Chinese Lunar New Year in London 2025

Chinatown

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Chinatown

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Chinatown
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WC2H 0BL
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+44 (0)20 7292 2877

About

Celebrate the Year of the Snake in London, the biggest Chinese New Year celebrations outside Asia.

Every year, hundreds of thousands of people descend on the West End to enjoy a colourful parade, free stage performances and traditional Chinese food, and to wish each other "Xin Nian Kuai Le" (Happy New Year in Mandarin) or "Sun Nin Faai Lok" (in Cantonese). 

When is Chinese New Year celebrated in London?

Chinese New Year, also known as the Lunar New Year, always falls between late January and mid-February. In 2025, Chinese New Year falls on 29 January.

The 2025 Chinese New Year festival in central London, organised by the London Chinatown Chinese Association (LCCA), takes place on 1 and 2 February

Where do London's Chinese New Year celebrations take place?

The central London festivities are set to take place across the West End, from Shaftesbury Avenue down to Trafalgar Square.

During Lunar New Year, London hosts the vibrant Chinese New Year parade, featuring colourful floats and the largest gathering of Chinese lions and dragons in Europe.

The celebrations also include lively activities and foodie treats in Chinatown; family-friendly entertainment in Leicester Square; and while Trafalgar Square plays host to the main stage performances, more stages can be found on Dean Street and Shaftesbury Avenue

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:

Saturday

Lion dance

This year, the festivities are set to take place across two days, starting with the spectacular lion dance performances on the 1 February between 11am and 5pm. Head to Chinatown where you'll find performers dancing colourful lion costumes through the streets to mimic the movements of a lion. The traditional spectacle is said to bring good luck and drive away evil spirits.

Sunday

Chinese New Year parade

Watch colourful floats and more than 50 teams take part in the vibrant Chinese New Year parade on 2 February between 10am and 11.45am. The parade in London welcomes the largest gathering of Chinese lions and dragons in Europe, starting on the east corner of Trafalgar Square before snaking its way along Charing Cross Road and around the streets of Chinatown

Trafalgar Square

The fun in Trafalgar Square kicks off on 2 February at midday with speeches and the Lions' Eye-Dotting Ceremony.

You can then experience traditional dragon and flying lion dances and fun-filled stage performances, usually including Chinese dance and music shows, martial arts displays, Chinese pop hits and an exciting lineup of artists from China.

Explore the arts and crafts stalls and festive stands or get a taste of the Far East at street food stalls dotted around the square throughout the celebrations.

You can also stop by the National Gallery, just off Trafalgar Square, throughout the day to enjoy family activities and see colourful costume displays.

The finale gets underway with a variety of showstopper performances, which last year included a techno lion dance and spectacular pyrotechnic display, lighting up Trafalgar Square to mark the end of the festivities at 6pm.

West End stages

The London Chinese New Year fun usually continues across the West End with special performances, workshops and activities.

You can usually spot up-and-coming British-Chinese artists performing dance, music and comedy at the community stage and exhibition zone on Dean Street and Shaftesbury Avenue. This year is also set to feature a parade float exhibition.

Or take the kids to the family and culture zone in Leicester Square for cultural activities and family-friendly entertainment.  

Chinatown

Head to Chinatown where you can get up close to more lion dances, find more festive stalls or sit down for a traditional Chinese New Year meal and festive treats in one of Chinatown’s restaurants.

More Chinese Lunar New Year events in London

Celebrate Lunar New Year in London with more exciting events and activities taking place across the capital:

  • Order from BAO's celebratory Taiwanese feasting menu during Lunar New Year for good luck and pick up a limited edition t-shirt or tote bag from the chain's Carhartt collaboration. 20 Jan-9 Feb
  • Book tickets to one of three exclusive screenings at BFI Southbank's Focus Hong Kong: Chinese New Year event, featuring works from Hong Kong filmmakers. 23-26 Jan
  • Indulge in a special zodiac-themed menu at UBA in Shoreditch with menu items such as Serpent's spice rendang curry chicken skewers and traditional celebratory longevity noodles. 24-31 Jan
  • Eat your way through Din Tai Fung's menu of mouthwatering Year of the Snake specials, including fish jiao zi dumplings, "lion's head" pork meatball soup and golden twist cocktail. 24 Jan-9 Feb
  • Pick up a limited-edition almond cookie made with Todoli lemon zest and handtied with a symbolic red ribbon from Toklas Bakery, in collaboration with Poon's London25 Jan-12 Feb
  • Venture to west London for the Lunar New Year celebrations in Twickenham, where music is set to accompany a lively dragon parade alongside face painting stalls and a Chinese-themed punch and judy show. 26 Jan
  • Head to Mama Shelter for its Lunar New Year supper club in collaboration with Emily Yeoh, featuring a platter of sharing starters followed by a succulent Hainanese-style roast chicken and tres leches cake to finish. 29 Jan
  • Try the exclusive cobra sushi snake at inamo Soho featuring Scottish salmon, creamy avocado and fresh cucumber to signify good fortune, or opt for the vegan option with sweet peppers. 29 Jan-12 Feb
  • Join the crowds that flock to Greenwich Peninsula each year to watch skilled performers dance a colourful dragon through the audience during its free Dragon Dance spectacle. 1 Feb
  • Learn about Chinese Astronomy at the Royal Observatory Greenwich during a live planetarium show that delves into the Chinese lunisolar calendar and its links to astronomy. 1 Feb
  • Absorb the electric atmosphere as Camden Market brings a lion dance parade, music and workshops to the area for its annual Chinese New Year celebrations. 1 Feb
  • Get stuck into Mei's Lunar New Year Celebration at Old Spitalfields Market where you'll find dumpling making and tea tasting workshops, vibrant live performances and Asian foodie delights. 1 and 2 Feb
  • Welcome 2025 with London Museum Docklands' free Lunar New Year festival featuring dragon dances, Chinese folktales and child-friendly arts and crafts. 1 and 2 Feb
  • Enjoy a fun-filled family day out at Museum of the Home's Lunar New Year Family Day, where you can listen to stories and get creative with free arts and crafts sessions. 18 Feb

Top tips for celebrating Chinese New Year in London

Follow these tips for celebrating Chinese New Year in London:

  • Wrap up warm: as celebrations are taking place in February, the weather can be cold.
  • Learn Chinese New Year greetings: say "Xin Nian Kuai Le" (Happy New Year in Mandarin) or "Sun Nin Faai Lok" (in Cantonese).
  • Dress in red: red is the key colour of Chinese New Year. You can dress up with a red scarf, jumper or shoes – this will bring good luck for the coming year.
  • Enjoy special Chinese New Year food: order a whole chicken or try dumplings at top restaurants in Chinatown.
  • Buy something red: to bring luck to your year, Chinese tradition dictates that you should buy something red for yourself or your house.
  • Ensure good luck: in Chinese culture, to “climb high and gaze far” on New Year’s Day or the following day brings good luck in business, career, study and fortune. Take a trip on the London Eye or the IFS Cloud Cable Car, or head up to The View from The Shard.

How to get to the Chinese New Year event in London

The area around Chinatown and Trafalgar Square gets very busy during London's Chinese New Year celebrations, so be sure to plan your route in advance using Transport for London's Journey Planner

About Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year, also known as Spring Festival, is a huge festival among Chinese communities in London and across the world.

Based on the lunar and solar calendars, the actual date of Chinese New Year varies and each year in the Chinese calendar is represented by one of the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac. Chinese New Year 2025, the Year of the Snake, falls on 29 January

Now run by the The London Chinatown Chinese Association (LCCA), the CNY London celebrations began as a small community event in Chinatown more than 20 years ago; the festivities have now become the largest of their kind outside Asia, attracting hundreds of thousands of people to the capital each year. The Lunar New Year 2025 promises an exciting programme of events for all people of all ages to enjoy.

What is the route for the Chinese New Year parade in London 2025?

The exact route for the Lunar New Year parade in London 2025 starts on the east corner of Trafalgar Square next to Charing Cross station. From this point, it makes its way up Charing Cross Road to Shaftesbury Avenue and around the streets of Chinatown where it normally concludes on the bottom of Wardour Street.

Naturally, the parade is much busier to watch near the tube stations, so its best to move away from Charing Cross or Leicester Square to beat the crowds.

What do you wear to the Chinese New Year parade?

Don't forget, the Lunar New Year falls on some of the coldest months here in the UK, so if you are planning on attending the parade, wrap up warm! Be sure to wear plenty of layers including a heavy winter jacket, a scarf, a hat and even gloves. During January/February, there is a high chance of rain in the UK, so if you have waterproof garments or an umbrella at your disposal, don't hesitate to bring them!

If you've attended any Lunar New Year celebrations in the past, you'll know that red is the colour of choice! Representing good fortune, luck, vitality, celebration and prosperity in Chinese culture, red is worn to boost luck and ward off evil spirits. Wearing red is encouraged, so for those looking to take part in the celebrations, be sure to bring something nice and vivid!

Can't visit during Chinese New Year in London? Worry not! Chinatown is a hive of bustling activity all year around, so don't miss out on visiting throughout the year.