Looking for ideas to celebrate Lunar New Year in London with kids? In this guide, you’ll find a list of festive events and activities for families to celebrate Lunar New Year in London 2025. I will keep adding to this list, so do check back for more updates.
When is Lunar New Year 2025?
Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival or Chinese New Year, starts with the first new moon of the year and is welcomed with a 15-day celebration in many Asian communities around the world. In 2025, the Chinese New Year falls on Wednesday, 29 January, which marks the start of the Year of the Wood Snake.
Related: Lunar New Year books for kids
What’s On Lunar New Year in London with Kids
Plan your days out with this list of things to do with kids in London during the Lunar New Year 2025 festivities. Highlights include the annual Chinese New Year parade in Chinatown and packed weekend programmes at the Museum of London Docklands.
Lunar New Year Family Festival at Museum of London Docklands
1 – 2 February 2025
Welcome the Year of the Wood Snake at the Museum of London Docklands’s weekend family festival. Enjoy mesmerising dragon dances, enchanting folktales, vibrant crafts and lively community-led events.
General admission to the Lunar New Year festival is free and it is strongly recommended that you book tickets in advance. The full programme will be released in January.
Register your interest for the Lunar New Year festival at the Museum of London Docklands
Chinese New Year Celebrations in London
1 – 2 February 2025
The Chinese New Year celebrations in London are usually among the largest outside Asia, with colourful parades, traditional dragon and flying lion dances and traditional Chinese street food stalls. The annual Chinese New Year parade in London will take place on Sunday, 2 February, starting from east of Trafalgar Square to Chinatown.
Lion Dances in Chinatown London
1 February 2025
Chinese New Year celebrations in London Chinatown will kick off with spectacular lion dance performances on Saturday, 1 February, between 11am and 5pm. The traditional lion dance is said to bring good luck and drive away evil spirits.
Throughout the weekend in Chinatown, you will find stalls on Gerrard Place and Newport Court and plenty of places to stop off for a Chinese New Year feast.
London Chinese New Year Parade
2 February 2025
More than 50 teams will take part in the London Chinese New Year parade on Sunday, 2 February. The London Chinese New Year parade features the largest gathering of Chinese lions and dragons in Europe.
The London Chinese New Year parade starts at 10am from east of Trafalgar Square to Chinatown, with colourful parade floats and dragon dances.
Between 12pm and 6pm, visit Trafalgar Square for speeches and the Lions’ Eye-Dotting Ceremony, followed by stage performances. The fun-filled stage performances will include Chinese dance and music shows, martial arts displays, street food and craft stalls.
Leicester Square will also be running cultural workshops and family activities on 2 February.
View the schedule and map for the 2025 London Chinese New Year celebrations at Chinatown London
Lunar New Year Celebrations at Greenwich Peninsula
1 February 2025
Welcome the Year of the Snake with Greenwich Peninsula. Enjoy captivating dragon and lion dances, gets hands-on at bamboo weaving or Chinese knot-making workshops and explore the vibrant Pan-Asian Eternal Market.
Don’t miss the energising Dragon and Lion Dance in Peninsula Square from 1:30pm.
Read more details at the Greenwich Peninsula
Find more days out inspiration for things to do in February in our guide: February Half Term Activities in London.
This post has been updated on 22January 2025 with latest information on family activities, workshops and events to celebrate Lunar New Year in London with kids.
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