Stylish Pride: If you want to stay away from the crowds and celebrate Pride with a little retail therapy, then head down to Carnaby Street and Seven Dials. Benefit and Dr Martens are just two of the many places you can donate £3 and pick up your Pride in London wristband offering you 10% off in many of the local shops and cafes. There will also be plenty of instore workshops, performances and special offers including a complimentary glass of Aperol Spritz from Rossopomodoro.
Family Pride: If you have young children the crowds and madness of the main event can be quite stressful, but that doesn’t mean you have to miss out. Pride in the Park takes place on Sunday, the day after the main event, in Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens. There will be a cake baking competition, sports events, dog show, music, performances and food and drink – all in a relaxed, community atmosphere.
Loud and Proud: Trafalgar Square will host the main stage along with plenty of bars and food stalls. Highlights will include The RAF Red Arrows, Jake Quickenden and BGT judge Alesha Dixon. There will also be a minute’s reflection to mark the recent tragedy in Orlando.
Culture Club: Leading up to and on the day of the parade various London establishments will be holding events exploring LGBT in our culture. Tours of work by LGBTQ+ artists at the V&A, debates about homoeroticism in Laurel and Hardy films, drag shows in Chelsea and cabaret at the London Wonderground on the South Bank to name just a few.
Naughty and Proud: Secret Soho Saucy Tours takes you on a journey through London’s most flamboyant district and will open your eyes to its many secrets and hidden delights: “Discover the Empress of Pleasure and her assembly rooms on the site of the Catholic Church of Soho Square; William Beckford and his relationship with a stable boy; the turbulent relationship of Verlaine and Rimbaud; Soho Pam and the bizarre happenings in Dirty White Boy. Saucy Soho reinvigorates the spirit of Soho with all its sexy, seedy battle cry and is sure to throw new light on London's most rebellious village. Pub stop included!”
‘Dancing in The Streets’ Pride: The heart and soul of pride is the magnificent parade which starts at Baker street and ends in Trafalgar Square and features over 300 floats. Previous parades have seen Roller Derby girls, Sir Ian McKellen and a Gay Putin riding in a tank. The parade is kept under wraps until the day so you’ll have to wait and see what surprises await. Rest assured though, it will be big, bold and covered in glitter.
If you're LGBT and proud grab a subscription to Attitude, Britains best-selling gay magazine.
Images: Pride in London
For more information on the festival head to prideinlondon.org
isubscribe REWARDS
Instant £2.50 credit > Read more
