Chinese Lantern Festival London 2025: Events, Locations, and What to Expect

At the heart of London’s cultural calendar is the Chinese Lantern Festival London 2025, a large-scale, community-driven celebration of Chinese New Year featuring handcrafted lanterns, live performances, and traditional food. Also known as the Lantern Festival, it’s the final event in the Lunar New Year season and draws tens of thousands to parks and public spaces across the city. Unlike tourist traps or commercialized events, this festival stays true to its roots—colorful lanterns shaped like dragons, zodiac animals, and ancient symbols light up the night, while drummers, dancers, and calligraphers bring centuries-old traditions to life.

It’s not just about the lights. The festival includes traditional Chinese performances, including lion dances, acrobatics, and folk music. These acts often take place on open-air stages near major landmarks like Hyde Park, Trafalgar Square, or Chinatown, turning the city into a temporary cultural hub. Nearby, food stalls serve authentic snacks like tangyuan (sweet rice balls), dumplings, and candied hawthorns—no gimmicks, just real flavors passed down through generations. The event is free, family-friendly, and designed for locals and visitors to experience Chinese heritage without barriers. What makes the 2025 edition stand out is its expanded footprint: more lantern installations, longer operating hours, and new collaborations with local artists to blend Chinese motifs with London’s street art scene.

There’s also a growing focus on sustainability. Organizers have switched to LED-lit lanterns powered by solar panels, reduced single-use plastics, and partnered with community groups to involve local schools in lantern-making workshops. You’ll see kids helping build smaller lanterns alongside master artisans—an intimate touch that turns the festival from a spectacle into a shared experience.

Whether you’re drawn by the glow of a thousand lanterns, the rhythm of a lion dance, or the smell of steaming dumplings on a cold evening, the Chinese Lantern Festival London 2025 is more than an event—it’s a living tradition in the heart of the city. Below, you’ll find curated guides to the best viewing spots, hidden performances, and tips to avoid crowds so you can enjoy it all without the rush.