Our Story: Community-Led Caribbean Heritage Education

From Bespoke Tour to Caribbean Heritage Education Mission

What began as a single bespoke educational tour in 2024 has become something much more significant. More Curricular, known for Hidden Tudors Tours, was approached by an overseas school to create a specialised walk about Black migration stories in London. They wanted their students to understand the real history of Caribbean communities in Britain beyond surface-level narratives.

Creating the Walk, Talk and Meal Experience

In partnership with Rosita from Portobello Shack, we developed a full Caribbean experience - walk, talk and meal - tracing the Windrush generation's journey from 1950s arrival through the violent 1958 riots, the Mangrove Nine's landmark civil rights victory and ultimately the birth of Notting Hill Carnival. The walk visited actual sites where history unfolded: where Caribbean families first settled, where racial violence occurred, where the Mangrove restaurant stood and where early Carnival was organised.

The Birth of Notting Hill Walks

The response was extraordinary. After sharing photos on social media, clients kept requesting bespoke Caribbean heritage tours. We offered it to the Hidden Tudors WhatsApp Group and the response was so overwhelming, we decided Notting Hill deserved its own dedicated experience. We realised we had created something truly special - an essential piece of British history that deserves to be told, experienced and honoured.

Notting Hill Walks was born, dedicated entirely to telling the authentic story of Caribbean heritage in this neighbourhood.

Community Partnerships: Portobello Shack and Carnival Founders

What makes our walks unique is the depth of community connection we've built. We work directly with people whose families lived this history.

Partnership with Portobello Shack

Our partnership with Portobello Shack, the only Caribbean restaurant on Portobello Road, connects us directly to Carnival's roots. Rosita, the owner, is the goddaughter of Russell Henderson, one of the founders of Notting Hill Carnival and a pioneering steelband leader.

Honouring Leslie Palmer

Our walks also honour Leslie Palmer, who invented the modern Carnival structure we experience today, transforming it into Europe's largest street festival.

Premium Walk: Meet the Mangrove Nine Family

Our Premium Walk offers something you won't find anywhere else: the opportunity to meet Jamila Bolton Gordon, daughter of Rhodan Gordon, one of the Mangrove Nine who defended himself at the historic trial.

After the walk, guests share an authentic Caribbean meal at Portobello Shack while Jamila shares her family's firsthand stories of the civil rights struggle in a venue connected to Carnival's founding generation. Walk, talk and meal - a full Caribbean experience connecting Notting Hill Carnival history, community voices and authentic Caribbean cuisine.

Living History, Not Textbook Accounts

This is living history, not textbook accounts. It's:

Hearing from descendants of the activists who made history
Eating in a restaurant run by the goddaughter of a Carnival founder
Walking the actual streets where resistance happened
Understanding that Notting Hill Carnival emerged from centuries of Caribbean resilience

Our Heritage Walk Offerings

We've expanded our offerings to include:

Essential Caribbean Heritage Walks
60-minute walks exploring Windrush generation stories, 1958 Notting Hill riots and Carnival origins
Premium Experiences
Extended walks with Caribbean meals and Mangrove Nine family conversations at Portobello Shack
Private Group Bookings
Bespoke heritage walks for workplace teams, schools and community organisations

Our Mission: Authentic Caribbean Heritage Education

What started as one bespoke tour has become a mission to ensure Caribbean heritage in Notting Hill is documented, celebrated and shared with integrity.

Our partnerships with descendants and community members like Rosita and Jamila ensure authenticity and respect. People leave our walks understanding the deeper meaning behind Carnival, recognising the resilience and appreciating the creativity that turned oppression into joy.

That's the power of authentic heritage education. That's why we gave this walk its own platform. And that's why we'll keep telling these stories, in partnership with the families and community members who carry this legacy.