Chinese New Year celebrations swing into gear in London's Chinatown

Chinese New Year celebrations have swung into full gear in London as Chinatown lit up to mark 2025. 

Celebrations broke out in the capital to celebrate the Year of the Snake with traditional festivities bringing together the East and south-east Asian cultures to its streets. 

The animal of 2025 is the snake, which in the Chinese zodiac symbolises wisdom, intuition, and transformation.

As the sixth animal in the 12-year cycle, it represents elegance and thoughtfulness. 

Chinese New Year is celebrated by the Chinese diaspora in London's Chinatown district each year with a Lion Dance that attracts thousands of tourists and Londoners to the area in Soho. 

Lion dancers visited shops and restaurants so bring them good luck for the New Year. 

Crowds gathered in the capital as many onlookers took pictures and joined in the celebrations.

Even pets were not spared in the festivities, with a chihuahua being spotted dressed for the occasion. 

The weekend will see events play out in the capital to celebrate the occasion.

On Saturday, there was were Lion dance persmorances throughout Chinatown from 11am.

Meanwhile, on Sunday, crowds will be able to enjoy the Chinese New Year parade from East of Trafalgar Square to Chinatown in the morning.

After this there will be various celebrations in Trafalgar Square, including speeches and Lions’ Eyes-Dotting Ceremony, and art and craft stalls.

There will also be cultural workshops and family activities in Leicester Square.

Millions around the world will be bringing in the Lunar New Year.

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What you can expect from the Year of the Snake, according to your Chinese zodiac sign

January 29 welcomes with it the year of the Snake, according to the Chinese Zodiac - which houses those born in 2013, 2001, 1989, 1977, 1965, 1953, 1941 and 1929.

And speaking to FEMAIL, astrologer Inbaal Honigman revealed what you should be doing to commemorate the sly reptilian presence in our lives.

'The Snake is the only creature to shed its skin, so when the year of the Snake comes along, everyone is called to shed their skin and be renewed,' she explained.

'The signs that love change - such as Tigers and Rabbits - will love it, whereas signs that like stability such as Horses and Ox may find it overwhelming.'

The psychic, working with FruitySlots, added: 'On 29 January 2025, the year of the Snake begins.

'This new Chinese year will run until 16 February 2026. The Snake is the 6th position in the Chinese Zodiac. The Chinese Zodiac consists of twelve signs named after animals, similarly to the Western Zodiac.

'However, unlike the Western Zodiac, the Chinese Zodiac assigns a full year to each sign, not a month.'

'Those born in the year of the Snake will turn 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72, 84 or 96 this year,' she continued.

'Snake-borns are believed to be charming, elegant and wise individuals. This is the Chinese sign of change and transformation. Its gifts are intuition, intelligence and strategy.'

What's your Chinese Zodiac animal? 

Rat 鼠 (shǔ): 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020

Ox 牛 (niú): 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021

Tiger 虎 (hǔ): 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022

Rabbit 兔 (tù): 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023

Dragon 龙 (lóng): 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024

Snake 蛇 (shé): 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013

Horse 马 (mǎ): 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014

Sheep 羊 (yáng): 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015

Monkey 猴 (hóu): 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016

Rooster 鸡 (jī): 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017

Dog 狗 (gǒu): 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018

Pig 猪 (zhū): 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019