Chinese New Year in the UK is one of the premier cultural events on our calendar. Whether you're mesmerised by the lion dances, the dim sum, or looking for an excuse to have another New Year party, you're in for a treat.
Because Brits go hard when it comes to celebrating the Lunar New Year, and our Chinese communities in particular really pull out all the stops to spotlight their unique New Year traditions and share the joys of this important time with others.
If you're in the country, or planning to travel especially to experience it, here are some of the best places to celebrate Chinese New Year in the UK.
Paint the Town Red with London's Spectacular Party
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London hosts the largest Chinese New Year celebration outside of Asia. And as you might expect from something on such a grand scale, it's nothing short of astonishing.
Picture this - lion dances weaving through Gerrard Street and martial artists defying gravity while traditional Chinese performances light up Trafalgar Square.
Add to this a thriving street food scene offering everything from fluffy bao buns to sizzling Peking duck, and you've found the recipe for some sweet Lunar New Year magic.
Attending the celebrations is completely free, so you can save your pennies for a delicious dim sum feast.
London's Chinese New Year Festival is organised by the Chinatown Chinese Association and includes a famous lion dance and a show-stopping parade.
Follow the Dragon in Manchester
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Home to the second-largest Chinatown in the United Kingdom and the third-largest in Europe, Manchester always has a packed agenda for Chinese New Year.
Manchester's Chinese New Year parade is all about dragons, fireworks and of course, live music - this is Manchester, after all.
A dragon parade winds through the city centre, offering a colourful, visual treat for the crowds, followed by a host of other events across both Manchester and Salford.
Some of the things you can expect include traditional arts, crafts, Hanfu shows, fai chun writing and Chinese scroll painting workshops, and lantern displays.
Get a Selfie with a Giant Panda in Birmingham
Pom Pom, the ten-foot panda outside Birmingham Hippodrome in celebration of Chinese New Year. Image owned by Simon Hadley and used with permission of Birmingham Hippodrome.
Tens of thousands of people flock to Birmingham every year to attend the city's Chinese New Year festival. Food stalls line the streets, serving everything from dim sum to sugar-dusted Chinese New Year biscuits.
You can expect to see the traditional dim jing, or the waking of the lion, and colourful dragon dances. And maybe even a giant ten-foot panda named Pom Pom wandering around the city offering selfies.
Sword sparring, kung fu and tai chi demos, jasmine flower dances and Chinese and Scottish Fusion dances are just some of the sights you might come across at Birmingham's Chinese New Year event. The best bit? It's completely free to attend.
Chinese New Year the Newcastle Way
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Geordies might be known for their love of a good night out, but they also know how to throw a cracking Chinese New Year party.
Newcastle's Stowell Street is transformed into a thriving hub of Chinese traditions, including crafts, calligraphy, rhythmic drumming, dancing and street food vendors dishing up authentic Chinese snacks.
Don't Miss: The Lion and Dragon Dance Parade at Grey's Monument.
Performers, puppets, dancers and drummers weave through the streets before reaching the Chinese Arch on Stowell Street, where festivities continue into the evening.
Get Under the Largest Arch Outside of China
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Liverpool is home to the largest Chinese arch outside of China, making it the perfect backdrop for the city's celebrations.
With the oldest Chinese community in Europe, you just know Liverpool is going to go all-out for its Lunar New Year celebrations.
You can expect lantern displays, parades, family-friendly events and plenty of photo opportunities under the magnificent arch.
The Chinese food scene in Liverpool is top-notch, too. So be sure to dig into some dim sum and dive into the city's impressive Chinese food scene on your visit.
See World-Class Acrobats in Sheffield
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Sheffield prides itself on the authenticity of its Chinese New Year celebrations, which the city has been hosting for over two decades.
Events the city has staged in recent years include hosting the World Champion Foshan Lion Dance Troupe, special lights switch-ons, martial arts displays, solo singer spotlights and acrobatic lion dance displays.
Visit Museums and Galleries
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If you prefer a quieter celebration, why not explore some Chinese art and culture at your own pace?
Museums and galleries across the UK have impressive artefacts and exhibits to shine a light on this fascinating country and its culture. Many also run workshops and displays at this time of year. It's an insightful way to celebrate the traditions and history behind the festival.
Check your city's gallery websites and Chinese community centres to see if they've got anything special lined up.
Celebrate with a DIY Feast at Home
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For those who prefer to stay in, there's always the option to bring the party home. Chinese New Year is all about family, friends and, of course, food.
It's the perfect excuse to gather loved ones for a DIY feast from the comfort of your home. Start with dumplings - a symbol of wealth and prosperity (who doesn't want a side of good fortune with their meal?)
Follow up with longevity noodles for a long life and finish with nian gao - a sticky rice cake believed to bring success. You can gift your guests some Chinese New Year biscuits or snacks, which are available in most Asian supermarkets.
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If you're feeling generous, add red envelopes (hongbao) filled with lucky money, and you've got yourself a Chinese New Year feast your guests won't forget in a hurry.
And there you have it - that's how to celebrate Chinese New Year in the UK. If you dig into the culture, throw yourself into the festivities and wear something red for good luck and prosperity, then you can't go far wrong.
Stay Online This Chinese New Year
Whether you're hopping between UK cities to soak up the celebrations or video-calling family in Asia to share your Lunar New Year wishes, staying connected is key.
Say goodbye to fiddly plastic SIM cards and eye-watering roaming fees with eSIMs for the UK, Asia, China or wherever you are this Lunar New Year.
