Parade, parties and a side helping of LGBTQ+ goodness — here's your ultimate guide to Pride in London 2024.
What is Pride in London?
Pride in London itself is a non-profit organisation that promotes and supports the capital's LGBTQ+ communities. Each summer, it hosts the Pride in London event — a mammoth celebration, and huge platform for who those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, questioning, intersex, non-binary, asexual, polysexual, genderqueer or gender variant. Cue huge parties, fantastically fun events, and a parade to end all parades (until the one that happens the following year). Allies, of course, are welcome to join in too.
When is Pride in London 2024?
The big parade — which attracts crowds of 1.5 million — takes place on Saturday 29 June.
Can I take part in the Pride parade?
Though everyone's welcome to watch the parade, only groups and organisations can take part in it. You need to apply to do this, although applications for 2024 are now closed.
What's the Pride in London parade route?
Some 30,000 participants and 300 floats will set off from Hyde Park Corner at 12pm on Saturday 29 July 2024.
Assuming the route is the same as in 2023 (see map above), they'll be dancing and singing their way down Park Lane, along Piccadilly, down Haymarket, into Trafalgar Square and finishing up in Whitehall. The route is studded with toilets, first aid stations and the like — and there are stages with live drag/cabaret/musical etc performances in Golden Square, Trafalgar Square, Leicester Square and Dean Street in Soho — plus a family area in St Giles-in-the-Field.
Lots of LGBTQ+ bars will be open during the day, particularly in Soho, so you needn't worrying about empty glasses.
How long does the Pride parade last?
About six hours — from 12pm-6pm — although the partying rumbles on waaaay after that, should you be in the market for a proper wingding.
Do you need tickets for Pride in London?
Nope, just show up. Although, if you want to watch from the covered grandstand on Haymarket, a seat will set you back £60.
What's the history behind Pride in London?
The origins of Pride in London can be traced back to the first official Gay Pride march of 1 July 1972. (Although there were actually earlier marches in Highbury Fields in 1970.) Inspired by the events of Stonewall in New York City three years earlier, the parade saw 2,000 participants armed with banners, tambourines, balloons and whistles descend on Trafalgar Square, then march to Hyde Park for a picnic. Here's a copy of the original programme.
Today's route traces that of the inaugural march (though it begins in Hyde Park now, rather than culminating there).
What's the Pride in London 2024 theme?
Pride in London has a new theme each year. 2024's hasn't yet been announced — we'll let you know when it is.
Are there any good Pride parties/afterparties in 2024?
Loads! Including these (which are all on 29 June 2024):
- A massive Pride afterparty at Clapham Grand, with headline DJ MNEK.
- Mimi's Big Pride Banger at Troxy in Limehouse, feat. the Cheeky Girls.
- Howl Pride at Colours Factory in Hackney, which bills itself as "a solution to the mainstream horror of London Pride".
- A special Pride drag brunch at Between the Bridges on the South Bank, feat. Tayce.
- Gal Pals: London Pride at EartH in Hackney — party for for lesbians, queer women, trans and non-binary people.
- Inferno hosts its first Pride party at Venue MOT in South Bermondsey.
- Hercules & Love Affair, Tama Sumo & Lakuti, Miss Kittin and Bestley are at KOKO in Camden for the HE.SHE.THEY Pride party.
Is TfL doing anything special?
TfL usually does something to celebrate. In 2023, there was an LGBTQ+ poster campaign featuring the likes of Gok Wan and Bimini, rainbow-wrapped Overground and Elizabeth line trains, and a rainbow 63 bus too. Kepp 'em peeled.
Are there other big Pride/LGBTQ+ events in London throughout the year?
Hell yes. Others include:
- LGBT+ History Month (February)
- London Trans+ Pride (July)
- Croydon Pride (July) - Sadly this isn't happening in 2024, but promises to be back in 2025.
- UK Black Pride (August)
- Bi Pride UK (August)
London also happens to have one of the buzziest LGBTQ+ scenes in the world — so you can get your fill of everything from bookclubs to bars on a daily basis.
You could also celebrate Pride by going to see a show at London's queer comedy club, an exhibition at the Queer Britain museum, explore the British Museum's permanent Desire, love, identity: LGBTQ histories trail... the list goes on and on and on.
Lead me to more LGBTQ+ content!
Your wish is our command. We've got an ever-swelling coffers of top LGBTQ articles on Londonist. Check out these for starters:
LGBTQ+ things to do
- LGBTQ+ Things To Do In London — Where To Be Queer In The Capital
- 10 Of The Best LGBTQ+ Bars And Pubs In London
- 10 Great LGBTQ+ Books Set In London
- Common Press: The LGBTQ+ Bookshop That's So Much More
LGBTQ+ features
- "Learning London's LGBTQ+ History Empowered Me To Walk The City's Streets"
- London's Queer, Sex-Positive Spaces: How They Lift Us Up, And Let Us Down
- "I Quit Football Because Of Homophobia - Then I Discovered The London Titans"
- Why I Started A London Trans Choir
- "I Created A London Club Night For Queer People Of Colour"
- An Ode To The Royal Vauxhall Tavern
LGBTQ+ history
