As another Pride month draws to a close, London is gearing up for its biggest party yet – the Pride London parade. Taking place on June 29, thousands are expected to join the loud, proud march through central London. But fortunately for the late-night party lovers (or indeed those looking to combine their festivities with a little culture along the way) that’s only the start of the fun on offer.
From sleepovers at London Zoo and fascinating exhibitions and gallery tours focused on LGBTQ+ culture to some of the biggest afterparties imaginable, here are our top picks for where to celebrate this weekend.
London Zoo Sleepover
What better way to kick off your Pride than… er, sleeping over in London Zoo? The wild animal emporium is hosting a weekender of rainbow crafts with plenty of chance to learn about the ways that queerness pops up in the natural world.
London Zoo, 28 June
Pride in London Parade
The biggest Pride bonanza of the bunch, around 35,000 people are expected to march in London’s biggest LGBTQ+ parade. Expect ludicrously decorated floats galore, all packed with drag acts, speakers blasting pop bangers, and glitter stuck in all of your clothes for at least two weeks afterwards.
Starts Hyde Park Corner, 12pm, 29 June
LGBTQIA+ Tours at the Tate
Drawing on their massive collection of classic pieces, Tate Modern and Tate Britain both run dedicated LGBTQ+ tours throughout the whole summer, helping visitors to learn more about art “through the lens of gender identity and sexuality”.
Tate Modern or Tate Britain, Throughout summer
Faggamuffin Bloc Party Presents: Carnival Pride
After closing out Pride London’s Golden Square party earlier in the day, Faggamuffin head over to Shoreditch’s Village Underground for a huge after party. A celebration of the QTBIPOC community and carnival and soundsystem culture, it goes right through until 5am.
Village Underground, 29 June
Desire, Love, Identity: Exploring LGBTQ Histories
Anyone for a treasure hunt? Making use of their vast existing collections, the British Museum has put together two different trails spotlighting various artefacts and objects that share an interesting link to different aspects of LGBTQ+ history.
British Museum, June 9 to 29
Soufiane Ababri at the Barbican
This weekend is your last chance to catch Soufiane Ababri’s Barbican exhibition Their Mouths were Full of Bumblebees but it was Me who was Pollinated – a fascinating, tender and witty look at queer pride and shame.
Barbican, Until June 30
Trans Daddy
This playful celebration of non-toxic masculinity and the 2020’s trans trailblazers describes itself as being “like Anthony Gormley’s sculptures set free at Ciao Baby” – the highlight is sure to be the open-to-all Daddy Pageant, in which audience members can strut their stuff for a panel of judges, including the hilarious Charlie Craggs.
St Paul's Church, June 29
Pecs Pride Party
London drag king collective Pecs Boys, who celebrated their 10th birthday last year, are throwing a suitably majestic pride party in Hackney filled with all manner of raunchy performances from their talented troupe. “Bin off pink-washed corporate pride and come celebrate radical queerness in all its messy glory with the Pecs boys,” they say. Sounds good!
The Yard Theatre, 29 June
Nazar
As part of Southbank Centre’s You Belong Here, NAFS Space’s Drew Demetry and Hungama founder Ryan Lanji are taking over the Riverside Terrace for an open-air celebration of the South Asian and SWANA (Southwest Asian and North African) communities.
Riverside Terrace, Southbank Centre, 29 June
Mimi’s – Pride at Troxy
Is this… 2003? Noughties pop auteurs The Cheeky Girls – best known for revolutionary anthem Cheeky Song (Touch My Bum) – headline Mimi’s Pride party at Troxy this Pride weekend. Expect “club classics, slaggy edits, vocal house anthems and queer bangers”.
Troxy, 29 June
Gal Pals: London Pride
Gal Pals founders Xzan and Scarlet throw consistently great parties in both Brighton and London, playing a pop-leaning blend of bangers exclusively by women, non-binary and trans musicians. Don’t miss their London Pride special.
EartH, 29 June
Inferno
Not to be confused with the sticky floors of Clapham’s Infernos, Lewis G Burton’s collectively-run club night is throwing its first ever Pride party at the ever-excellent Venue MOT
