Quarter of a million expected to celebrate Chinese New Year in London in 2012, the Year of the Dragon

London celebrates the Chinese New Year with a free festival, food stalls and firecrackers

 

 

Released on: December 30, 2011, 10:08 am
Author: Kieran Kerrigan
Industry: Travel

Chinese New Year in London is one of the capital's largest public events with crowds of up to 250,000 coming to central London to celebrate the occasion, and in 2012 it is the first major cultural event of the Olympic year.

In 2012, the Year of the Dragon, Chinese New Year falls on 23rd January and London's main celebrations – which traditionally take place on the first Sunday after the official start of the Chinese New Year – will be held on Sunday 29th January. Visitors arriving in London for the colourful and vibrant event can book into one of the London hotels listed on the website LondonTown.com which offers competitive rates and discount deals.

The free event and festivities, organised by the London Chinatown Chinese Association with support from the Greater London Authority, take place in Chinatown, Shaftesbury Avenue and Trafalgar Square where the official opening ceremony begins at noon. The main stage then hosts a series of dance and music acts, colourful Chinese dragons, lions, acrobatics and firecrackers.

The popular lion dancers can also be seen in Gerrard Street, Lisle Street and the other streets surrounding Chinatown, the bustling centre of the Chinese community since the 1950s, which will be festooned with Chinese lanterns hanging overhead and splashes of red. On this special day Chinatown's famous restaurants, renowned for their delicious traditional Chinese food, are supplemented by food stalls lining the streets.

It's a great family day out with schools, clubs and community groups across London getting involved and there's plenty of food and entertainment for younger members of the family to enjoy. For visitors arriving in London for the Chinese New Year celebrations it's advisable to book a hotel in London before arriving. The website LondonTown.com has a comprehensive list of hotels in central London at various prices and suitable for every type of traveller, whether you're treating the family to a weekend in the city or visiting friends.

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About LondonTown.com

Londontown.com is the number one Internet site for London. With over 16 years of experience assisting visitors to the capital, they pride themselves on their customer service and editorial independence – no advertising or paid for content is allowed. The LondonTown.com team assist in finding cheap London hotels, sightseeing tours, ticket information and events. Trusted and with a loyal following, LondonTown.com is a very reliable source of recommendations and advise on what to do in London. http://www.LondonTown.com

 

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