clubs go on after), this year’s event is expected to entice around 700,000 revellers. Put on your brightest costume, bring along your most ear-piercing whistle, rock up to the loudest sound system and carry on to the best after-party to get the full Carnival experience.

To help plan your Carnival weekend, here we present you with some of the most useful websites to help you celebrate this great free London event!

Spoonfed has once again put together a very comprehensive guide to the Carnival, including a helpful map with some very useful pointers (the best sound systems, good crossing points), a guide to after-parties and some all-important loo information!

Where would we be without Time Out London to guide us? The excellent weekly listings mag has also drawn up its guide to the Carnival, with a great guide to the masquerade parade.

The RBKC council website has some practical Notting Hill Carnival info, with a variety of maps – including a helpful one of all the sound systems – and a useful guide for local residents.

There’s also further information at the Official Notting Hill Carnival website, from VisitLondon.com and ViewLondon.co.uk.

Of course, you need to know how to get there and how to travel around the area whilst the Carnival is on! Because a large part of Notting Hill is closed off for the event, some normal bus routes may be diverted. And although Notting Hill Gate and Westbourne Park Underground stations are the closest to the thick of the action, they will be very crowded. You might like to consider travelling to other nearby stations – Bayswater, Queensway, Royal Oak, or Ladbroke Grove – and then walking to avoid the hustle and bustle when travelling in.

The Transport for London website has a special Notting Hill Carnival page with information of how to get to it, as well as a useful map of the Carnival area. (Make sure you also check for engineering works for that weekend as well!)

Hope everyone enjoys themselves!