London

Chinese New Year falls on 17 Feb this year, with events happening in Central London into the weekend, including a Chinese New Year Parade in the West End on 22 Feb. If you’re keen to gallop to the celebrations for Year of the Horse, most of which are free, saddle up because here&#8217;s the lowdown on where you need to be and when. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-chinese-new-year-parade-trafalgar-square-22-feb"><a href="https://chinatown.co.uk/en/events-en/chinese-new-year-2026/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chinese New Year Parade</a>, Trafalgar Square (22 Feb)</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/01/parade_dragon_dance_cny2017_jon_mo1280x720-1024x576.jpg" alt="Visit London Chinese New Year 2025" class="wp-image-8201" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/01/parade_dragon_dance_cny2017_jon_mo1280x720-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/01/parade_dragon_dance_cny2017_jon_mo1280x720-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/01/parade_dragon_dance_cny2017_jon_mo1280x720-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/01/parade_dragon_dance_cny2017_jon_mo1280x720.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



10am: The parade starts at the corner of Trafalgar Square, before snaking its way along Charing Cross Road to Shaftesbury Avenue and through the streets of Chinatown. With more than 50 teams taking part, it’s an amazing spectacle and the largest gathering of Chinese Dragons and Lions in Europe. 



Noon &#8211; 6pm: At midday it’s time to make your way back to Trafalgar Square to see the Lion’s Eye Dotting Ceremony (12.30pm), traditional lion dances and performances on the huge stage. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/01/cny-2018-stage-performers-1280x720-1-1024x576.jpg" alt="Perfumers on the stage for Chinese New Year in London " class="wp-image-8320" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/01/cny-2018-stage-performers-1280x720-1-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/01/cny-2018-stage-performers-1280x720-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/01/cny-2018-stage-performers-1280x720-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/01/cny-2018-stage-performers-1280x720-1.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



There are also arts and crafts stalls, street food, a kids&#8217; zone with entertainment in Leicester Square plus the National Gallery is exhibiting some fabulous costume displays.&nbsp;



6pm: The end of the festivities are marked with a massive firework display lighting up the skies above Trafalgar Square, along with live music and yet more dancing.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lunar-new-year-festival-national-maritime-museum-greenwich-21-feb"><a href="https://www.rmg.co.uk/whats-on/national-maritime-museum/lunar-new-year" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lunar New Year Festival</a>, National Maritime Museum, Greenwich (21 Feb)</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="641" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/02/Screenshot-2026-02-11-at-13.27.39-1024x641.png" alt="Lunar New Year Festival National Maritime Museum " class="wp-image-18572" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/02/Screenshot-2026-02-11-at-13.27.39-1024x641.png 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/02/Screenshot-2026-02-11-at-13.27.39-300x188.png 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/02/Screenshot-2026-02-11-at-13.27.39-768x481.png 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/02/Screenshot-2026-02-11-at-13.27.39.png 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



A fantastic chance to celebrate the Chinese New Year on a smaller scale than the official parade. Definitely one for all ages, there&#8217;s the chance to see dragon and lion dances, make Chinese lanterns, enjoy a tea ceremony, listen to talks and learn Chinese instruments. A full day of cultural immersion from 10am-4pm. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lunar-new-year-festival-london-museum-of-docklands-21-22-feb"><a href="https://www.londonmuseum.org.uk/whats-on/lunar-new-year/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lunar New Year Festival</a>, London Museum of Docklands (21-22 Feb)</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/02/h-co-3JFVNo4ukKQ-unsplash-1024x683.jpg" alt="Unsplash Chinese lanterns " class="wp-image-18573" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/02/h-co-3JFVNo4ukKQ-unsplash-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/02/h-co-3JFVNo4ukKQ-unsplash-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/02/h-co-3JFVNo4ukKQ-unsplash-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/02/h-co-3JFVNo4ukKQ-unsplash.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



Trot down to Docklands for this two-day family-friendly festival, with a programme that includes Chinese folktales, master classes in martial arts, lantern-making, silent discos, ribbon dances and learning how to make tasty tangyuan. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-chinese-banquets">Chinese Banquets  </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/01/thumbnail_2024_12_09_THE_IVY_ASIA_CHINESE_NEW_YEAR3361-1-1024x683.jpg" alt="Ivy Asia " class="wp-image-8322" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/01/thumbnail_2024_12_09_THE_IVY_ASIA_CHINESE_NEW_YEAR3361-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/01/thumbnail_2024_12_09_THE_IVY_ASIA_CHINESE_NEW_YEAR3361-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/01/thumbnail_2024_12_09_THE_IVY_ASIA_CHINESE_NEW_YEAR3361-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/01/thumbnail_2024_12_09_THE_IVY_ASIA_CHINESE_NEW_YEAR3361-1.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



Many restaurants in London celebrate the Lunar New Year with special menus, new dishes and multiple courses, which we’re down with. Here’s our pick of the best for 2026. 



Tuck into a Dragon Lunch at <a href="https://theivyasia.com/lunar-new-year-2/#aboutsection" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ivy Asia</a> (until 16 March; £19.95), with highlights including teriyaki chicken and wok fried char siu pork belly. <a href="https://www.dorchestercollection.com/london/the-dorchester/dining/china-tang-at-the-dorchester" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">China Tang</a> at The Dorchester on Park Lane is the ultimate spenny place to celebrate &#8211; expect beautiful lantern decs, special menus and lion dances on 16-17 Feb. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="768" height="1024" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/01/1pA-Ddmw-768x1024.jpeg" alt="China Tang at the Dorchester " class="wp-image-8331" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/01/1pA-Ddmw-768x1025.jpeg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/01/1pA-Ddmw-225x300.jpeg 225w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/01/1pA-Ddmw-1151x1536.jpeg 1151w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/01/1pA-Ddmw.jpeg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></figure>



Posh Chinese <a href="https://www.hunanlondon.com/cny-hunanxhennessy" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hunan</a> in Chelsea is also going big on Year of the Horse, with special menus (16 Feb-3 Mar), including a £150 dinner featuring mains like double cooked pork belly wrapped in lotus leaf with homemade bao and pickled vegetables. 



If it&#8217;s duck you&#8217;re after, nowhere does it better than <a href="https://www.minjiang.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Min Jiang</a> in Kensington where it&#8217;s prepared using a secret Chinese recipe. The Lunar New Year A La Carte Menu has a wider choice of dishes to try though, including a banging pan-friend lunar Alaskan king crab with chive dumplings. Mouth-watering stuff. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="439" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/01/Untitled-5-01-1024x439.jpg" alt="Duck at Min Jiang restaurant " class="wp-image-8337" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/01/Untitled-5-01-1024x439.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/01/Untitled-5-01-300x129.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/01/Untitled-5-01-768x329.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/01/Untitled-5-01.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



And finally, if you want to celebrate Year of the Horse but lack of the finances to splash out in Mayfair, our top tip is <a href="https://master-wei.com/about-master-wei/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Master Wei</a> in Holborn and Hammersmith. Run by female chef Guirong Wei, who specialises in dishes from where she grew up in China’s Xian Region, you can dine out on biang biang chilli noodles and fried chicken and pot sticker dumplings for under £20.

Where to celebrate Chinese New Year in London 2026

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