10 Exciting Things To Do & Eat During Pride In London

London Pride 2023 is going to be a big one. It's a month dedicated to celebrating LGBTQIA+ communities across the world and there’s a whole load of different ways to celebrate across London. Be it drag brunches, Pxssy Palace parties, or a slap-up South American meal. And if you want to check out what’s going on for the rest of the year, keep an eye on Coming Out, Pride’s official guide to events in London.

photo credit: Karolina Wiercigroch

Big BBQ Energy At Sager + Wilde

25th June

To celebrate queer members within their own team and the industry at large, Sager + Wilde Paradise Row is throwing a BBQ party on Sunday 25th June. There’ll be natty wines from queer and allied winemakers, Queer Brewing beers, and DJ sets until 11pm. Check their Instagram page for all the booking details.

Pay-What-You-Can Panels, Parties, And Book Signings

Throughout June

The Common Press is London’s first consciously intersectional bookshop and they have an impressive line-up of events for Pride month. Some of our favourites include a panel on the advantages and setbacks of the UK’s queer nightlife scene (21st June), an author’s evening with book signing and prosecco (24th June), and free therapy sessions (30th June). All events are pay-what-you-can, with a £4 minimum. For non-drinkers and those who are suffering bottomless brunch fatigue, there are sober parties towards the end of the month too.

photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch

Where To Eat During The Pride Parade

1st July

Check out our guide to the best stomach-lining spots on the Pride parade route. There's everything from silky pasta dishes smoother than the Padam Padam choreo you just watched, to blood orange ice cream pick-me-ups to enjoy during the celebration on 1st July.

Sink Prosecco At A Drag Brunch

Throughout June

Pride without a bubbly brunch and an iconic queen from Drag Race simply wouldn’t be Pride. Head to Between The Bridges on Southbank throughout June and the rest of summer for bottomless brunches featuring Danny Beard, Cheddar Gorgeous, and Bailey J Mills. Tickets are just over £30 and include bottomless prosecco and limitless lip-syncing opportunities.

Put UK Black Pride In Your Calendar

20th August

UK Black Pride is the world’s biggest Pride celebration for LGBTQI+ people of African, Asian, Caribbean, Latin American, and Middle Eastern heritage. After a record-breaking 2022, it will be even better this year. The celebration will be at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park on 20th August, and there’ll be a main stage, a DJ tent, stalls, food, and lots more. Check the Instagram page for more details.

photo credit: Jake Missing

Eat Cochinita Pibil At Paladar

Paladar, a queer-owned Latin American restaurant in Elephant and Castle, has a courtyard garden that’s perfect for long lunches or summer dinners and a menu that fits the billing too. The cochinita pibil—tender pulled pork that drips red juice from achiote paste—comes on top of blue corn tortillas with a dollop of pineapple relish and a few pickled onions to finish. It's totally delicious. The pisco sours aren't too shabby either.

photo credit: 20th Century Fox

Watch Some Queer Classics On A Rooftop

Throughout June

If you missed the BFI Flare in March, the Southbank cinema’s annual LGBTQIA+ film festival, then fear not. Throughout June you can watch classics like The Rocky Horror Picture Show on top of the Bussey Building in Peckham thanks to the The Rooftop Film Club. And if you fancy some food before or after, have a peek at our guide on The Best Restaurants in Peckham.

photo credit: Rahil Ahmad

Visit The Queer Britain Museum & The Queer Market

Founded in 2018, Queer Britain is the first dedicated national LGBTQIA+ museum. It’s in Granary Square in King’s Cross and there’s a talk on Divine, the legendary drag queen, on 18th June, as well as a Queer Market running from the 9th to 11th June. Needless to say, there are plenty of excellent eating options around King’s Cross as well.

Head Over To Nunhead Pride Market

10th June

The annual Nunhead Arts and Crafts Pride market is back. They’ll be hosting an array of queer vendors in the Ninth Life Pub in Catford. Pop in for a bunch of different stalls selling everything from food to accessories. Keep an eye on the Instagram page for more details of who will be there.

Party With Pxssy Palace

17th June

As part of Christine and the Queens’ Meltdown festival, legendary arts platform and club night Pxssy Palace is putting on a five-hour party across two rooms in the Southbank Centre on 17th June. DJs playing across the two dance floors include Anairin, River Moon, and TAAHLIAH, as well as some friends they’ve brought over from Paris. FYI this event includes a “powerful multi-sensory interactive flooring system”, which sounds extremely fun to us.