Bobbi Brown

Bobbi Brown celebrates the Year of the Dragon with a complimentary makeover. On offer is Bobbi Brown’s menu of make-up lessons, which includes everything from a five-minute instant beauty update to a 45-minute signature 10-step master class with a professional Bobbi Brown make-up artist. To recreate the look at home, you will be able to pick up a personalised face chart in a limited-edition Chinese New Year holder. During the Chinese New Year celebrations, Bobbi Brown will also be offering unique step-by-step Year of the Dragon makeover cards, available in Chinese and English until 27 January. To book, simply visit the Bobbi Brown Studio in the beauty hall on the ground floor of Selfridges on London’s Oxford Street or call +44 (0)20 7318 3234.

Selfridges, 400 Oxford Street, London W1A 1AB, 0800 123400, +44 113 369 8040 (international)

Bally

For Chinese New Year, Bally’s branch at Bicester village will offer great discounts to Bally enthusiasts. Bicester Village, one of UK’s leading outlet shopping destinations, houses over 130 luxury brands, including Mulberry, Yves Saint Laurent and Burberry; with over 150 years of experience in quality menswear, womenswear and accessories, Bally is a leading brand for both style and comfort. Buy two items from Bally and receive a 15% discount on the third, plus a further 20% on three or more Bally products – making this Chinese New Year truly prosperous and rewarding.

Bally, Bicester Village, 50 Pingle Drive, Bicester OX26 6WD, +44 (0)1869 323200

Celebrate in London

London marks Chinese New Year with a Trafalgar Square parade that takes place on 29 January and the celebrations will continue into February. The parade begins at 10am. Its route through central London, Chinatown and Leicester Square to Trafalgar Square will glitter with an array of colours and confetti and, of course, will showcase the Chinese dragon and lion dances. A wide selection of activities will also be available, from family events at museums and galleries to film screenings. In addition, there will be special Chinese New Year menus at surrounding restaurants. Global Blue recommends the Taiwanese cuisine at Leong’s Legend, which offers authentic Chinese food along with a relaxing ambience. For those seeking a more modern take on Chinese food, the Empress of Sichuan offers the latest Chinese delicacies and an exquisite dining experience. Sample the treats created especially for the festival by these acclaimed restaurants and complete your Chinese New Year by experiencing China in London.

Leong’s Legend, 4 Macclesfield Street, London W1D 6AX, +44 (0)20 7287 0288

Empress of Sichuan, 6 Lisle Street, London W2CH 7BG, +44 (0)20 7734 8128

Celebrate in Birmingham

The Chinese New Year celebrations at the Arcadian centre on Hurst Street in Birmingham rival those of London. Hosted by the Birmingham Chinese Festival Committee, a non-profit organisation, this event is a must-visit. From 11.30am on 29 January, Hurst Street will be packed with entertainment and performances. Dragon dances, music, Chinese food stalls, acrobatics, Kung Fu demonstrations, traditional firecrackers and rides will continue throughout the afternoon. This festival welcomes around 20,000 people each year, making it one of the largest attractions in the Midlands and one that is not to be missed.

The Arcadian, Hurst Street, Birmingham B5 4TD, +44 (0)121 622 5348

Celebrate in Manchester

Showcasing everything from fireworks and acrobatics to dance and performance, Manchester’s city centre celebrations will be the largest Chinese New Year festival that the city has hosted to date. On 29 January the festivities will spread across the whole of Chinatown and Albert Square from 12pm until 7pm, while stalls will be open from 11am. The Manchester festival is also home to the most impressive high pole lion dance in the UK.

Celebrate in Nottingham

Nottingham’s Chinese New Year celebrations attract thousands of visitors from all over the world and this year the city promises some awe-inspiring live performances. Nottingham’s Lakeside arts centre is well-known for hosting some of the area’s most beautiful artistic performances and those related to Chinese New Year will begin in January and run until February. They include Chinese lion and dragon dances, new year songs from the Nottingham Chinese School and dances by performers such as Rong Tao and digital media artist Barret Hodgson as well as professional dancers from the Dance4 CAT (Centre for Advanced Training). Exhibitions of brush painting and traditional calligraphy will also be among the festival’s numerous activities.