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. 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. 2025 will welcome the Year of the Snake for the first time since 2013. If you were born in 2001, 1989, 1977, 1965, 1953 or 1941, this year will be one of luck and opportunity. The Chinese Lunar New Year is almost here and London is once again preparing to host an array of celebrations throughout the Chinatown area this weekend. This Saturday and Sunday (February 1 and February 2) Soho will be the ultimate destination for festivities as the spot hosts an array of activities and performances to mark the year of the 🥾 London Chinese Lunar New Year Parade 2025: start time, route and everything you need to know. Year of the Snake at Greenwich Peninsula. In Chinatown London you’ll find lion dancing, stalls and plenty of places to stop off for a Chinese New Year feast. Full Schedule of Chinese New Year Events in London: 1st February 2025. 11:00am – 5:00pm: 📍Chinatown: Lion Dance Performances throughout Chinatown; 2nd February 2025. 10:00am – 11:45am: 📍 East of Trafalgar Square to 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 of Chinese New Year parade in London 2025: start time, route and best places to watch Celebrate the arrival of Year of the Snake at central London’s Lunar New Year festivities Tuesday 7 January 2025 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. The Chinese New Year London events are the largest outside Asia and attract hundreds of thousands of people each year. These free Chinese New Year celebrations in London are organised by the London Chinatown Chinese Association (LCCA), and usually feature the vibrant Chinese New Year London parade and one-day festival in Trafalgar Square. Find The Chinese Cricket Club is celebrating the Year of the Dragon in style with a special menu. The sharing menu, specially curated by head chef Tony Truong features a prosperity salad with tuna, salmon & yellowtail and traditional peking duck. The Festival of Spring, also known as Lunar New Year, is a time of celebration and tradition, the main celebration for the Chinese community in London each year. This year, the festival falls on 22 January and marks the start of the Year of the Rabbit. 29th January - 12th February. Watch this space for more information on the biggest celebration of Chinese New Year outside of Asia, in the West End of London. Discover all the best ways to celebrate the Year of the Snake, from parades and performances across Chinatown to traditional Chinese food and limited edition Lunar New Year products from your favourite brands. Expect acrobatic Lion and Dragon dances in Peninsula Square from 1.30pm, Firepit Art Gallery exhibitions celebrating Lunar New Year; hands-on workshops like woodblock printing, bamboo weaving and Chinese knot-making; live music from Eastern Margins DJs, and the Eternal Market - a vibrant Pan Asian showcase featuring contemporary and traditional fare, brimming with delicious food, unique crafts Some believe that this sweeps away bad luck and makes room for incoming blessings. However, sweeping or cleaning on New Year’s Day is avoided, as it could sweep away good fortune. Special Foods and Festive Customs of Chinese New Year. Food is an essential part of Chinese New Year celebrations, with each dish carrying symbolic meanings. 6. Chinese New Year at London Museum Docklands. The London Museum Docklands offers a cultural dive into Chinese heritage. During Chinese New Year, it hosts exhibitions, traditional dance performances, and workshops that families can attend for free. 7. Lunar New Year at the BFI. Film enthusiasts, assemble! 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. London is set to burst with vibrant celebrations as the city embraces the Chinese New Year, offering a plethora of exciting experiences for locals and visitors alike. From culinary adventures to cultural festivities, here's how to ring in the Year of the Snake. According to the Chinese zodiac, on Saturday 10 February we officially enter the Year of the Dragon. The Lunar New Year is always a colourful celebration in London, and here in South Bank many venues are also marking the occasion. Chinese New Year-themed events to look out for include: The Intergenerational Game – Lunar New Year Edition Merchant Square in Paddington will be the only big Chinese New Year celebration in London on January 29. At the spot there will be a lion dance around midday to bring good luck and drive away evil spirits for the upcoming year as well as a wishing wall for guests to put their hopes for the year to paper.
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