How To Celebrate Lunar New Year In London 2024

The Year of the Dragon is winging its way towards us, kicking off with Lunar New Year celebrations from 10–24 February 2024. London based? Here’s how to celebrate the Lunar New Year in the city in 2024.

What Is The Lunar New Year?

Lunar New Year, also known as Chinese New Year or Spring Festival, is a celebration marking the beginning of a new year on the traditional Chinese calendar, mainly observed in China as well as other East Asian countries. Beginning with the first new moon of the lunar calendar, the celebrations – featuring many traditions and customs – last until the first full moon 15 days later. Popular celebrations include family gatherings, the dragon dance, the exchange of red envelopes containing money (Hongbao), and the Lantern Festival, while it is also popular to clean you home to rid it of ill fortune and make way for the incoming good luck of the new year.

The coming year will be the Year of the Dragon according to the Chinese zodiac, with animals and their attributes repeating in a 12-year-cycle. The last Year of the Dragon, therefore, took place in 2012. The animals all relate to daily life and luck, and date back to ancient times, with their order determined by their arrival in a mythical race summoned by a god. They are: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat (aka ram or sheep), monkey, rooster, dog and pig.

How To Embrace The Year Of The Dragon

When Is The Lunar New Year In 2024?

This year, Lunar New Year celebrations will begin on 10 February and end on 24 February 2024, celebrating the beginning of the Year of the Dragon.

Lunar New Year In London 2024

London’s Chinese New Year Parade

The best way to celebrate Lunar New Year in London is to visit the annual parade, which takes over Soho and Chinatown, this year on Sunday 11 February. Organised by the London Chinatown Chinese Association (LCCA), around 50 teams of participants will join together in Europe’s largest LNY parade, featuring traditional Chinese lions and dragons galore, before a lion dance tours Chinatown. If you’d like to watch, stand along the parade route, which starts from Trafalgar Square and ends at the bottom of Wardour Street. There will also be two stages – the Main Stage at Trafalgar Square and a smaller stage in Leicester Square – and plenty of stalls showcasing festivities and serving up steaming hot food to enjoy. There will also be a family zone at the top of Shaftesbury Avenue.

Details: The Lunar New Year Parade will take place on Sunday 11 February 2024 from 10.15am until midday, followed by festivities until around 5.30pm. See more details at lccauk.com

Visit Chinatown

If you miss the big LNY party, visit Chinatown later in the celebration period (10–24 February) to enjoy the city’s best Chinese food. Note that most restaurants operate a queueing, first-come-first-served system, so be prepared to wait in line for a while.

Bun House

Lion Dance In Borough Market

Chef Salina Khairunnisa – who runs Borough Market’s Malaysian food stand, Joli – has organised a traditional lion dance in celebration of the arrival of the Year of the Dragon, and it’ll take place in Borough Market this year.

Details: Saturday 10 February 2024 from 11am at Borough Market (Borough High St, London SE1 9AH). boroughmarket.org.uk

DJs In Greenwich

Celebrate the Year of the Dragon on Greenwich Peninsula with back-to-back DJ sets from DJ Miamor (1–4pm) and DJ Flecs and DJ Donny Blaze (4–8pm) at Canteen Food Hall. Enjoy the energetic sets while sipping sake cocktails and celebrating the beginning of the season. Meanwhile, a Dragon Dance will also weave through the district from 1–3pm.

Details: 10 February 2024 from 1–8pm at Canteen Food Hall Greenwich Peninsula (Soames Walk, London SE10 0AX). Free entry; no tickets needed. greenwichpeninsula.co.uk

Tuck Into A Special Feast

One of the best (and tastiest) ways to ring in the lunar new year is by tucking into a special feast. From spice-filled Speedboat Bar to a special afternoon tea at the Pan Pacific London, here are our top picks for 2024.

Chinatown Stories Walking Tour

Just after the festivities have drawn to a close, China Exchange will be hosting one of its renowned, community-led walking tours, introducing visitors to the historic district.

Details: 25 February 2024 from 11.30am–2pm, beginning at China Exchange (32A Gerrard St, London W1D 6JA). Tickets are £30, including a delicious Chinese lunch served family-style, and tours are delivered in English. Book at chinaexchange.uk