Lunar New Year, also known as Chinese New Year, is coming upon us, and soon, it will be time to banish those January blues in a blaze of firecrackers, red lanterns and beating gongs. Chinese New Year 2025 falls on Wednesday, January 29, and will see the Year of the Snake – a symbol of wisdom, intuition, and creativity, seen by many as a time for renewal and spiritual growth.
As well as this year’s main parade through Charing Cross and Trafalgar Square, for which full details are yet to be released, London will come alive with events as East Asian communities unite to celebrate the Lunar New Year. From dumpling-tasting sessions to Chinese lantern-making, we’ve rounded up all the things you can throw yourself into this year.
There will also be dazzling lights festivals in London in Battersea and Canary Wharf, plus we have details of everything you want to know about the 2025 Lunar New Year. Have you spotted a worthy event that we’ve missed? Email stewart.carr@reachplc.com.
YICRAFTS lantern-making and calligraphy workshop
Yicrafts’ Chinese paper-cut lantern making and calligraphy workshop is back to celebrate 2025 Year of Snake
(Image: YICRAFTS)
YICRAFTS Chinese paper-cut lantern-making and calligraphy workshop is back to celebrate the 2025 Year of Snake. This fascinating seminar is at YICRAFTS studio 60 Neasden Lane, NW10 2UW, and will be held from 11.30am to 1pm on Sunday, January 19, and Sunday, February 2, with tickets priced at £42. During this 90-minute workshop, you will able to make Chinese paper-cut lanterns with calligraphy works to take back home with you to decorate your home for the Lunar New Year. The art of paper cutting in China may date back to the 2nd century CE. Usually, the artworks are made of red paper, as red is associated with festivities and happiness in Chinese culture.
Chinese Lunar New Year Tasting – Dumplings and Wine
Chinese pan-fried dumplings (stock image)
(Image: Creative Touch Imaging Ltd/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Chelsea hangout Jeroboams at 336 King’s Road, SW3 5UR, will host a special Dumplings and Wine event to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year at 6.30pm on Friday, January 24, with a 90-minute tasting session. If you’ve ever fancied downing fine wine with Chinese dumplings, now is your chance. Or learn how to pair soy sauce or a chilli sauce with your edibles? Discover great pairings at Jeroboams, savouring a variety of delicious dumplings with some great wines! Tickets cost from £50 to £90.
Daddy Bao Lunar New Year seafood feast
Daddy Bao’s Lunar New Year seafood fest features charcoal grilled whole sea bass, seven coloured fish salad and eight treasure rice pudding
(Image: Daddy Bao)
Bringing the rich traditions of Taiwan to South London, Daddy Bao is based in Mitcham Road, Tooting. Daddy Bao’s Lunar New Year Seafood Feast will feature a welcome cocktail, snack and six-course set menu. Daddy Bao states: “The one-off tasting menu will centre around traditions, such as the seven-coloured fish salad that will be tossed together for luck and prosperity, and long noodles that represent a long and prosperous life – but with a Daddy Bao twist.” Tickets are now live for £60 per person.
Lunar celebrations at Greenwich Peninsula
The show-stopping traditional dragon of Greenwich’s Lunar New Year celebrations will appear on Saturday, February 1, with street dances at 1.45pm, 2.30pm and 3.15pm
(Image: Visit Greenwich)
Greenwich is one of the best places in London to experience the incredible art and culture of Chinese New Year without breaking the bank. On Saturday, February 1, Greenwich is hosting a packed programme of workshops, performances, food and drink to mark the Lunar New Year, with highlights including the showstopping traditional Dragon, with street dances at 1.45pm, 2.30pm and 3.15pm. This year will also see lion dance performances at 1.30pm, 2.15pm and 3pm. A host of independent traders and food vendors will be at Eternal Market by Eastern Margins and you can explore your creative side with block printing, bamboo weaving and Chinese knots workshops. For more information, see here.
Focus Hong Kong – Chinese New Year 2025 at the BFI
All Shall Be Well plays at the BFI on Saturday, January 25, at 3.10pm
(Image: New Voice Film Productions)
The BFI will herald the Chinese New Year with three extraordinary Hong Kong movies this January. Tickets are sold out for the UK premiere of director Fruit Chan’s True Love, For Once in My Life on Thursday, January 23, a love story about the trials of a married couple, starring Cecilia Yip Tung and Tse Kwan-ho. Tickets (£13.50) are still available for director Ray Yeung’s 2024 drama All Shall Be Well on Saturday, January 25 at 3.10pm, telling the story of a lesbian couple in their 60s Angie and Pat, who are the beating heart of their social circle. Following Pat’s death, Angie is sidelined by her widow’s relatives, who hold the rights to her estate. Tsui Hark’s timeless romantic comedy Shanghai Blues, from 1984, plays on Sunday, January 26, and is also sold out.
Lunar New Year at the Museum of London Docklands
Chinese New Year activities will be held at the Museum of London Docklands over the weekend of Saturday, February 1, and Sunday, February 2
(Image: alessio gaggioli / Getty Images)
Celebrate the new year at the Museum of London Docklands’ free family festival on Saturday, February 1, and Sunday, February 2, just a stone’s throw away from London’s original Chinatown in Limehouse. Visitors can listen to classic Chinese folktales, take part in workshops, get stuck into celebratory crafts and enjoy a Dragon dance. The full programme to be released later this month. General admission to the festival is free and but the museum strongly recommend you book tickets in advance. General admission tickets to the Lunar New Year festival will be released at 10am on January 24. Register your interest to get an email reminder when tickets are released.
Chinese New Year at Camden Market
A traditional lion dance parade with enliven Camden Market from 1pm to 1.30pm on Saturday, February 1
(Image: Getty Images)
Camden Market is coming to life on Saturday, February 1, to welcome the Year of the Snake. The free event will commence with a lion dance parade from 1pm to 1.30pm throughout Camden Market and Hawley Wharf, finishing at Market Place. From 1pm to 4.30pm, you can enjoy live Chinese music, dance, costume parade and a stunning second lion dance parade, as well as calligraphy workshops, woodblock printing and fan making. Market stalls and food vendors will be trading throughout the afternoon from 1pm to 5pm.
Chinese astronomy at Greenwich Royal Observatory
Greenwich Royal Observatory
(Image: Getty Images)
Greenwich Royal Observatory will host this live planetarium show at 10.30am on Saturday, February 1, to explore topics in ancient and modern Chinese astronomy, including the Sun, Moon, stars and space exploration, guided through by an astronomer of the Royal Observatory Greenwich. Tickets are £10 for adults and £5 for children aged five to 16, although it is recommended for over-sevens. Children under five will not be admitted.
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Housewarming: A British Vietnamese Home
Housewarming: A British Vietnamese Home is a new exhibition at the Museum of the Home
(Image: The Museum of the Home)
Housewarming: A British Vietnamese Home is a new exhibition at the Museum of the Home in Hoxton, East London, open from 6pm to 9pm on Thursday, January 29. Entry is free, but visitors can pay £5 for a tour from a curator, or £25 tickets to participate in a spring roll-making workshop at 6.30pm. The event will also feature the premiere of filmmaker Andy Hoang’s new short film Roast Pork, co-directed with Macy Trieu-Dingle, a fashion film documentary celebrating East Asian culture and tradition in London.
Lunar New Year Event – Twickenham
A dragon dance will commence at Twickenham Green from 1pm on Sunday, January 26, making its way across town
(Image: Loredana Sangiuliano/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Head to Twickenham for its free 2025 Lunar New Year Celebration across the town on Sunday, January 26. Join the Dragon parade at Twickenham Green at 1pm for the dragon dance and music. Revellers can cheer on the parade as it continues down Heath Road, King Street, London Road, Church Street and Twickenham Riverside, where it will finish at 3.30pm. In addition, back by popular demand, free face painting will be carried out by Facinating and Chinese-themed Prof James’s Punch & Judy show will take place at Patch Academy, 42 York Street from 1pm to 4pm.
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