Chinese New Year 2023: From the parade to place to eat, our full guide to London celebrations

From vibrant dragon dances, colourful lanterns and delicious dishes, Chinese New Year festivities are a beloved tradition all over the world.

With the date of Chinese Lunar New Year fast approaching, Londoners and the Chinese community are preparing to mark the year of the Rabbit.

When is Chinese New Year?

The festival marks the beginning of a new year, on the traditional Chinese calendar.

This year Chinese New Year falls on Sunday January 22, with celebrations in both China and London running until February 5, when the traditional holiday known as the Lantern Festival falls.

When is the Chinese New Year parade?

The Chinese New Year Parade will take place on January 22, although exact timings are yet to be announced.

The parade will kick off in Charing Cross Road, before snaking its way through Shaftesbury Avenue in Chinatown.

There will also be stage performances in Trafalgar Square, Charing Cross and Shaftesbury Avenue.

Visitors can expect to enjoy traditional dragon and flying lion dances and stage performances, including Chinese dance and music shows, martial arts displays, Chinese pop hits and a lineup of artists from China.

Food and drink to celebrate Chinese New Year

If you’re looking for somewhere to enjoy a traditional Chinese New Year meal, Chinatown has plenty of delicious options.

Feast on delicious dumplings with pan-Asian influences at one of Chinatown’s most popular dim sum restaurants: Dumplings’ Legend.

Or you can sample some of the best roast duck in London at Four Seasons.

If fine dining is your thing, treat yourself to high-end Chinese cuisine at Plum Valley. Explore the vast menu that features Cantonese specialities such as taro croquettes, wasabi king prawns, and crab and pork soup dumplings.

Cafe TPT serves a variety of top-quality Chinese and Malaysian dishes. Choose from noodles, hot stone sizzling pots, seafood and more, and wash it down with bubble tea.

Good Friend is the best place in London Chinatown to try Taiwan’s legendary crispy fried chicken.

If you’re looking for something sweet try taiyaki, a fish-shaped waffle filled with matcha ice cream at Bake.

Finish off your evening at Opium, a speakeasy-style cocktail lounge and dim sum parlour. Look for a nondescript blue door on Gerrard Street.

Other events taking place

Chinese New Year at National Maritime Museum

Greenwich’s National Maritime Museum is hosting a free day of Lunar New Year celebrations on Saturday January 21.

Organised by Newham Chinese Association, Greenwich Vietnam Women’s Group and the Association of Chinese Women, Woolwich visitors can enjoy a ream of colourful performances as well as workshops, talks and tours.

From lantern-making to learning the ropes of popular game mahjong and meeting the dancing lion, there’s a host of activities to get involved with.

Museum of London Docklands Lunar New Year celebrations

The Museum of London is hosting a whole weekend of free activities for all the family to celebrate the Lunar New Year from January 21 to 22.

Enjoy ribbon dance workshops, lion dance performances and learn about the game of Mahjong courtesy of Mahjong Twickenham.

Tao Dun’s ‘Buddha Passion’ at the Royal Festival Hall

The London Philharmonic Orchestra is celebrating Lunar New Year with a performance from award winning Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon composer Tan Dun.

Indigenous singers, a double choir and traditional instruments will accompany the orchestra’s rendition of the ‘Buddha Passion’ which draws on ancient Chinese and Sanskrit texts to illustrate lessons taught by the Buddha.