Everything You Need To Know About The 2025 London Pride Parade
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2 days ago
Taking over the city on Saturday 5 July
Every June in the UK is Pride Month, but London’s flagship Pride Parade – aka Pride in London – is happening on the first weekend of July. The organiser, Pride in London, is a not-for-profit providing a platform for all LGBTQ+ people across London. Run by a large group of selfless and committed volunteers, this is the most diverse Pride in the UK (though Brighton is perhaps more famous), and a month-long celebration that puts the LGBTQ+ community centre stage. It’s also extremely fun. Here’s how to celebrate Pride in London in 2025, plus how to see the parade.
London Pride Parade 2025: All The Details
(c) NIM, Unsplash
What Is Pride?
Pride is a global event dedicated to acknowledging, accepting and celebrating the LGBTQ+ community. In London, it’s perhaps the only occasion where such a bright light is shone on the issues the community and people within it face and aims to represent every part of London’s LGBTQ+ community, including those who are ‘lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans*, queer, questioning, intersex, non-binary, asexual, polysexual, genderqueer and gender variant’.
While from the outside it might just seem like an excuse to celebrate, it’s important to remember the real reason Pride is and should be such a big deal. Same-sex marriages were only legalised in England in 2014. The Gender Recognition Act came into effect in 2004, but was criticised harshly by many members of the House of Lords. And in 2025, the arguments have been revitalised with vim: in April, the Supreme Court ruled trans women can be legally excluded from women-only spaces under the 2010 Equality Act. Regardless of some of the laws in place to protect and promise respect to LGBTQ+ people, violence and intolerance against them can be found far more easily than we’d like.
MORE: Here’s What To Wear To Pride 2025
(c) Mercedes Mehling, Unsplash
The Parade
Pride in London’s flagship annual event is the Parade, which trails through central London for one day every summer, and culminates with colourful socialising in Soho.
Every year, there’s a theme, and this year it is ‘Volunqueer’, recognising the crucial role volunteers have played in the LGBTQ+ movement. Pride in London encourages people to give whatever they can – whether that’s time, skills or resources – to LGBTQ+ organisations, and will also be shining a spotlight on ‘Volunqueer’ heroes who have selflessly acted in service of their community.
Around 35,000 LGBTQ+ people typically march in the parade, along with groups and organisations (think employee networks, non-profits, the public sector and businesses). More than 1.5 million LGBTQ+ people and allies also come to watch the Parade, so it’s an incredibly busy time to be in central London.
This year, the Parade will commence at midday at Hyde Park Corner before running through Piccadilly Circus, down Haymarket and along Cockspur Street to Trafalgar Square, culminating at Whitehall Place. The parade will end at 6pm.
Anyone can march, but you must be registered beforehand. It’s now too late to register to march in 2025, but watching Pride is totally free; check the map here and join along the route. If you’d prefer to sit, a limited number of Grandstand tickets are still available, providing seating near Piccadilly; book here for £65pp.
There are plenty of events taking place across central London to keep you entertained from midday, too. This includes:
- Trafalgar Square: This year’s headline stage will host a performance by 10 time Grammy winner Chaka Khan, as well as Queenz, Durand Bernarr, 2025’s Eurovision winner JJ, drag star La Voix, Miriana Conte, Jay Jay Revlon and the cast of HERE AND NOW – The Steps Musical. Lucky Roy Singh will also present a Queer Asian Takeover, while talks from Queerwell, Stonewall, Jake and Hannah Graf and Not a Phase are also on the agenda.
- Leicester Square: This is the place to be for LGBTQ+ women and non-binary people, with performers including girli, Miriana Conte, Chloe Star, Redrum, Butch, Please!, Lazy Violet, Queer Edge, Don One and Smashlyn Monroe, and DJ’s Kaylee Golding, Anita B Queen, CATTY and MABE.
- Dean Street: Soho is home to London’s Cabaret stage, with performers and speakers including Ghetto Fabulous, Dean McCullough’s Pop Machine, La Voix, John Cameron Mitchell, Coco Deville, Trevor Ashley, Viola, Sam Buttery, Adam All & Apple Derrieres, Alexandria St Payne, Skylar Cister and Crip Ladywood.
- Soho Square: Curated by Mzz Kimberley, the Soho Square Stage is all about celebrating the trans community. Stars include Telisa, Geri Love, Tobre, Ms A London Bok, Brandy X Presents Temptation and more. Speakers include Sarah Savage (Brighton Trans Pride), Alexis Solia (trans activist), Saba (activist), Kayza Rose (activist/producer), Lia B (trans activist) and more.
- Golden Square: This is 2025’s World Stage, where Myles Hart and Thandi Phoenix will host Amaria BB, Keanan, Vanity Milan, Carter the Bandit, DJ Mark-Ashley Dupé, Nile, The Cocoa Butter Club and more.
- Victoria Embankment Gardens: This is 2025’s dedicated family area, home to engaging activities, captivating performances, delicious food and drink options, and an atmosphere of love and acceptance for all ages.
Food and drink stalls will be available at Leicester Square, Golden Square and Soho Square.
MORE: Pride 2025: Food & Drink Pop-Ups To Visit In London
How To Get To London Pride 2025
If you’re marching in the Pride in London Parade, the best station to arrive at is Marble Arch or Bond Street.
If you have a Grandstand ticket, Piccadilly Circus is the closest station.
If you’d like to watch the Parade or visit the Pride stages, the best stations are Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road, Waterloo and Embankment.
It’s worth noting many bus routes will be on diversion due to road closures, and phone signal is expected to be patchy due to the large crowds, so make sure to plan your route in advance.
Can You Support Pride Even If You Can’t Go To An Event?
You can support Pride from anywhere in the world. Celebrations take place globally – and welcome all, whether you are part of the LGBTQ+ community or a committed ally.
If you can’t make it to an event, you can still donate to a number of causes, which is especially aligned with this year’s ‘Volunqueer’ theme. These include:
- Stonewall: Programmes, campaigns and fundraising to protect the LGBTQ+ people
- LGBT Foundation: Helping improve the lives of LGBTQ+ people
- akt: Supports LGBTQ+ young people who are homeless or living in hostile environments
- MindOut: Mental health service run by and for LGBTQ+ people
- The Albert Kennedy Foundation: Supporting homeless and vulnerable young LGBTQ+ people
Discover more charities at charitynavigator.org
