London’s annual Pride Parade is bounding back on to the capital’s streets on June 29, and with it comes an entire month of unmissable events to celebrate all things LGBTQ+.
The first Pride event took place in New York in June 1970 as a commemoration of the devastating Stonewall Riots that occurred the previous year. Since then, June has become a milestone for the LGBTQ+ community and their supporters to pay tribute to the progress that has been made, and to reflect on what work there is still to be done.
Current talks in Westminster debating the need to educate children on gender identity is worryingly reminiscent of Margaret Thatcher’s infamous Section 28 policy and it is likely to be a talking point during Pride month.
Above all, though, Pride month is joyful, and there are lots of ways to celebrate in 2024. Here are our top picks.
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Pre-Pride Picnic and Party
Starting at 2pm, the university is treating Londoners to an afternoon of performances in its courtyard, complete with a pancake stand.
From 6pm the party begins at The Rocket’s Open Mic event which will showcase LGBTQ+ poets and musicians.
30 May, London Metropolitan University, 166-220 Holloway Road, N7 8DB, free to attend. eventbrite.co.uk
The National Theatre’s free, outdoor summer stage is back for the summer and will be opened with a spectacular Pride performance.
The Glory, an East London LGBTQ+ pub, will be bringing their performers across the water and on to the Southbank to the National Theatre’s River Stage for all to enjoy.
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Desire, Love, Identity: an LGBTQ tour of the British Museum
Find a new way of learning about LGBTQ+ history and also a new way to enjoy the British Museum with this free tour.
The volunteer-led showcase will take visitors through the usual halls of the museum but will highlight the significance of specific artefacts to LQBTQ+ history. Sights on the tour span from ancient history to the present day and include a Maori treasure box and a bust of Emperor Hadrian’s lover, Antinous.
Availability with an expert guide is limited, but a free audio commentary is available on streaming platforms.
Limited dates in May and June, Free, The British Museum, 4 Great Russell Street, WC1B 3DG, britishmuseum.org
Pride Boxing has been raising funds for Pride in London since 2016 and the team is back with its popular white collar boxing event at The Clapham Grand.
Last year’s glam event showcased more than 60 fighters and included a live DJ as well as a talented drag queen duo as hosts.
Pride Boxing has been running training camps since April, but it’s not too late to get the gloves on yourself. The training camps offer a safe and inclusive space for the LGBTQ+ community to learn the skills needed inside the ring.
27 June, £35-£50, The Clapham Grand 21-25, St John’s Hill, SW11 1TT, fatsoma.com
A day to night party, totalling 15 hours, is returning to Hackney Wick’s Colour Factory after its successful run last year. Hosted by sexual wellness brand, Howl, the event promises to serve up pure queer joy.
Howl Pride focuses on offering a spectacle clear of the increasing commodity-led and “pinkwashing” of Pride events.
The daytime do will include a garden party with queer market stalls, but as it gets darker the space will transform into an all-night sex-positive queer rave.
29 June, £10-£22, Colour Factory, 8 Queen’s Yard, E9 5EN, ra.co
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Pride Prom is the only exclusive under 18s event in the London’s Pride calendar. Teens are invited to express themselves freely in a safe and open environment.
Safety and security is of great importance at this space and all profits raised will be donated to Mosaic LGBT+, a trust dedicated to supporting and educating young people of the LGBTQ+ community.
19 July, free-£25, 17-19 Triton Square, NW1 3BF, outsavvy.com
Club classics and vocal anthems will be playing all night at the Troxy as Mimi’s takes over the east London institution for its annual Pride party.
Mimi’s will be filling the Troxy with circus acts and have even secured an unusual late licence, so that attendees will be able to party until the early hours.
Headline acts include the Cheeky Girls, Booty Luv and Big Wett.
2 June, £19.50-£31.50, Troxy, 490 Commercial Road, E1 0HX, outsavvy.com
HE.SHE.THEY | London Pride
The famous KOKO London is again hosting the London queer collective, HE.SHE.THEY, following the success of last year’s sold out show.
The evening will see headline acts such as Hercules & Love Affair and Bestley commanding the dance floor at the historic venue until 5am.
29 June, £6-£46.95, 1a Camden High Street, NW1 7JE, ra.co
Football vs Homophobia is moving to Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge this year after last year’s successful Manchester Pride event.
The day at the Chelsea home ground will include a busy programme of networking opportunities and a showcase of LGBTQ+ football organisations from across the capital, all while promoting visibility for the entire community.
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Hosted at the flagship Waterstones store, Piccadilly Hachette Pride is, for the fifth time, hosting a Pride month event which celebrates the very best of LGBTQ+ authors.
The event will include panels from well-known LGBTQ+ writers such as Laura Kay, as well as new voices to the scene such as Grace Curtis.
5 June, £6-£8, Waterstones Piccadilly, 203 – 206 Piccadilly London, W1J 9HD, eventbrite.co.uk
Drag Brunch at Between the Bridges
Between the Bridges is bringing the feel good vibes to Pride month with a bottomless prosecco brunch hosted by Drag Race royalty Miss Leigh Ding.
Tickets include drag queen performances, a DJ set of queer anthems and an hour of free flowing prosecco. Fear not, the outdoor venue will also be packed with a range of street food vendors to aid the inevitable consequences of bottomless prosecco.
29 June, £25, Between the Bridges, The Queen’s Walk, SE1, outsavvy.co.uk
Candle Painting at People’s Park Tavern
For a more relaxing affair, Hackney’s popular People’s Park Tavern are offering a creative afternoon of candle decorating workshops as a part of their Pride celebrations.
Artistic or not, head to the welcoming pub perched on the corner of Victoria park to create a collection of candles to show off at your next dinner party.
2 June, £27.80, People’s Park Tavern, 360 Victoria Park, E9 7BT, eventbrite.co.uk
An estimated 10.6% of women in the UK aged 16 to 24 identified as LGB in 2022 (Dominic Lipinski/PA)
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The Two Brewers Street Party
The annual Clapham street party is back. Chic host Miss Penny will be welcoming Londoners to a day of barbecues and outrageous drag queen performances from the likes of Poppycock and Drag Idol 2024 winner, CJ Hopkins.
The Two Brewers has been welcoming the LGBTQ+ community to its cabaret bar and club for more than 40 years and always puts on a spectacular Pride street party before festivities continue on the dancefloor inside.
22 June, entry on the door £10, 114 Clapham High Street, SW4 7UJ, the2brewers.com
The main event. London’s Pride Parade attracts upwards of 300,000 participants each year and the streets are lined with onlookers eager to cheer on flamboyant floats, musicians and dancers.
On June 29 the parade will set off at noon from Park Lane before making its way around Piccadilly Circus, through Haymarket and onto Trafalgar Square before finishing in Whitehall Place at around 6pm.
To still be in the action but from a more comfortable position, tickets to watch the parade from two Grandstand locations, Haymarket and Cockspur Street, are available.
To continue the party after the main event, head to the world famous club, Heaven, to send out Pride month with a bang.
Heaven rarely disappoints, but the final night of Pride celebrations are sure to be especially fantastic. Queer DJ Callum Crighton will be taking to the stage alongside Flesh & Bones and the night will be complete with a variety of tribute acts, balloon drops and plenty of glitter.