Holi 2018: How to celebrate the festival of colours in London

London will be bursting with colour on March 1-2 as the city plays host to the Hindu festival of Holi.

The traditional event will see areas of the city transformed with brilliant technicolour celebrations, marking the end of winter and the arrival of spring in style.

Events are springing up all over the city to mark the festival, offering the chance to get involved in one of the most feel-good events of the year.

From all-out partying with colour powder, to thought provoking exhibitions, these are the best ways to enjoy Holi in London.

The Holi Festival of Colours

The Holi Festival of Colours in London has been recognised as the largest Holi celebration in Europe for the past five years. Expect fantastic sights and great live music as over 100,000 Londoners come together for a day of spectacular celebration. Tickets for the spectacular event cost £30.

HA9 0FA. Tickets are available here.

The Magic of India Colour Party

Family friendly event the Magic of India Holi Festival is another great option for revellers taking place ever the weekend in Swiss Cottage. There'll be loads of great DJs and live musicians at the North West London event whipping up an atmosphere, plus great street food and and, as you'd expect, a whole lot of colour powder.

NW3 3NF. Tickets are priced at £12. They are available to buy here.

Colourful Holi Festival Celebrations at B&H​

Clarkenwell is adding a splash of colour to its menu between March 1-2 in recognition of Holi. The restaurant and bar is also launching a trio of new cocktails - the gin-based Pabuji’s Mare, whisky-based Air of Bangalore and coconut rum-based Imli-Masala - just for the festival. If partying with colour powder isn't your style, this could be a great way to celebrate the festival at your own pace this year.

EC1R 0HU. For more information head to bandhbuildings.com.

Cinnamon Kitchen in Devonshire Square

If you’re looking for a great group experience for this year’s Holi, Vivek Singh’s restaurant Cinnamon Kitchen in Devonshire Square is a hosting a pop-up party pod. For £12 per person between February 26 - March 10, people can enjoy a spot of paint-pelting, marking the Indian festival in the most colourful way possible.

EC2M 4YL. For more information head to cinnamon-kitchen.com

Paint Pigment Photographs exhibition​

Photographers Rob and Nick Carter are hosting a great exhibition of Paint Pigment images at 5A Bathurst Street. The images capture brilliant bursts of pigments, capturing great energy and reflecting ‘unpredictable interaction with form and light’. If you’re after a more reflective experience of Holi in 2018, this is a chance to take in the stunning images and celebrate the festival in an alternative way.

W2 2SD. For more information to robandnick.com

Dishoom

Dishoom has two Holi dishes: a cold dahi bhalla chaat (fried potato and chickpeas — a cult Bombay street food) and a hot, tangy, crunchy aloo tikki chaat, a potato patty with chickpea curry.

From £5.50, until March 4, across London, For more information head to dishoom.com

Roti Chai and Chai Ki

Roti Chai and Chai Ki are embracing the festival with a Holi Moli cocktail: Amaretto, egg white, fresh lemon and blue ice, which gradually changes colour. Magic.

£8.80, until March 18. For more information head to chai-ki.com

Bourne & Hollingsworth

This isn’t an Indian restaurant but it is getting involved with a trio of cocktails: gin-based Pabuji’s Mare, whisky Air of Bangalore and coconut rum Imli-Masala.

£10, today only (March 2) 42 Northampton Road, EC1. For more information head to bandhbuildings.com