London’s Pride parade is one of the highlights of Pride Month. Here’s where to see the best of the rainbow-hued action
Photograph: Iryna Kalamurza / Shutterstock.com
London is home to a wealth of queer bars, clubs, nights and other spaces, so it’s no wonder the city’s LGBTQ+ scene is among the most fabulous in the world. But, it’s Pride Month when the LGBTQ+ celebrations really take off, as Pride in London fills the city with LGBTQ-themed events, protests and parties.
The jewel in Pride Month’s crown is the annual Pride Parade, which typically comprises of around 600 groups and over 30,000 participants. The mayor of London usually leads, and newly re-elected Sadiq Khan is in keeping with tradition this year. What’s more, five free stages plus a brand-new Family area will be offering a wealth of free entertainment across the city centre. Here is everything you need to know about the route and timings of Pride 2024’s Parade.
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All the London road closures for the Pride parade.
When does 2024’s London Pride parade start and who is performing?
This year London’s Pride parade will place on Saturday, June 29.
Applications are now live here for groups wishing to take part in the Parade, while tickets for the Haymarket Grandstand are on sale here.
Like in previous years, the parade will begin at noon at Hyde Park Corner, with a grandstand in Haymarket open from 11am.
The route will leave the park and head along Piccadilly through through Piccadilly Circus, down Haymarket and along Pall Mall to Trafalgar Square, before culminating at Whitehall Place at around 6 pm.
Every year, London’s Pride celebrations come with their own theme, intended to empower, inspire and celebrate the LGBTQIA+ that breathe life into the city. For 2024, the theme is ‘We Are Everywhere’, which celebrates the power and contributions of the community to the capital.
Visitors can expect to see a wealth of LGBTQ+ talent across multiple stages, including a main stage in Trafalgar Square, The Dean Street Cabaret Stage, The Golden Square World Stage and The LGBTQIA Women and Non-Binary Stage in Leicester Square. There will also be a family area getting the party started for people of all ages. Across the day, expect performances from the likes of Princess Julia, Poppy Ajudha, Charlieeeee, Jaguar, Ginger Johnson, and many others. You can find the full line-up here – some acts will be performing on multiple stages so plan accordingly.
Recommended: Need somewhere to go after the parade? Check out the best LGBTQ+ bars and clubs in London.
This is where every float and marcher will enter the parade and the first place along the route that spectators can officially spectate. All the participants have to wait their turn, so don't panic if you haven’t spotted your mates yet.
The tourist-bait centre of the known world also provides a fantastic view of the Pride Parade, against a backdrop of mighty adverts, open-top buses and all the rest. But... you’ll have to get here early if you want to grab a front-row spot.
This is where you’ll find the Pride Parade official grandstand, but even if you don’t have tickets to that, you’ll be able to get a great view of the parade here as it passes down the road.
By this point in the Pride Parade route, there’s a little bit more space to get a really good view of the (literal) proceedings. Still, it will be properly chockablock, so bear that in mind.
This is the parade’s final stop. Afterwards, many marchers will head into Soho or nearby Trafalgar Square to watch the rally and performances, eat, drink, hang out and the rest. Enjoy!
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