London Chinatown Chinese Association

The LCCA is a not-for-profit organisation formed in 1978 to represent Chinese people in the UK. This also brought huge damage to Limehouse and its “Chinatown”.

In the 1880s the Limehouse area of East London had developed into a small Chinese community, the earliest “Chinatown” with the Chinese focusing on the laundry business. During the German air raids of World War II, the London Docklands were inevitably damaged due to their proximity to a sea fortress. As a result, some Chinese moved to Liverpool (the earliest Chinatown in Britain is located in Liver

pool), while others returned to China. London Chinatown as we know it today only began to take shape in the 1950s. By 1950 there were approximately 2,000 Chinese in Britain and with the return of the British soldiers from the Far East, the market grew for Chinese cuisine creating favourable conditions for a Chinese restaurant industry to take hold. London Chinatown began as a few Chinese restaurants and grocery stores in Gerrard Street. In the very beginning, Gerrard Street and Lisle Street were filled with small shops and stalls owned by locals (non-Chinese). Attracted by the cheap rents and short leases in and around Gerrard Street, other Chinese trades began to prosper. By 1965, there were 20 Chinese restaurants and three stalls in Gerrard Street. Today, in 2010, London Chinatown is made up of Gerrard Street, Lisle Street, Wardour Street, Newport Place and Shaftesbury Avenue and is nestled in the busy centre of London between Soho, Leicester Square, Piccadilly Circus and Covent Garden. There are over 220 businesses in London Chinatown of which approximately 180 are Chinese businesses ranging from restaurants, cafes, cake shops, bookshops, grocery stores, travel agents, banks and money transfer businesses, mobile phone shops, traditional Chinese medicine practitioners, doctors, dentists, beauty salons, newsagents, solicitors and accountants. For those Chinese who moved to Britain in the early days, the old adage was always: “Earn enough then head home”. Therefore, they seldom cared about UK current affairs. When they faced personal problems they could not resolve, they rarely knew where to turn. There was a need for greater co-operation to facilitate the needs and wants of the community, in August 1978, the London Chinatown Chinese Association (LCCA) was founded. It forged stronger links with Westminster City Council, the Police and the community outside Soho. Originally, the LCCA served both the business and community of the Chinese living and working within Chinatown. However, in 1979 the LCCA established the Chinese Community Centre to deal with community issues. Today, the LCCA is a not for profit organisation. Its stated aims were and still are to enhance the area, improve the quality of life of the Chinatown community by responding to the needs of business and residents in London Chinatown as well as the many people who visit the area every year by working closely with partner organisations such as Westminster City Council, the Metropolitan Police, Prince’s Charities Foundation China and the Mayor of London as well as the Chinese Embassy. The LCCA organises events to promote London Chinatown and to attract more visitors to the area. Since the 1980s it has organized the annual Chinese New Year celebrations in Chinatown and since 2002, the event has been held in Trafalgar Square, Leicester Square and London Chinatown. The event has grown from being a small community event to a major free public event that attracts Chinese people, Londoners and tourists to London. The event attracts over 300,000 people and has become an established London-wide event. It is a great advert for the Chinese community and Chinese culture. It also brings together the diverse Chinese population* in London and worldwide. Besides organising the annual Chinese New Year celebrations, the LCCA has also organised fund raising events for the Qinghai Earthquake (2010), Taiwanese Typhoon Appeal (2009) and the Sichuan Earthquake (2008). The LCCA is now raising funds to build a new Chinese gate on Wardour Street and to maintain Chinatown’s unique character. There are aspirations for a Chinese cultural centre in Chinatown itself subject to funding and securing a suitable property.

*the Chinese population in the UK – the original Overseas Chinese came from Hong Kong (New Territories) and Guangdong Province in (Southern) China. We now have British born Chinese, Hong Kong Chinese, Mainland Chinese, Malaysian Chinese, Taiwanese Chinese, Singaporean Chinese as well as people of mixed Chinese race. The current exact numbers of Chinese in the UK is difficult to quantify exactly but current estimates (circa 2006) are that there are over 400,000 Chinese in the UK of which 100,000 live in London.

22/02/2026

THANK YOU to everyone who joined us to celebrate and welcome the Year of the Horse! 🐎

We send warm wishes to you and your families for happiness, health and harmony in the year to come!

22/02/2026

Travelling to the celebrations is easiest by public transport!

Check ahead with the Transport for London journey planner for the smoothest experience 😊

Photos from London Chinatown Chinese Association's post

21/02/2026

👀 Check out our fabulous Chinese New Year programme for Sunday 22 February!

A sensational line-up of entertainment on the Main Stage in Trafalgar Square, and a huge choice of family-friendly activities in Dean Street and Leicester Square.

We can’t wait to celebrate the Year of the Horse with you!

20/02/2026

✨ Celebrate with us in the heart of London on Sunday 22 February! ✨

From 10am in Trafalgar Square and through Chinatown and Leicester Square you can enjoy all the spectacular sights, sounds and tastes of this vibrant event.

Stay tuned for more details as we welcome the Year of the Horse!

30/04/2025

🐍 As we slither deeper into the Year of the Snake, it's the perfect time to pause and reflect: How has this year been unfolding for you so far? Are you shedding old habits or embracing fresh perspectives?

03/02/2025

🐍 Thank you for celebrating Chinese New Year with us! 🎊

This weekend, London was filled with joy and festivity as we welcomed the Year of the Snake! 🏮✨ Visitors gathered in Chinatown and Trafalgar Square to take part in the city’s celebrations.

The day began with a vibrant parade through Chinatown, featuring dazzling hand-crafted floats, energetic lion and dragon dances, and an electric atmosphere. Over at Trafalgar Square, the celebrations continued with an incredible entertainment programme, starting with the traditional eye-dotting ceremony, a symbolic act to awaken the lions and bring good fortune for the year ahead. 🦁🎨

Throughout the afternoon, crowds enjoyed a variety of captivating performances, from traditional Chinese music, song and dance to Beijing opera and martial arts. As evening fell, the festivities concluded with breath-taking pyrotechnics 🎆, lighting up the London skyline.

We were honoured to be joined by Ambassador Zheng Zeguang, Deputy Debbie Weekes-Bernard, Lord Mayor of Westminster Robert Rigby, and many more distinguished guests. Their support of this annual cultural tradition is truly appreciated.

📸 Patrick Gunning / Zac Mahrouche

31/01/2025

With London's Chinese New Year celebrations just around the corner, you may be starting to plan your journey! 🚆🏮

Hop off at any of these stations and head to Trafalgar Square for the main stage performances! Don’t forget, there are plenty of celebrations happening throughout Chinatown too, as well as a community stage at Dean Street & Shaftesbury Avenue! 🎊🥢

🚆✨ Heading to the Chinese New Year celebrations in London this weekend? Plan your journey to ensure you get here smoothly! 🎊🏮

Hop off at any of these stations and head to Trafalgar Square for the main stage performances! Don’t forget, there are plenty of celebrations happening throughout Chinatown too, as well as a community stage at Dean Street & Shaftesbury Avenue! 🏮🥢

Photos from Chinese New Year London's post

31/01/2025

Visiting the Chinese New Year Event in London this weekend? 🎉Check out the official event schedule to prepare for a weekend full of celebrations to welcome the Year of the Snake! 🏮🐍

23/01/2025

✨🎉Have you ever been captivated by the Dragon and Lion Dances at a Chinese New Year celebration? If so, you’ve likely marvelled at their captivating dances. But did you know they’re steeped in rich history and cultural significance? 🐉🦁

🌟 Origins 🌟
Both dances date back to ancient times, originating during the Han Dynasty.
Dragon Dances were performed to pray for rain and protect crops from insect attacks.
Lion Dances started as court entertainment and later evolved into a cherished festival tradition.

🐉 Dragon Dance 🐉
In Chinese culture, dragons symbolise wisdom, power, and wealth and are believed to bring good luck. The dance is performed to chase away evil spirits and welcome prosperity. It’s also said that touching one of these dragons is sure to bring you good luck! ✨

🦁 Lion Dance 🦁
Lions represent power, wisdom, and superiority in Chinese culture. During festivals, lion dances bring good fortune, drive away evil spirits, and spread joy. They create a lively, festive atmosphere while blessing the community with happiness and prosperity for the year ahead. 🎊

When you see these iconic performances at the London Chinese New Year Celebration on the 2nd of February, soak in their energy and the tradition they bring to ensure you have good fortune for the year ahead. 🙌💫

📸Calvin Luo

20/01/2025

🐟🍚 Chinese New Year is a time to feast on dishes filled with meaning and tradition! Every food served during the celebration represents a wish for blessings in the year ahead.

🥟 Dumplings, shaped like gold ingots, symbolise wealth and prosperity,
🐟 Fish is a sign of plenty and good fortune, as the word "fish" sounds like "surplus" in Chinese.
🍚 Sweet and sticky nian gao (rice cake) represents success and rising achievements, making it a popular dish.
🍊 Oranges and tangerines are shared for their golden hue, which signifies wealth, and because their names sound like "luck" and "success".
🍜 Long noodles, also known as longevity noodles, are also enjoyed to symbolise longevity and a long, healthy life.

What lucky foods are you excited to enjoy this year? 🧧✨

19/01/2025

🏮🐍 The 2 week countdown to the Year of the Snake celebrations begins! 🐍🏮

Kickstart your day with the spectacular welcome parade, weaving its way from the east of Trafalgar Square to Chinatown, starting at 10am. This vibrant tradition is sure to bring festive energy to life, setting the tone for a day of celebration!

Admire the intricate handmade floats, beautifully adorned with delicate decorations and crafted with hours of dedication. After the parade, these stunning floats will be on display for everyone to enjoy. This cherished tradition marks the start of a full day of festivities and performances in Trafalgar Square, a celebration not to be missed!

📅 Parade: 10am - 11:45am
📍 Route: East of Trafalgar Square to Chinatown
Celebrate the Year of the Snake immersed in Chinese culture! 🎉🐍

📸 Allan Hong & Calvin Luo

14/01/2025

🐍✨ The Year of the Snake is a powerful symbol of wisdom, grace, and mystery in Chinese culture. Often associated with intelligence and renewal, the snake embodies transformation, adaptability, and the ability to shed old ways to embrace new beginnings.

🌿 People born in the Year of the Snake are said to be intuitive thinkers, blessed with charm, eloquence, and a natural ability to captivate those around them. Known for their analytical minds and calm demeanor, they are problem-solvers who approach challenges with elegance and quiet determination.

✨ The snake’s energy encourages reflection, self-discovery, and navigating life’s twists and turns with poise and purpose.

How will you channel the energy of the Snake this year? 🌟

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Location

London

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Telephone

+442078516686

Website

http://www.lccauk.com/

Address

3rd Floor, 5 Newport Place
London
WC2H7JN

Opening Hours

Monday	10am - 6pm
Tuesday	10am - 6pm
Wednesday	10am - 6pm
Thursday	10am - 6pm
Friday	10am - 6pm