One of the world’s biggest gay pride celebrations will turn London’s West End into a big party on Saturday, June 27, and there’s a whole week of fun either side of it. Here’s what you need to know.

  • Pride in London is a week of events and celebrations by London’s LGBT+ community that culminates in a giant parade through the West End and entertainment on stages around the capital on Saturday, June 27.
  • Pride in London has been run by the community interest company London LGBT+ Community Pride since 2013

News Shopper: Kylie Minogue

  • Pride is holding London’s biggest pre-party on The Carnival Stage at British Summer Time at Hyde Park on Sunday (June 21). The event’s main stage is headlined by Kylie Minogue with Grace Jones, Chic featuring Nile Rodgers and Mika also on the bill.
  • Pride Arts Festival from Sunday, June 21, to Sunday, June 28, opening with screening of Pride at Clapham Picturehouse from 3pm on June 21 which includes a screening of Pride and a Q&A with groups including Wandsworth LGBT Forum and Out at Clapham. The week-long arts festival also includes exhibitions, Queer’Say spoken word in Hackney, theatre, comedy, talks and the Big Gay Quiz at Bankside Space in Southwark from 8pm on Tuesday, June 23.

News Shopper:

  • A gala dinner is being held at Mansion House on Wednesday, with a performance from Alfie Boe. Tickets cost £330 each and it’s a sell-out.
  • For those who like a wander, the Gay Outdoor Club’s annual pre-pride free get together is an easy four mile walk around Primrose Hill and Regent’s Park on Thursday evening (June 25).

News Shopper:

The Parade

  • The Pride Parade is on Saturday, June 27. It leaves Baker Street at 1pm and ends at Whitehall at around 4.30pm.
  • Trafalgar Square hosts main stage entertainment from 1pm to 8pm featuring Blue, BGT winners Collabro, Rebecca Ferguson and more. There’s a suggested donation of £3.
  • There’s also a Women’s Stage in Dean Street and Cabaret Stage in Wardour Street.
  • 258 groups are taking part in the Parade. UKIP aren’t one of them.

News Shopper:

  • A popular float at the head of the parade is likely to be the one for the upcoming film Magic Mike XXL.
  • The mega parade is the only annual event to close Oxford Street.
  • Individuals can’t join the parade unless they’re in a registered group, but there are lots of places to support it.
  • Congestion is bad along Oxford Street and Bond Street tube, so you might want to choose somewhere else along the route to stand.

  • The theme for 2015 is Pride Heroes, celebrating the likes of Alan Turing, Stephen Fry, Harvey Milk, Freddie Mercury, Nelson Mandela and Billie Jean King.
  • Various awards, such as Best Charity/Community Float are handed out at the Pride in the Park celebration on Sunday, June 28.

Pride in the Park

  • Pride in the Park at Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens from 1pm on Sunday, June 28, is a free post-parade wind down with music, dance, stalls, food and drink and awards.