Saddle Up to Welcome the Year of the Horse in the Biggest Celebration Outside China
According to the Chinese horoscope, those born in the Year of the Horse are cheerful, good with money, perceptive, witty and good with their hands. If you were born in 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990 or 2002, it would appear you have plenty of reason to celebrate this particular Chinese New Year as they are great attributes.
Horse or not, it’s time to saddle up and make your plans at galloping speed as it won’t be long before everything is booked.
This year, Chinese New Year falls on 31st January, with London’s official celebrations taking place on Sunday 2nd February. If you would like to take part in the biggest Chinese New Year celebrations outside of China itself, you’re in the right place and have plenty of fantastic options to choose from.
Here is just a taster of what London has in store.
Chinese New Year 2014 in Trafalgar Square
The official London Chinese New Year Celebrations will take place on Sunday 2nd February in and around Trafalgar Square. The free event will run from 10am until 6pm, with numerous floats, Chinese dragons and other entertainers joining the parade as it travels from Duncannon Street to Shaftesbury Avenue. From noon onwards, Trafalgar Square will provide the stage for performances from acrobatic acts, the Chen Brothers Flying Lion Dance, martial arts, magic, music and more. A second stage on Shaftesbury Avenue will also host a variety of entertainers. All performances are free of charge and suitable for all the family. Plan your transport in advance as the Tube network will no doubt be incredibly busy.
Chinese New Year at the National Maritime Museum
On 15th February, the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich will be hosting a day of family events in honour of the Chinese New Year. Traditional dance, workshops and various performances will take place throughout the day, as the whole family learns about how the sea and trading brought people and culture from Asia to the UK.
3 of the Best Chinese Restaurants in London
If you want to go the whole hog at Chinese New Year, you will need to be quick to get a table at one of London’s finest Chinese restaurants. All of these had availability at the time of writing. If you would like alternative suggestions, just get in touch and we will be more than happy to help.
Bar-Shu’s close to Chinatown location makes it the ideal venue for a Chinese New Year meal. This is a restaurant to visit for quality authentic food, not the cheap Chinese dishes we have all grown accustomed to. Northern Sichuan pea jelly, beef tripe with fresh chilli, bone pig trotters and stir-fried chicken gizzards are amongst the more unusual (to the standard British diner) dishes on the menu. Less adventurous diners will be pleased to learn that there are also plenty of more recognisable dishes available.
28 Frith Street, London, W1D 5LF Telephone: 020 7287 8822
If Michelin-starred dining is what you want, HKK is the place to go. Although already full for Sunday 2nd February, HKK has availability for the rest of the Chinese New Year weekend. The restaurant offers a variety of menus, including a four course lunch menu and 8, 10 or 15 course tasting menus. Vegetarian and seafood versions of the lunch and tasting menus are also available.
Broadgate West, 88 Worship Street, London, EC2A 2BE Telephone: 020 3535 1888
Located on the tenth floor of the Royal Garden Hotel in Kensington, Min Jiang offers authentic Chinese food alongside fantastic views of Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens. The menu includes Legendary Wood-fired Beijing Duck, Yu Sheung Yellow Tail sashimi salad and crispy seabass with ginger and spring onion. Min Jiang will be offering two Chinese New Year set menus on 30th and 31st January, with a selection of specially-selected dishes, such as 4 Treasure Roasted Chicken available on the a la carte menu from 1st-14th February.
Royal Garden Hotel, 2-24 Kensington High Street, London, W8 4PT Telephone: 020 7361 1988
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