How to Celebrate the Year of the Rooster in London
London’s Soho and Chinatown, located in the heart of the West End, have been home to the Chinese community for generations. During the Year of the Rooster in London, this historic neighbourhood transforms into one of the city’s most vibrant cultural hubs, bursting with colour, music, and traditional Chinese New Year pageantry.
In the Year of the Rooster, celebrations take place on 16 February, promising one of the most dramatic events on London’s cultural calendar. Guests staying in Aparthotels London are perfectly placed to experience what is widely recognized as the largest Chinese New Year celebration outside Asia, with the biggest Lion and Dragon procession in Europe.
Chinese New Year Parade: Soho to Trafalgar Square
The iconic parade winds its way from Soho to Trafalgar Square, passing through:
-
Wardour Street
-
Gerrard Street
-
Shaftesbury Avenue
-
Charing Cross Road
Along the route, visitors can enjoy craft stalls, traditional Chinese dance performances, martial arts demonstrations, and street food showcasing some of the best Chinese cuisine in London. Each year, during the Rooster in London celebrations, hundreds of thousands of visitors staying in holiday apartments in London attend, making it essential to arrive early to secure a good viewing spot.
Also, Read: Explore London Live: Top Webcams Showcasing the City in Real Time
Evening Celebrations at Trafalgar Square
As night falls, Trafalgar Square becomes the centrepiece of the celebrations. Beneath Nelson’s Column, the atmosphere comes alive with:
-
Lion and dragon dances
-
Acrobatic performances
-
Cultural dance troupes
-
Traditional Chinese opera
The evening concludes with a dramatic pyrotechnic display, marking a spectacular finale to the festivities.
Explore Chinatown from the Presidential Apartments in Kensington
Guests at the Presidential Apartments Kensington can easily explore Chinatown, where cultural details extend far beyond the parade. Highlights include:
-
Ornate Chinese gates built in the traditional Qing Dynasty style
-
Dragon sculptures, stone lions, and pagodas
-
Street signs are displayed in both English and Mandarin
Chinatown’s independent shops offer unique finds. The Golden Gate Cake Shop and Kowloon Bakery are well known for fluffy buns and traditional cakes, while New Loon Moon Supermarket is ideal for sourcing authentic Chinese ingredients. For a symbolic souvenir, many visitors purchase a maneki-neko (beckoning cat), believed to bring good luck.
Magical Lantern Festival at Chiswick House and Gardens
The Chinese theme continues in west London at Chiswick House and Gardens, home to the Magical Lantern Festival. As part of the Rooster in London celebrations, the gardens come alive after dark with large-scale, handcrafted lanterns inspired by Chinese history and the ancient Silk Road.
Visitors can expect lanterns shaped as sphinxes, camels, and even a replica of the Colosseum, reflecting historic trade routes between Europe and China. One of the standout displays is a full-size lantern ship inspired by Admiral Zheng He, a striking centrepiece of the exhibition.
Why Stay in a Serviced Apartment for Chinese New Year?
Staying in serviced apartments in Kensington or central London offers the flexibility, space, and location needed to enjoy the Chinese New Year at your own pace. As a preferred choice for London vacation apartments rental, Presidential Serviced Apartments provide excellent transport links to Soho, Trafalgar Square, and Chiswick, making them an ideal base for cultural exploration during one of London’s most exciting annual events.
