How is Chinese New Year celebrated in London? The theme for the 2025 Chinese New Year is the Year of the Snake and you can expect lots of events and festivities across London during this time. Discover the official event programme and more exciting activities you can attend to celebrate Chinese New Year 2025 in London: Lion dance Chinese New Year parade in Chinatown. On Sunday 2nd February, Chinatown will host London’s biggest Chinese New Year Parade. Starting east of Trafalgar Square and winding its way to Chinatown, the parade features lively lion dances, music, and more. It typically begins at 10.15 am and culminates around midday on Shaftesbury Avenue. With Chinese New Year just around the corner, here are our tips for celebrating the Year of the Snake in London. Experience rich traditions as you immerse yourself in an atmosphere of dance, stage performances, music and a sea of flavours. In addition to the vibrant celebrations in Chinatown and Trafalgar Square, Soho will also be buzzing with excitement next weekend for the Chinese New Year festivities. As part of the Year of the Snake celebrations, this lively area will host a variety of activities, including traditional Chinese performances, cultural showcases, and street food stalls. What is this year’s Chinese New Year animal? This coming year is the Year of the Snake, with previous Years of the Snake being 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001 and 2013. In 2025 Chinese New Year falls on Wednesday 29 January, and this time around it’s the Year of the Snake. London’s Chinatown, Trafalgar Square and the West End will fill up with hundreds London's Chinese New Year Parade and Trafalgar Square celebrations on 1 and 2 February 2025 Don't miss the incredible celebrations happening in central London. Image: Paul via creative commons How to celebrate Chinese New Year in London. To welcome the New Year in London, you'll find displays, food stalls with traditional Chinese foods, performances, and a parade for Chinese New Year. Did you know that London's Chinese New Year festivities are actually the largest outside of Asia? From vibrant dragon dances and colourful lanterns to delicious dishes, Chinese New Year festivities are a beloved tradition all over the world. With the date of Chinese Lunar New Year fast approaching, Londoners and the Chinese community are preparing to mark the year of the Dragon. Celebrate the Year of the Dragon in Chinatown London! From colourful decorations to traditional performances and celebratory feasts, it’s the perfect time to plan a visit. On Sunday 11th February, London will take to the streets to celebrate Chinese New Year, also known as the Lunar New Year. Pre-Chinese New Year Preparations and Activities (Jan. 7–Feb. 12, 2025) Jan. 7, 2025: Laba Festival. Some Chinese start to celebrate and prepare for Chinese New Year as early as day 8 of the 12 th month of the lunar calendar. London hosts the biggest Chinese New Year celebrations outside Asia. This year’s celebrations - aka Lunar New Year or The Spring Festival - fall on Wednesday 29 January. But you can celebrate the Year of the Snake at a gaggle of major events across the capital on 1-2 February and our picks are all FREE. The ground floor of Belgravia’s five-star luxury hotel, The Peninsula, is home to Canton Blue, the Chinese restaurant specialising in authentic Cantonese food.The fine dining restaurant is carefully decorated to represent the trade relationships between China and Britain during the 19th century, with yellow, blue, and red displays of Cantonese porcelain becoming feature walls as well as low London's Lunar New Year Parade is undoubtedly one of the best ways to welcome the Chinese New Year. The celebrations are the biggest of their kind outside of Asia and will see thousands of people flock to the streets to watch as colourful performers in lion and dragon outfits and vibrant floats cruise through the city streets. Also known as the Lunar New Year, the Spring Festival, Tet and Seollal, millions of people all over the world are gearing up to celebrate Chinese New Year at the end of January. It marks the Visitors are welcome to join in with all-day entertainment, including a parade with Chinese lions and dragons, which is one of the main events. Here’s how to celebrate Chinese New Year in London. When is Chinese New Year in London? This year, Chinese New Year falls on January 25, 2020. Here are our picks of the best places to celebrate: 1. Check out Chinatown. The London Chinese New Year fun continues across the West End with special performances, workshops and activities Whilst in the western world, we celebrate New Year on 31st December, Lunar New Year (otherwise known as Chinese New Year) follows the moon’s cycle, meaning it begins on different days each year. In 2024, the celebrations start on 10th February and run for 16 days, with the first day being the most important. Every year London’s Chinese New Year celebrations are organised by the London Chinatown Chinese Association (LCCA). In 2020, London’s main celebrations take place on Sunday 26th January. They are concentrated in the area around Trafalgar Square, Shaftesbury Avenue, Charing Cross Road, Leicester Square and Chinatown.
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