Written by Amanda David
It’s Pride month, when the rest of London gets its Soho on. We’ve found a whole heap of affordable ways to celebrate Pride in London, so you’re sure to find something that tickles your fancy.
Parade with Pride
The high point of this month’s Pride celebrations is, of course, the Pride Parade. It will make its colourful, joyous way once more throughout the city’s centre in celebration of LGBTQIA+ communities and the core values of visibility, unity, and equality.
It’s free to turn up to show support and watch the parade in all its splendour, as flag bearers, dancers and dazzling outfits fill the streets. Hands down, one of the best days out in London all year.
See our event listing here for details.
See the Fragile Beauty Exhibition
Provocative, moving, challenging, sexy: these stunning photographs from the private collection of Sir Elton John and David Furnish have been beautifully curated into one powerful exhibition at the V&A. Themes incude fashion, reportage, celebrity, American photography and the male body.
See our event listing here for details.
Celebrate Pride at the Outernet
Partnering with Pride in London, GAY TIMES, GALOP, Classical Pride, and Trans+ History Week, Outernet will showcase a diverse range of content designed to celebrate and support the LGBTQ+ community, completely free to audiences right in the heart of Soho.
See our event listing here for details.
Dance along at Wembley Park Pride
The event features a varied lineup including beloved London icon, Rhian, among other established and rising stars such as Britain’s first out Muslim drag queen, Asifa Lahore, and the London Trans Choir. Activities include pride-themed dance fitness with Fab Lab, quizzes, and sing-alongs, offering something for everyone.
See our event listing here for details.
Relax at the Pride Month Picnic
The annual Pride Picnic organised by the West London Queer Project will be on 15th June, 11am-5pm, in Walpole Park. There will be games and cake, so bring a blanket, a picnic and get ready for some fun in the sun.
The event is free to attend but please register to give the organisers an idea of numbers. See our event listing here for details.
Take a Pride Tour at the Globe
Tours of the Globe Theatre take you back in time to Shakespearean London; now you can choose the Pride Guided Tour, which looks at the gender identities, queer characters and LGBTQ+ historical context of Shakespeare’s writings.
See our event listing here for details.
Stay Late at Queer Britain
The UK’s first and only LGBTQ+ museum, Queer Britain, is holding its first ever museum late in Pride month.
Celebrate with a wander around the We Are Queer Britain exhibition, which marks the 50th anniversary of the UK’s first Pride March, and on Friday 21st June you can stay until 8pm.
See our event listing here for details.
Grab a drink at one of London’s classic LGBTQ+ bars
Whether you’re just visiting London for Pride or you’re a local, you might want to check out the city’s bars and pubs. London has plenty of queer bars to choose from with something for everyone. Get the full run-down here.
Enjoy Pink Pride Ceviche and Rosé
Fabulous Latin American restaurant Paladar will be offering a special Ceviche Trio – Oyster, Sea Bass and Palm Heart – on 28th and 29th June, with a glass of rose or a special Pink Pride non-alcoholic cocktail for £24.00.
See our event listing here for details.
Browse the LGBTQIA+ Archives
The Bishopsgate Institute’s Special Collections and Archives holds one of the most extensive and fascinating collections on LGBTQIA+ history, politics and culture in the UK from the late nineteenth century onward. Admission is free.
See our event listing here for details.
Cheapo Top Tip: As if that wasn’t reason enough to visit, the Institute is also home to the fabulous Darlish ice cream parlour, serving both dairy and vegan ice cream with a focus on Middle Eastern flavours: think Saffron, Rose and Pistachio, Chocolate & Halva or Turkish Coffee.
Party at the Grito Latino Pride Festival
Be part of the first Pride festival celebrating the queer Latinx community in the UK at Grito Latino Pride in Bermondsey. Festivities include free salsa, tango and samba classes, Latin American street food and health services, with evening entertainment including a drag queen, stand-up comedy and live music.
The event is free to attend but please register to give the organisers an idea of numbers. See our event listing here for details.
Happy Pride everyone!
While we do our best to ensure it is correct, information is subject to change.
