Chinese New Year celebrations across the capital will begin today, ushering in the new year of the rooster, and will last for about two weeks.

We picked some of the best places for Londoners to ring in the New Year.

Chinese New Year Parade

This year’s theme is China: Today and Yesterday. The parade will begin at 10am tomorrow (Sunday, January 29) at Charing Cross Road and make its way to Shaftesbury Avenue with six hand-crafted floats and the largest gathering of Chinese lion and dragon dance performers in the UK.

Events and performances will be taking place at Trafalgar Square between 11am and 5.30pm, including dance, puppetry, acrobatics, marital arts and drumming.

The free festival will take place across Trafalgar Square, Chinatown and the West End.

And slightly away from the main parade, food and craft stalls will line Wardour Street and Gerrard Street.

Magical Lantern Festival

Chiswick House Gardens will play host to a lantern sculpture festival until February 26.

Across 65 acres of the Chiswick House property, 50 illuminated lantern sculptures will be displayed, including those of peacocks, tigers, elephants and crocodiles.

Chiswick House, Conservatory Yard, London W4 2QN

V&A Museum of Childhood

Visitors will be able to take part in Chinese Opera mask making, costume and calligraphy workshops. There will also be traditional and modern instrumental and dance performances.

Other events at the museum include Board Games Rediscovered, ABC Photography, Searching for Ghosts and various drop in activities.

Cambridge Heath Road, Bethnal Green, E2 9PA, Saturday, February 11, 11.30am until 4.30pm