It's Pride Month! And what would Pride Month be without a Pride Parade? In such a big city as London, you can surely expect a big, fancy parade. But where should you even go to see it? And what are some Do's and Don'ts? In this article, we'll do our best to prepare you for what you can expect at the London Pride Parade of 2023!
By Anna Kii
Anna Kii is the new JOYclub ambassador for the UK. She’s a German expat and has been based in London for 10 years, living and breathing all things kink and alternative lifestyle, as well as exploring art, shops and any other cool hang out spots London has to offer.
What? Where? When?
The Pride Parade takes place on Saturday, 1st July 2023.
The LGBTIA+ event involves an estimated 30,000 participants and attracts an estimated 1.5 million visitors every year. More than 300 floats will travel through London, while groups sing and dance across the city. Soho will host parties and events in the evening, with pubs, bars and clubs throughout the city doing likewise.
London Pride is one of the greatest events of the year and is a fantastic spectacle worth experiencing. Attending Pride symbolizes belonging to or supporting the LGBTIA+ community. It is also the busiest day of the year which can be overwhelming, therefore a little bit of planning is needed to make the experience as pleasant as possible.
Start: Hyde Park Corner - 12 noon
Finish: Whitehall Place - 6 pm
Stage areas:
- Golden Square
- Trafalgar Square
- Leicester Square (Women's Stage)
- Dean Street, Soho (Cabaret Stage)
On the different stages you can witness a variety of performances, speakers and entertainers. Most stage areas also hold a variety of stalls for food and beverages, so it's a good idea to grab a snack and let yourself be entertained by the happenings!
But where's a good place to watch it?
This year the parade runs along from Hyde Park Corner, through Piccadilly Circus, down Haymarket and along Pall Mall to Trafalgar Square, culminating at Whitehall Place. Attendees are invited to watch from any of the designated public spaces along the route.
Travel into and around Central London on 1st July will be extremely busy, so please take extra caution and plan ahead where possible to avoid delays.
Here's a list of the nearest tube & train stations:
- Waterloo
- Charing Cross
- Victoria
- Marble Arch
- Hyde Park Corner
- Green Park
- Bond Street
Check out other LGBT+ events during the whole month around Pride. For all the info refer to: https://prideinlondon.org
Do's and Don'ts
If this is your first time attending Pride, or a parade as large as that, you may be a little nervous and uncertain on what to do, how to prepare and how to behave. Here's a little guide on things to do or to avoid doing:
Do this:
- Stay hydrated: As you may know, London can get really hot in the summer. With all the streets absorbing the heat and you in the middle of it, make sure to bring a bottle of water with you if you! And - while we're at it - sunscreen and a hat might also be a good idea.
- Eat beforehand: Restaurants may be busy and have no spaces available, and while there are some food stalls, they're not everywhere and you could very well be stuck in a queue for a while. So it's best to eat before you go out, or even bring a snack or two!
- Comfort: Wear comfortable shoes that you can stand in for a good while without getting instantly sore, and beware of litter and glass on the ground. And a pro tip: bring some hand sanitizer and tissues - the state of toilets can be unpredictable.
- Dress up: Pride evolved as a demonstration for freedom, expression and love going back years. Your participation makes a point for this movement. Dress up and feel free to express yourself - this is what Pride is for!
- Stay where you are: Find a good spot and stay there, constantly moving around can get really stressful with that many people in the streets. The best spots are always near a stage with toilet facilities and bars close by. If you’re lucky to get an outside seated spot in a cafe or bar you can enjoy the happening from there!
- Make plans for after: Ideally, the parade is only the start of a really amazing day! Who wants to go home after getting hyped up like that? Make plans to go to an after-party, and pre-book the tickets! Everything is likely to be sold out the day of.
- Get home safe: Make sure you get home safely and take care of others, too! This parade is a symbol for the community, so supporting and helping each other is key.
Don't do this:
- Take a large bag: No one wants your big rucksack in front of them while they're walking the parade, or are stuck on a tube with you. A small bag should be enough for the day! That way, it's also easier to keep an eye on your valuables, because pickpocketers are always a threat.
- Use taxis: All of central London will be blocked off for traffic. Use public transport instead and ideally avoid rush times!
- Come as a large group: You will lose each other. No doubt.
- Overconsume: Especially in the heat, alcohol can hit you hard. If you want to drink alcohol, make sure to drink water in between and don't overdo it. There is no place to retreat to if you're unwell. There are wellbeing carers monitoring and first aid is available in an emergency, but they will be busy, so take some precautions and try not to get into a situation where you need them.
- Be a dick: Pride is for everyone, to celebrate themselves, their community and to fight for their queer rights. People of all colours, backgrounds and sexual orientations will be present, so if you have an issue with that, do us all a favour and stay away.
Hopefully these tips and information have helped you feel more prepared for London Pride in 2023! Do you plan on attending? Or do you have any more pro tips for others? Feel free to share all that in our forum!
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