Lighting Up London: How to Celebrate the Chinese Lantern Festival

The Chinese Lantern Festival marks the fifteenth and final day of the Chinese New Year celebrations. Traditionally celebrated on the first full moon of the lunar year, the festival symbolises reunion, harmony, and the return of light. While its origins lie in ancient China, the Lantern Festival has found a meaningful place in modern, multicultural cities London included.

In London, celebrating the Lantern Festival is less about grand public spectacles and more about atmosphere, shared experiences, and cultural appreciation. Whether you are familiar with Chinese traditions or experiencing them for the first time, there are many ways to mark this beautiful occasion in a city that thrives on diversity and creativity.

Experiencing the Lantern Festival Atmosphere in London

One of the most immersive ways to celebrate the Lantern Festival in London is by soaking in its festive atmosphere, particularly in areas with strong Chinese cultural roots. Chinatown in Soho becomes especially vibrant during this time of year. Although the Lantern Festival is quieter than Chinese New Year’s Day, it offers a more intimate charm. Decorative lanterns, glowing lights, and seasonal window displays transform the streets into a warm and inviting space, especially in the evening.

An evening stroll through Chinatown allows visitors to feel the symbolic transition from celebration to reflection. Restaurants are lively, families gather over meals, and the soft glow of lanterns overhead echoes the festival’s message of hope and togetherness. For many Londoners, this simple act of walking through a familiar yet festive space becomes a meaningful way to connect with tradition.

Celebrating Through Food and Shared Meals

Food plays an essential role in the Lantern Festival, serving as both nourishment and symbolism. One of the most important festival foods is tangyuan, sweet glutinous rice balls typically filled with black sesame, red bean, or peanut paste. Their round shape represents unity, completeness, and family togetherness, values at the heart of the festival.

In London, tangyuan can be found in Chinese dessert shops, bakeries, and restaurants during the Lantern Festival period. Some people choose to celebrate by dining out, turning the occasion into a relaxed social gathering. Others prefer to prepare tangyuan at home, often inviting friends or family to join in the cooking process. Making and sharing food together reflects the festival’s spirit of reunion, even when celebrated far from its cultural origins.

Hosting a Lantern Festival dinner at home is also becoming increasingly popular. London’s diverse food culture allows hosts to blend traditional Chinese dishes with modern or multicultural flavours. What matters most is not authenticity in every detail, but the intention to bring people together around a shared table.

Engaging with Cultural Events and Performances

Each year, London may host various Lantern Festival–related events organised by cultural groups, community centres, or arts organisations. These events often focus on education and cultural exchange rather than spectacle. Performances may include traditional music, dance, or storytelling, offering audiences insight into the history and symbolism of the festival.

Even when large-scale events are limited, smaller cultural gatherings still play an important role. Workshops, talks, or exhibitions provide opportunities to learn about lantern-making, festival customs, and the broader context of Chinese New Year. For those interested in cultural exploration, attending such events can deepen appreciation for the traditions while supporting local communities.

Creating Lanterns and Light at Home

At the heart of the Lantern Festival is light, making lantern creation one of the most meaningful ways to celebrate. In London homes, lantern-making has become a creative and family-friendly activity. Simple paper lanterns, decorated jars with LED candles, or handcrafted designs using fabric and wire all serve the same symbolic purpose, to welcome brightness and positivity into the year ahead.

Displaying lanterns near windows, balconies, or communal spaces allows the festival to extend beyond the home. For families with children, the process becomes both educational and joyful, offering a hands-on way to pass down cultural knowledge through storytelling and creativity.

Lanterns do not need to be elaborate. Even a single glowing lantern can carry the festival’s message of hope, clarity, and guidance.

Keeping Tradition Alive with Lantern Riddles

One of the more playful Lantern Festival traditions is solving riddles written on lanterns. Historically, these riddles were a form of entertainment and intellectual challenge during festive gatherings. In London, this tradition is often adapted into modern settings.

Friends or families celebrating together may create their own riddles, word games, or puzzles and attach them to lanterns or decorative displays. Solving them becomes a shared activity that encourages laughter, conversation, and connection. While the riddles themselves may change, the tradition continues to bring people together through curiosity and play.

Enjoying London’s Nighttime Glow

Because the Lantern Festival is celebrated at night, it naturally lends itself to evening activities. London’s cityscape already known for its illuminated landmarks and reflective river viewsprovides a fitting backdrop. Some people choose to mark the festival with a quiet evening walk, allowing the city’s lights to mirror the symbolism of lanterns.

Walking along the Thames, through neighbourhood streets, or near cultural districts can become a moment of reflection. Paired with a warm drink or dessert stop, this simple ritual offers a peaceful way to close the festive season.

Celebrating Community and Togetherness

The Lantern Festival is deeply rooted in the idea of reunion, making it a perfect occasion for gathering with others. In London, this often means celebrating across cultures. Friends from different backgrounds may come together to learn about the festival, share food, and exchange stories.

Explaining the meaning behind lanterns, red decorations, or festival foods helps keep traditions alive while making them accessible to everyone. This inclusive approach reflects the way cultural celebrations naturally evolve in a global city like London.

Reflecting on the Year Ahead

As the final chapter of Chinese New Year, the Lantern Festival carries a reflective tone. Many people use this moment to pause after weeks of celebration, setting intentions for the year ahead. Lighting a lantern becomes a symbolic act—letting go of the past and welcoming new beginnings.

Whether celebrated publicly or privately, this quiet reflection adds depth to the festival, reminding us that traditions are not only about celebration, but also about meaning.

Where can you celebrate the Lantern Festival in London

For those who want a more hands-on way to celebrate, the Lantern Festival is an ideal time to experience these traditions through interactive activities. Lantern-making workshops, festive cultural sessions, and Chinese New Year–themed experiences offer a meaningful way to explore the symbolism behind the festival while creating something tangible to take home. Through Dear Asia London‘s curated Lantern Festival and Chinese New Year workshops in London, they help to bring these traditions to life for teams, communities, and groups combining creativity, cultural storytelling, and shared celebration to create memorable experiences that honour the spirit of the festival.