Back to blog chinese-new-year-banner On Saturday the 28th of January, Chinese New Year celebrations start for the year of the Rooster. Typically Chinese New Year festivities last for several days and end with a lantern festival. In London, the big events will be taking place on Sunday the 29th. But where do you go and what do you do if you want to join in on the fun? We’ve got the answers right here with 5 places to visit in London this New Year.

1. Magical Lantern Festival at Chiswick House

The “Magical Lantern Festival” has arrived at Chiswick House Gardens for the second year running. The event will feature a number of huge lanterns and set-pieces that are sure to impress. The theme of this year’s festival is “The Silk Road” and includes lantern recreation of the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben as well as lantern representations of Rome, Asia, India and the Middle East. But be sure to book soon as weekend tickets are going to be popular.

2. Chinese Restaurants

Where would any celebration be without food? Dumplings are a popular choice at New Year (in North China at least) and sharing a whole fish with the family is hugely symbolic, meaning “May you have surpluses and bountiful harvests this year.” Chinatown is the obvious choice for food as the area is packed with restaurants but you will definitely need to book ahead for a chance at getting a table. Looking beyond Chinatown, HKK near Shoreditch High Street offers banquet style Cantonese cooking. Although it might be too pricey for some as the New Year menu will set you back more than £93, so be sure to take a look at Visit London’s list of top Chinese restaurants for alternatives.

3. The London Eye

步步高升 – “A steady rise to high places!” A popular saying at Chinese New Year and a great idea. See London and its festivities from above and take a moment to give pause and reflect.

The View from the Shard is another popular location that guarantees truly stunning views. You’ll be further away from the action but the view will be worth it.

4. Gift Shops

It’s traditional to wear something red and decorate your home with lanterns to drive off bad luck. The West End and Trafalgar square will have stalls and events open on Sunday if you want to pick up something on the day. If you’re buying ahead of time, Chinatown had lots of hidden gems and  Wen Tai Sun on Dean street sells a huge selection of ornaments and decorations. So pop in, grab a red lantern and maybe a New Year drum while you’re there, as drums are often part of New Year performances and festivities.

5. Trafalgar Square for a Year of the Rooster Party

This is it, the main event this Chinese New Year. An enormous Year of the Rooster party will be kicking off at mid-day in Trafalgar square. Expect big performances and a fireworks show dedicated to the year of the Rooster. A parade of dancers and performers will wind its way towards Chinatown. It’s going to be the “biggest dragon and lions procession in Europe”! You’ll also want to check out the surrounding areas on the day. The West End will have music, activities and pyrotechnics, while Charing Cross Road will have craft workshops and martial arts displays. The event is free to attend and you can find more information on the LCCA website.

What’s the best way to get to there?

The London Underground will be a convenient way of travelling to the main events. If you’re thinking of going to Chiswick House Gardens or the London Eye, don’t forget you can plan a journey to landmarks and locations with Tube Map’s real-time routing. And because Sunday looks set to be a busy day for London, make sure you check the line status. You can download Tube Map on iOS and Android. Now you’re all set to go out there and have a great time! So from everyone here at Mapway, Happy New Year. Back to blog