Stay in the know with the best of London’s food scene.From exciting new restaurant openings and insider industry updates to can’t-miss events and exclusive offers just for subscribers -this newsletter is your go-to guide for eating your way through the city.
🏮London’s Biggest Lunar New Year Celebrations 2026
|
From lion dances in the West End to street food feasts in Greenwich, the capital is welcoming the Year of the Fire Horse with its most vibrant Lunar New Year programme yet and many events are completely FREE. Here’s your curated guide to the can’t-miss celebrations across the city: 🎉 The Brunswick Centre 📍 Opposite Russell Square Tube Station 🗓 Wednesday 18 February | 4:30pm – 7:00pm 🎟 FREE Expect high-impact performances and unforgettable spectacle, including: • Four authentic lion dancers • Two dragon dances • Traditional stilt walkers • Panda characters • Chinese drummers and gong players • Mask-changing shows • Acro-balance performers • Handstand hoop acts • Japanese Taiko drumming An early evening burst of colour, culture and celebration -perfect for families and after-work festivities alike. 📍 Camden Market 🗓 Saturday 21 February 🎟 FREE ENTRY Celebrate the Year of the Horse with a full day of lion dances, live performances, street food and cultural workshops. Expect bold flavours, high-energy entertainment and a buzzing market atmosphere. Mark your calendar -this one’s not to be missed. 🐉 Greenwich Peninsula – Culture, DJs & Street Food 📍 Peninsula Square, SE10 0SQ 🗓 Saturday 21 February | 12pm – 5pm At Greenwich Peninsula, Lunar New Year meets contemporary London cool. Look forward to: • Dragon & lion dances • Roaming stilt walkers • DJs • Live performances and striking installations • The Eternal Market packed with East & Southeast Asian street food • The Splendours of Henan exhibition at Firepit Art Gallery Follow the Year of the Horse food trail for exclusive offers from Peninsula favourites — from first beat to final bite, it’s an afternoon designed for exploring. Lunar New Year at the National Maritime Museum 📍 National Maritime Museum 🗓 Saturday 21 February | 10am – 4pm Kick off with spectacular lion dance performances, then dive into creative workshops and fascinating talks exploring China’s most iconic cultural customs. A brilliant day out for curious minds of all ages. ✨ Chelsea’s Duke of York Square Food Market Special 📍 Duke of York Square 🗓 Saturday 21 February | 11am – 4pm 🎟 Free Admission Chelsea does Lunar New Year in style. Expect dazzling dragon dances, graceful fan performers beneath red lanterns and a special-edition food market serving seasonal dishes and Asian-inspired treats. Little ones can enjoy complimentary face painting from 12pm to 4pm — making this a perfect family Saturday. 📍 From Trafalgar Square to Chinatown London 🗓 Sunday 22 February The capital’s official celebrations take over central London with the largest gathering of Chinese lions and dragons in Europe. Highlights include: • Chinese New Year Parade (10am–12pm) along Charing Cross Road • Main stage performances and the Lions’ Eye-Dotting Ceremony in Trafalgar Square • Family workshops at Dean Street & Shaftesbury Avenue • Cultural activities in Leicester Square • Lion dances and festive feasts throughout Chinatown Expect colourful floats, martial arts displays, Chinese pop performances and a spectacular finale lighting up the West End. London Museum Docklands (21–22 Feb) Folktales, martial arts workshops and hands-on crafts near London’s original Chinatown in Limehouse. Old Spitalfields Market (21–22 Feb) Lion dances, dumpling making, lantern workshops, calligraphy and an Asian makers market. Bang Bang Oriental Foodhall (23–26 Feb) Pop-up booths, lucky wheels, live music, dance performances, plus Dragon and Lion Dance finales. Brent Cross Shopping Centre (27–28 Feb) Two full days of free family fun featuring lion and dragon dances, Tai Chi workshops, calligraphy, arts & crafts, music and more. 🐎 Save the Dates From 18–28 February 2026, London comes alive with colour, rhythm and celebration. Whether you’re watching the lions roar through the West End, tasting your way around a street food market, or trying your hand at calligraphy, there’s no better time to explore the city. Come hungry. Bring friends. Celebrate boldly. The Year of the Fire Horse is ready to gallop. Rated food x |
Rated food
Stay in the know with the best of London’s food scene.From exciting new restaurant openings and insider industry updates to can’t-miss events and exclusive offers just for subscribers -this newsletter is your go-to guide for eating your way through the city.
When London heats up, nothing hits quite like a mountain of finely shaved ice, sweet toppings and cold, creamy indulgence. From authentic Korean bingsu to modern oat-milk snow ice, here are four standout spots keeping the city cool this week. 🍓 Cake & Bingsoo (New Malden) The closest London gets to Seoul-style bingsu, Cake & Bingsoo is a cult favourite for a reason. Expect ultra-fine milk snow, generous toppings and classic flavours like strawberry, mango and matcha. It’s rich, indulgent and...
London foodies, this is the best £1 you'll spend in London right now. Until 5 June, Kohmi Cafe in Adam’s Court is serving a selection of drinks for just £1 each, with a limit of two drinks per person. Choose from: ☕ Coffee 🍵 Matcha 🍂 Hojicha 🍫 Iced Chocolate 🥛 Condensed Milk Latte Whether you’re after a morning caffeine fix, an afternoon matcha moment, or a sweet iced treat, it’s hard to argue with £1 drinks in the heart of the City. 📍 Kohmi Cafe, Adam’s Court, London EC2N 1DX Rated food x
Stratford’s dining scene just got a serious upgrade. Chilli Padi- the Malaysian restaurant known in the North East for its rich rendang, smoky satay and comforting noodle dishes has opened its first London site at Stratford Cross, directly opposite the London Stadium. The new site opens officially on 6 June, but savvy diners can get in early during a soft launch running from 22 May to 5 June, with 50% off food*. Expect fragrant curries, wok-fried kueh teow served in a sleek new space inspired...