Chinese New Year Celebrations in London

Chinese New year (or Lunar New Year) is usually celebrated between the end of January and the beginning of February. The Chinese New Year is based on the Lunar Calendar and takes place on the second new moon after the Winter Solstice and marks the end of winter and the beginning of Spring. This year, it falls on the 29th January and there are big plans for some of the biggest celebrations London has seen!
The Chinese New Year also follows the Chinese Zodiac, with each year being represented by one of 12 animals. 2025 is the Year of the Snake, and following the legend of the zodiac, those born in the year of the snake are believed to be intelligent and intuitive.
What events will be taking place?
London is going to be the centre of the largest celebration that the world will see outside of Asia, and we have everything you need to know about this fantastic display of Chinese culture. There will be a lot to see and do, so hopefully our guide will help you to plan your weekend so everyone gets to celebrate how they want.
It will be extremely busy in London, we suggest planning your journeys in advance and using the Transport for London’s journey planner or Citymapper.
We also suggest wrapping up warm and having stops planned where you can go and grab a coffee and get out of the cold, especially if you have young children with you.
Also, remember to buy something red, either for you or your house, it’ll bring you good luck in accordance with Chinese tradition. During this time, Chinese people often give lucky red envelopes with money inside to children and other relatives in the family to symbolise fortune and prosperity.
Chinese Parade
Although the Chinese New Year falls on Wednesday, the 29th January, the main bulk of the festivities will take place on the 2nd February.
The main attraction will be the parade, which includes Chinese music, artists, traditional dances and of course the dragons (to ward off evil spirits) and lions (to bring blessings) that we love to see.
The parade is organised by the London Chinatown Chinese Association (LCCA), who work with the council, local businesses and residents to ensure that the parade is one of the best attractions that people will see in London.
The parade will start at 10.15am and will finish around noon, starting at Charing Cross Station at the corner of Trafalgar Square, it’ll snake it’s way up Charing Cross Road to Shaftesbury Avenue before it stops on Wardour Street. Once the parade has finished, the lion dance will then take place. This typically travels around Gerrard Street, Macclesfield Street, part of Wardour Street, Leicester Street, Leicester Place and Lisle Street.
Once the parade finishes, the fun doesn’t stop there. There is still plenty to see and do around Trafalgar Square, with a smaller section at Leicester Square. There will be arts and crafts stall, street food, family games and entertainment as well as dragon dance demonstrations and a zodiac display, until around 5.30pm.
To watch the parade, we suggest heading away from both stations and walking towards the main body of the parade, where the crowds will have thinned out slightly. There is a family zone near the top of Shaftesbury Avenue if you have small children. You’ll also be able to see the lion dances in Chinatown as this is just a short walk away.
Trafalgar Square
The parade is not the only thing to see when in London for the Chinese New Year. Head over to Trafalgar Square and you can keep the party going.
Trafalgar Square hosts a screen show and then a Thanksgiving ceremony is performed by leading Chinese members of the community. This is then followed by other speeches, firecrackers and the Lions’ Eye-Dotting Ceremony. This is a special moment where the new lion is ‘awoken’ by dotting the lion with red ink to give the lion life.
The ceremony is to empower the lion to bring good luck, health and prosperity to the watching audience and brings the spirit of the lion to life.
Trafalgar Square is also host to martial arts displays, music from Chinese artists, dance shows and more dragon and lion dances. The children will have great fun watching all the colours and dances before you head over to one of the street food stalls that will be dotted around the square.
If it’s cold out, head over the National Gallery, as they’ll have some family-friendly activities, colourful costume displays and perhaps more importantly for the adults, a coffee shop!
Lunar New Year events
It’s not just the parade and displays that will keep you entertained. There are plenty of things to do in other areas of London.
Ivy Asia has two set menus at their locations at Chelsea, Mayfair and St. Paul’s. They have a Lunar Dragon Set Lunch Menu and a Lunar Samurai Set Dinner Menu, both of which have a great take on some of your favourite Chinese dishes. The menu will be available until the 28th February.
Dear Asia, located in Aldgate, not only teaches Japanese, Korean and Chinese languages but it will also host two celebrations – a Mahjong workshop on the 25th of January and Year of the Snake celebrations on the 29th of January, where you can take part in traditional New Year crafts, fortune stick telling and much more.
Why not learn more about Chinese Astronomy by heading over to the Royal Observatory in Greenwich which is hosting a Chinese Astronomy show at the Planetarium (Booking recommended). It is in English and will give an understanding of ancient and modern Chinese astronomy and why it is just as important today.