It’s the Year of the Monkey and London is celebrating by throwing its first ever Chinese Lantern festival, which will transform Chiswick House and Gardens into an extravaganza of lights, culture, art and cuisine. Singing in the Chinese New Year with more colour and beauty than ever before, the festival will include over 50 giant illuminated creations and a magnificent 66-metre-long dragon lantern stretching out across the lake.
Further highlights include a 10m-tall recreation of Beijing’s Temple of Heaven and an 8m Imperial Palace, as well as a recreation of the famous Terracotta Army…all in lantern form! Life-sized flamingos, zebras, kangaroos and elephants represent a nod to the exotic history of the House and gardens, whilst our lovely capital gets its own special tribute, in the shape of a London bus and red phone box lantern.
And the magic doesn’t stop there… An Enchanted Forest will surround an ethereal Tree of Life, which will illuminate oversized mushrooms, plants and flowers, creating a fantastical wonderland that will delight children and adults alike. With huge lotus flowers opening and closing as they drift across the lake, the festival promises to be one of the most enchanting things you’ll do all year. Forget New Year’s Eve, this time round, the year begins in February.
The festival runs from 3 February-6 March, Tuesday to Sunday 5pm to 10.30pm.
Ticketed entry every 15 minutes from 5pm to 8.45pm. Download Fever to buy your tickets for only £12.60 (as opposed to £16)!