Things to do during the Pride in London 2019 festival

Historically, London’s Pride parade was the focus of the city’s celebration of its LGBTQI+ community, but in recent years it has ballooned into a full month of festivities. Here’s our pick of things to do during 2019’s Pride in London festival.

Pride Parade
6 Jul
Taking place from noon, this year’s parade celebrates 50 years since New York City’s Stonewall Uprising, which led to the global Pride movement. The route starts at Portland Place (just west of Goodge Street Station) then goes to Oxford Circus, down Regent Street to Piccadilly Circus, then from Lower Regent Street to Pall Mall and past Trafalgar Square. Expect the whole area to be very, very busy until 6pm.

Order a Rocketman at VIVI
The new restaurant attached to Tottenham Court Road’s Centre Point tower is now serving this rum cocktail, dedicated to Elton John. It’s paired with his favourite snack (grilled cheese on toast) and 10% of sales are donated to the Elton John AIDS Foundation.
£14 | www.vivirestaurant.co.uk | Centre Point, 11 St Giles Square, WC2H 8AP

Dragged On-Board with The Original Tour
28-30 Jun and 4-5 & 12-14 Jul
Designed for over-18s only, this is your chance to enjoy a 90-minute, LGBTQI+ themed sightseeing bus tour led by a drag queen. Bring your own booze – and your best singing voice.
£28 | www.theoriginaltour.com | central London

Pride parties at The Curtain hotel
4-7 Jul
There are all sorts of events taking place at this new Shoreditch hotel, including cabaret on the roof (4 Jul; £11.50; www.facebook.com/grpresents), a queer book club dedicated to the African, Caribbean and Afro-Latina communities (5 Jul; free, donations welcomed; RSVP by contacting [email protected]) and a big party in its nightclub called Get Lit (6 Jul; send a DM to @GetLitLondon on Instagram to apply for the guest list, then wait for confirmation).
Various prices | thecurtain.com | 45 Curtain Rd, EC2A 3PT

Pride on the Shore at National Maritime Museum
5 Jul
From 6pm, this evening of cabaret-style entertainment includes drag kings and queens, live music and… vogueing! The whole event has a beach party theme and tickets include a drink.
£15 | www.rmg.co.uk | Romney Rd, Greenwich, SE10 9NF

Holly Stars’ Big Pride Cabaret at Madame Tussauds
5 Jul
Camp comedian Holly Stars is taking over Madame Tussauds for one night only, from 8pm. She’ll be joined by four other performers, including a burlesque dancer named Lilly SnatchDragon.
£20 | www.madametussauds.com/hollystars | Marylebone Rd, NW1 5LR

Hangover Brunch at Baluchi
7 Jul
This Indian restaurant is serving a brunch to pick you up after a heavy night. Tickets include eight dishes from a Pride menu, drag performances and two hours of bottomless Prosecco. There’s also a canapé drag party on 5 Jul, with 90 minutes of unlimited Prosecco, wine or beer. £2 from each ticket sale is donated to Pride in London.
Brunch £40; canapé drag party £60 | www.facebook.com/TheLalitLondon | The LaLiT London, 181 Tooley St, SE1 2JR

Kiss My Genders at Hayward Gallery
To 8 Sep; free entry 6 Jul
The Southbank Centre’s flagship arts space is fully embracing LGBTQI+ themes all summer with its current exhibition. Kiss My Genders gathers work by more than 30 artists, who all explore human gender boundaries.
£14; free entry 6 Jul | www.southbankcentre.co.uk/venues/hayward-gallery | Southbank Centre, Belvedere Rd, SE1 8XX

Queer Spaces at Whitechapel Gallery
To 25 Aug
Sadly, many of London’s bars, nightclubs and social spaces that cater for an LGBTQI+ audience have closed over the past 10 years, due to various factors. This display aims to celebrate both what has been lost and what still remains. Read our review of Queer Spaces at Whitechapel Gallery here.
Free admission | www.whitechapelgallery.org | 77-82 Whitechapel High St, E1 7QX

Celebrate 50 years of LGBTQI+ activism with lots more events around London, such as quizzes, bingo nights, talent shows and museum events. Check prideinlondon.org for the full Pride in London schedule.