Pride in London 2022: best places to watch the parade

Thanks to the city’s wealth of queer bars, clubs, nights and other spaces, London’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. At its very centre is the annual Pride parade. 

After a two-year hiatus of live streaming and cancellations, the parade is making an epic IRL return. This year’s parade promises to be extra-special as it marks 50 years since the very first Pride march in 1972. In celebration of this, the 2022 march will retrace the route of the historic inaugural 1972 parade. 

The route will begin in Hyde Park, where the first post-march picnic took place. Setting off from Hyde Park Corner, the procession will head down to Picadilly Circus, then turn south on to Haymarket and Trafalgar Square, before ending in Whitehall Place. 

When is the London Pride Parade 2022?

This year London’s Pride parade will place on Saturday July 2.

Pride in London says that on this day they want the parade to ‘make a powerful statement’ and ‘march towards progress’. It will be calling for the UK government to ban conversion therapy, reform Gender Recognition, provide equal protection for LGBTQ+ communities against hate crime, end its hostile environment toward minority migrants, establish a national Aids memorial and take a leading role in tackling the violence and discrimination against LGBTQ+ people around the globe.

What time does the London Pride Parade start?

As in previous years, the London Pride parade will start at noon at Hyde Park Corner. The grandstand in Haymarket will be open from 11am. 

Who will be performing in the London Pride Parade line-up? 

More than a hundred singers, dancers, lip-synchers and entertainers will be performing over four stages across central London for Pride in London 2022, with Emeli Sandé, Ava Max, Samantha Mumba and Eurovision winner Netta headlining the main stage in Trafalgar Square. 

The stage in Leicester Square will be dedicated to female-identifying, non-binary and trans artists, including July Jones, Eddy Luna, Prya, Krystal Lake, Poppy Ajudha, Girli, and Drag Syndrome & Justin Bond. 

You’ll find the other stages at Golden Square and the Soho Stage on Dean Street, where you can watch ‘Drag Race’ Superstars The Vivienne, Lawrence Chaney, Tia Kofi and Victoria Scone, Cedric Neal and Matt Willis from ‘Kinky Boots’ in Concert at Drury Lane, and the cast from ‘& Juliet’. Also see if you can spot some of your fave London performers including the Beyoncé Experience, Baby Lame, Adam All & Apple Derrieres, Ebony Rose Dark, LGBT Disabled Queer & Hear and The Glory Present: Man Up.

Here are the best spots you’ll want to stake out early for peak parade viewing. 

Recommended: Need somewhere to go after the parade? Check out the best LGBTQ+ bars and clubs in London.