London's Chinatown for Chinese New Year

You don't have to make the trip to China this February to find an authentic celebration of Chinese New Year, with London's Chinatown, Leicester Square and Trafalgar Square staging the biggest celebration of the Year of the Rabbit outside of Asia.



The Chinese lunar calendar is based on 12 zodiacal animals, and 2011 is the Year of the Rabbit. The Chinese zodiac signs are as open to interpretation as the Greek zodiac that forms the basis of horoscopes in the Western world, but in general the animal is associated with peace, tranquillity and relaxation - giving some respite after the more frantic Year of the Tiger in 2010.



Get down to London on Sunday 6th February to experience Chinese New Year like a local, where the city's Chinese community will be staging an extravagant array of festivities to celebrate the occasion. As well as traditional activities and entertainments such as Chinese acrobats, dragons and lions, the festivities will also focus on contemporary Chinese culture, showcasing modern music and dance from the Middle Kingdom.

London's central tourist areas of Trafalgar Square and theatre capital Leicester Square are the places to be this February to see the colourful and explosive attractions, but a trip over to Chinatown could be even more rewarding, to get a sense of what the occasion means to the capital's Chinese citizens. Special decorations and food stalls will be set up for the event and over the preceding days, while Shaftesbury Avenue will host theatrical performances from well-known Chinese artists.



You don't have to limit your horizons to these areas either, with many Chinese restaurants and takeaways across the city getting into the spirit of things with their own displays and special menus to celebrate the occasion. Some of London's leading visitor attractions are also paying their respects to the Chinese New Year in their own unique ways, such as the Victoria & Albert Museum's open day on 30th January, which is free to attend, and a Chinese silk painting workshop at the Wallace Collection on 5th February.



If you're looking for something different to do in London this winter, Chinese New Year is an ideal opportunity to experience a little of Asia in the heart of the UK. One of the best aspects of London's Chinese New Year celebrations is that they're completely free to attend, so you can enjoy a budget weekend break when taking trains to London this February.